How to Practice Modern Asceticism

An effective way to determine the importance of our choices is to put ourselves in the shoes of a trusted friend. For instance, if my dearest friends were to seek my guidance:

“Jes, I really want to purchase a laminator. I think I need it to preserve the beautiful note cards I create, some photos, and other printed materials. Should I go ahead with it?”

In all honesty, I would advise against it.

On the other hand, if a close friend were to express their desire for a bus to embark on a lifelong dream of a European adventure, I’d be more understanding. I know that this has been their dream, and I’d support it, even while I maintain my awareness of the environmental and social concerns associated with such travel. It’s crucial to respect what holds personal importance for them.

Henceforth, I’ve made it a practice to thoroughly assess whether my desires genuinely align with what I deem important. It’s evident that detaching from the unimportant is a pivotal step towards ushering in a more socially and ecologically just future.

Reflecting on this, in an ideal world, we wouldn’t be burdened with making these moral decisions. In an ideal scenario, our consumption choices wouldn’t harm our planet. Hans Joachim Schellnhuber from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) suggests that individuals should be allocated a yearly carbon budget of 3 tons. This approach would compel us to scrutinize what truly matters to us. While the debate around the pros and cons of such budgets continues, since their widespread adoption seems unlikely in the near future, we can adopt the concept of a personal carbon budget to help us determine what genuinely holds significance in our lives.