Could we ever see rationing systems (other than price) to restrict the amount of greenhouse-gas emissions for which we are responsible?
It’s an idea that is floating out there, which makes this story about a service now being offered by a British bank of interest. It should be emphasized that this is something that the bank’s clients can opt into if they wish (it’s strictly voluntary) and all it does is offer information and recommendations, nevertheless. . . .
NatWest is telling customers to stop eating meat and to drive electric cars after combing their accounts to calculate their carbon footprint.
A “Carbon Footprint Tracker” on the bank’s mobile app uses the transaction data of customers and makes recommendations on how to reduce the amount of carbon production their shopping supports.
The bank has told customers to consider mending their clothing as opposed to going to high-street shops to buy new outfits, as well as stopping drinking dairy milk in favour of plant-based alternatives.
It is also suggested that customers switch off tumble dryers, share car journeys, repair broken electronic devices themselves and wash their clothes in cold water.
Under the spending section of the bank’s app customers can switch between “my spending” and “my footprint”. Customers are told the impact of typical purchases. . . .
NatWest also outlines a number of ways customers may change their diets to become more eco-friendly, such as going vegetarian and partly vegan as well as cutting out beef and trying “meat-free Mondays.” . . .
Customers are given personalised carbon footprint scores in kilograms of CO2, released per month based on their spending habits, as part of its “ambition to be a leading bank in addressing the climate crisis”.
Hmm. . . .