Jacinda Ardern, prime minister of New Zealand, declared a climate emergency for the government and the public sector to achieve carbon-neutral by 2025. She said the 2025 goal will be set as the standard for the country to reach zero emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050. This is a commendable mission that can set as an exemplar for the rest of the world.
Due to my limited imagination, I do not know what I can do to reduce carbon emissions in my daily life other than driving less often and taking train and bus more often. Governments in all around the world offer some rebates for electric cars and hybrid electric vehicle. I can consider about this option when I need to buy a new car.
I have some doubts about zero emissions though.
Firstly, you need to charge your electric car. And we need petroleum, natural gas and coal to produce electricity. If I were to always charge my car at home and outside carparks, some fuel would need to be burned and carbon to be emitted for the production of the electricity that supports my car to continue moving and functioning. Does this mean I actually fail to achieve a zero emissions?
Secondly, speaking of the most direct zero-carbon target, do we count on solar energy, wind and hydro power which are natural and zero-carbon? When will the options of clean energy fully replace the energy capacity provided by petroleum?
Science is the only way to find out the answers to my questions. Documentaries are good for learning, for I heard that Scandinavian countries are doing well in cutting emissions and clean energy. Some good podcasts are also good, if I don’t have enough time to watch documentaries.
紐西蘭總理傑辛達阿爾登宣佈氣候緊急狀態，以推動政府與公領域在2025年達到零碳目標。她說這目標之必要在於，公領域的零碳目標必須引領紐西蘭於2050年達到全國零碳排放。這個願景非常值得讚許，而且可以成為全世界的典範。
我想像力有限，除了少開車、多搭地鐵和公車，我不知道日常生活還有什麼方法可以減少碳排放。現在全世界好多政府都給電車或油電混合動力車一些優惠，日後有機會買新車也可以考慮一下。對於零碳排放，我心中也不是沒有疑問：第一，電車需要充電，而產生電力的燃料包括石油、天然氣、煤，我在家裡或外面的停車場常常給電車充電，車子需要用的電量都需要燃燒燃料、排放二氧化碳，其實這意味著我並沒有完全達到零碳目標？第二，最直接的零碳目標，是不是完全靠天然而且沒有排放廢氣的太陽能、風力水力？什麼時候可以完全取代石油的能量？
也許祇有科學才能解答我的問題，有空應該多看看紀錄片多學習一些，因為聽說北歐在這方面做得很好。若沒時間看，多聽播客節目也是很好的方法。