A transition that is still difficult to imagine... but necessary
Today, our societies are still heavily dependent on fossil fuels, which account for around** 80% of the energy consumed worldwide**. This reality makes it difficult to imagine living with a carbon footprint as low as 2 tonnes per year, let alone aiming for less than 1 tonne.
The challenge is not only technological. It is also cultural, economic and political. Achieving this goal means reinventing our modes of production, consumption and social interaction.
Structural constraints... but not insurmountable
Even people who live a highly decarbonised lifestyle have a footprint of** 3 or 4 tonnes/year**, because part of our emissions are linked to:
- **Public services **(education, health, infrastructure, etc.).
- **Territorial organisation (transport, buildings).
Today, emissions linked to societal services already account for 1.5 tonnes **of our allocated emissions before we even turn on the lights or take the car. This shows that individual efforts alone are not enough: changes are also needed on a collective scale.
Reducing without sacrificing the essentials
Fortunately, **a low-carbon lifestyle **does not mean living less well, quite the contrary. Many activities produce very few emissions:
- Walking in nature
- Cycling
- Reading, writing, playing music
- Growing plants on your balcony or in your vegetable garden
- Cooking with your family
- Travelling by train
- Enjoying silence, human connection, celebrations...
These activities contribute **to a happy, low-carbon lifestyle **and are at the heart of the necessary societal change.
A path towards a sustainable future
Reaching 2 tonnes, then 1 tonne, is a medium-term goal, not a sudden overnight change. This involves:
- A **gradual reduction **in individual footprints
- A **systemic change **in public policy
- Social, technical and economic innovations
The good news? **We already have the tools and ideas. **All that remains is to make them accessible, equitable and desirable.
Conclusion – A challenging but collectively achievable goal
Yes, living with 2 tonnes of CO₂ per year should be possible, but not in the world as it currently functions. It is by inventing a new model, one that is both modest, adapted and collective, that we will be able to achieve this. And we can start today, each and every one of us.
To find out more:
https://www.ge.ch/document/bilan-carbone-du-territoire-cantonal-resultats-encourageants
https://www.ge.ch/dossier/durabilite-climat/climat/route-neutralite-carbone#:~:text=Celle-ci fixe des objectifs plus ambitieux :,changements climatiques%2C leurs effets étant déjà perceptibles.