A huge portion of American carbon usage is personal transportation. The government can do many things to lower its carbon footprint but your life will look significantly different. Local governments are largely responsible for determining what citizens' primary means of transportation is and that's where people actually do have a lot of influence.

[–] 2muchcaffeine4u@lemmy.fmhy.ml 1 points 1 year ago

I mean yes. This is true. Gasoline is extremely subsidized in the US and even just ending those subsidies would encourage people to do something other than drive. Using that money to expand public transit options would be even better.

[–] boonhet@lemm.ee 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I'm not American so I already pay twice as much for fuel as Americans do. Something the US government should do, too. Gas should be at least $10/gallon. Makes you consider other forms of transit when travelling locally at least.

[–] 2muchcaffeine4u@lemmy.fmhy.ml 1 points 1 year ago

Yes, exactly. This is true. Gasoline is extremely subsidized in the US and even just ending those subsidies would encourage people to do something other than drive. Using that money to expand public transit options would be even better. Americans drive literally everywhere. There is no walking anywhere at all. We get very, very little physical activity and use a tremendous amount of fossil fuels and energy to get from Point A to Point B, on top of buying enormous gas guzzling SUVs.