Climate change: World War II-style rationing of gasoline, energy and meat could cut carbon emissions
Changing of the climate can be solved with World War II-style rationing. oilmeat and the energy people use in their homes, British scientists say.
They argue that this will help countries “quickly and fairly” reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Researchers at the University of Leeds also said governments could limit the number of long-haul flights people take in a year, or “limit the amount of gasoline you can buy in a month.”
They said previous schemes put forward as a way to combat global warming, such as carbon taxes or carbon trading schemes, would not work because they favored the rich, who could actually buy the right to pollute the environment.
The experts also drew comparisons to the need to restrict certain goods as they became scarce in the 1940s, adding that attempts to do so by raising taxes was rejected at the time because “the impact of raising taxes would be slow and unfair”.
British scientists say climate change can be tackled by rationing the gasoline, meat and energy people use in their WWII-style homes (file image)
The experts drew comparisons to the need to limit certain goods as they became scarce in the 1940s, adding that attempts to achieve this through higher taxes were rejected at the time because “the impact of higher taxes would be slow and unfair.”
But rationing in Britain during the war was widespread, the authors write in their article.
“As long as there was a shortage, rationing was accepted, even welcomed or required,” they said.
It wasn’t until nine years after the end of the war that rationing ended in Britain.
About the same as during the Second World War, researchers argue that carbon rationing would allow people receive an equal share of resources based on their needs, thereby sharing the effort to protect the planet.
Lead author Dr Nathan Wood, who is currently a postdoctoral fellow at the Fair Energy Consortium at Utrecht University, said: “The concept of rationing can help not only with climate change mitigation, but with a host of other social and political issues as well. problems – such as the current energy crisis.”
The researchers add:Rationing is often considered unattractive and therefore not a viable option for politicians.
“It is important to highlight the fact that this is not the case for many of those who have faced rationing.
“It is important to emphasize the difference between the rationing itself and the scarcity to which the rationing was a reaction.
“Of course people were cheering for the end of rationing, but what they were really celebrating was the end of shortages and celebrating the fact that rationing was no longer necessary.”
The problem with energy, meat, and gasoline rationing, the researchers note, is that people may not be as willing to accept it as if resources were scarce, because they know there is “an abundance of resources available.”
The researchers said that to address this problem, governments can regulate the biggest polluters such as oil, gas and gasoline, long-haul flights and intensive agriculture, leading to a shortage of products that harm the planet.
They added that rationing could then be introduced gradually to deal with emerging shortages.
Another lead author, Dr Rob Lawlor from the University of Leeds, said: “There is a limit to how much we can throw away if we want to reduce the catastrophic effects of climate change. In this sense, the lack is very real.
“It seems possible to reduce emissions overall, even if the poorest emitters, often the poorest, can increase their emissions – not in spite of rationing, but through rationing and price controls.”
Dr. Wood added: “The cost-of-living crisis has shown what happens when shortages drive up prices, when energy prices soar, leaving vulnerable populations unable to pay their bills.
“Currently, those living in energy poverty cannot use their fair share of the energy supply, while the richest in society are free to use as much energy as they can afford.”
The problem with energy, meat and gasoline rationing, the researchers note, is that people may not be willing to accept it because they know there is “an abundance of available resources.” According to them, to solve this problem, governments can regulate the biggest pollutants such as oil, gas and gasoline, which will therefore create a shortage of products that harm the planet.
Researchers at the University of Leeds also said governments could limit the number of long-haul flights people take in a year, or “limit the amount of gasoline you can buy in a month.”
Experts said that one way to introduce a rationing scheme would be through the use of “carbon cards” that would work in a similar way. bank cards to track a person’s carbon allowance, instead of using ration cards.
Dr Lawlor said: “Many have already proposed carbon credits and carbon cards.
“New (or old, inspired by World War II) is the idea that allowances should not be sold.
“Another feature of World War II-style rationing is that price controls on rationed goods will prevent prices from rising when demand increases, benefiting those with the least money.”
Experts believe rationing will also encourage people to move towards a more sustainable lifestyle rather than relying on fossil fuels.
“For example, gasoline rationing could encourage greater use and investment in low-carbon public transport such as railroads and local trams,” Dr. Wood said.
The study was published in the journal Ethics, politics and the environment.