Silver Lining

The International Energy Agency (IEA) is estimating that CO₂ emissions will fall 2% in 2009, the largest drop in 40 years. The IEA attributes 75% of the decrease to the global recession.

This shows that the best way to reduce emissions is simply to reduce consumption. For instance, reducing the number of pregnancies is "five times as cost-effective as deploying low-carbon technologies." I'm not saying that we should enforce draconian limits on childbirth, but providing condoms and birth control to developing nations would reduce everything from environmental damage to the spread of AIDS to fighting over limited resources. (It's no coincidence that Rwanda has the highest population density in mainland Africa.)

And on that note, Happy Peace Day.