Reply #23: Doing what we have been is not even an option

[bhikkhu]

As anyone who is choosing between food or fuel now is agreeing, likely against their will.

The better foundational solution is an economy based around rail transport of commodities (much more efficient than anything but shipping over water) and foot and bicycle transport for the majority of personal travel. It will be a long transition, and electric cars may be a part of the transition, but that is the one solution.

On one point - electric cars do use energy more efficiently, but chances are that energy they are using was generated with all kinds of waste and pollution. One of the problems again is that we would need more energy production to fuel electric transportation and the only current ways to do that are to burn coal or build more nuclear plants. Both are bad choices, and there is no significant electric transportation solution without them.

Lifestyles and expectations must change.