BY SIMONE J. SMITH
I most recently reviewed the book 1984, and this time, I read it with anxious apprehension. I measured where we, and unfortunately: our nations and the world are on the road map to a hell George Orwell described. Prophetic? Perhaps, but stirring, moving, creative, undeniable, and helpful? Yes. This book was published on June 8th, 1949, written out of the battered landscape of total war, in a nation hungry, tired, and for some reason, it feels more relevant than ever before. As a scholar, and researcher of media and literature, I argue that the techniques and technologies described in the novel are very much present in today’s world.
I am going to introduce another global initiative that has my radar up. A report published in 2019 by the C40 Cities network, the University of Leeds titled “The future of urban consumption in a 1.5°C world,” claims that mayors of several cities are signing a pledge to fight climate change by enforcing some radical controls on the consumption of individuals, like banning meat and dairy.
This report assesses the impact of urban consumption on greenhouse gas emissions. It also explores the changes needed to make sure that the cities reduce their overall greenhouse gas emissions aligned with internationally determined, climate-safe limits. It looks at expanding the scope of how cities evaluate their emissions to include “consumption-based” emissions, or emissions related to the goods and services that are consumed within the city. Although primarily focused on C40 member cities, it has broader applicability. Yes community, they are already quietly working on C40 Cities here in Canada.
The original concept behind C40 Cities is credited to Carlos Moreno, a professor at Sorbonne University in Paris. His “Digital and Sustainable City” concept was introduced in 2006 and was followed by several additional iterations before his “15-Minute City” concept was revealed in 2016. This concept is being touted for its supposed sustainability, and for the “convenience” and “timesaving” features it supposedly creates for citizens. One C40 Cities promotional video states: “…the 15-minute city is one where everything we need is close to home.” Hmmmm. Limited mobility, control of what you eat; sounds reminiscent of “prison” to me, but I digress.
At the seventh World Mayors Summit in Copenhagen, (October, 2019) leaders of 94 cities embraced a Global Green New Deal, in an attempt to make the 2020’s the defining decade in the fight against climate change. The major new initiative committed to limiting global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, halving emissions by 2030.
This coordinated action by the C40 mayors is an attempt to drive forward a practical green agenda, as the actions of state governments continue to fall short of what’s needed to address the climate crisis. The move, they claim, comes on the back of yet another disappointing failure of states to agree effective measures to meet the global warming targets set out by the Paris Agreement, at the UN Climate Action Summit in September 2019.
Inhabitants of the C40 Cities make up a twelfth of the world’s population, and their economic power represents a quarter of the global economy. In their report, the authors distinguished between progressive and ambitious targets. Some central goals of C40 Cities include:
- Eliminating meat and dairy products as well as actively limiting individual diets to 2,500 calories per day.
- Banning private car ownership by 2030.
- Regulating the frequency and distance of air travel by limiting people to one flight less than 1,500km (about 930 miles) every three years.
- Restricting each citizen to only three new items of clothing purchased each year.
The authors say that these are “ambitious targets,” and that there is no expectation as such that these will be implemented thoroughly. The study says, “This report does not advocate for the wholesale adoption of these more ambitious targets in C40 Cities; rather, they are included to provide a set of reference points that cities, and other actors, can reflect on when considering different emission-reduction alternatives and long-term urban visions.”
Hmmmm! The key points in the report are:
- One of the main causes of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions is urban consumption. Through their influence on global supply networks, cities can have a major effect on greenhouse gas emissions that extend beyond their physical boundaries.
- Although many cities (such as those in the C40) have put in place robust action plans to drastically reduce emissions generated inside their borders, emissions as determined by the amount of energy consumed in cities are increasing and will almost quadruple by 2050 if current trends continue.
- By 2030, emissions from urban consumption must be cut in half to prevent climatic collapse. This requires a two-thirds reduction in emissions from consumption in affluent cities during the next ten years, as well as the adoption of sustainable consumption practices by quickly growing economies as they expand.
- Reducing emissions depending on consumption will benefit a city’s citizens more broadly. If changes are implemented properly, everyone stands to benefit—individuals, companies, and local governments alike.
To some, C40 Cities is another dystopian manifestation of the green, globalist agenda being forced upon the citizens of the world by a number of mostly non-elected entities.
Although the United Nations (UN) and World Economic Forum (WEF) are unelected, they have undue influence over the leaders of numerous nations. The C40 Cities plan is being championed by elected mayors of numerous major cities around the globe without affording their constituents an opportunity to vote on its implementation. That is an issue in itself.
The C40 Cities agenda aligns completely with the goals of the UN and WEF and would essentially make political prisoners of the citizens living in the participating cities. The stated goals include controlling what citizens eat, where and when they travel, and even what they wear, all part of the crusade for combating climate change. Really! C40’s numerous financial supporters include Google, the Clinton Foundation, the World Bank, Bloomberg Philanthropies, the German Federal Ministry, IKEA, Climateworks Foundation, FedEx, and George Soros’ Open Society Foundations, key players in the Covid debacle we are still dealing with.
Considering the “climate crisis” aspect of human-caused climate change is increasingly being challenged by science, facts, truth, and logic, it is becoming obvious the entire climate change agenda is about controlling people.
In the labyrinth of language, doublespeak lurks as a deceptive serpent, twisting truth into deceit. Its venom poisons clarity, obscuring intentions, and camouflaging falsehoods. Take heed, vigilant reader, for double speak conceals its fangs behind beguiling phrases and honeyed words.
In this realm of doublespeak, words lose their meaning, and truths become mired in ambiguity. Beware the euphemisms that sugarcoat harsh realities, the jargon that cloaks incompetence, and the rhetoric that masks deception.
Remain ever watchful, for double speak thrives in the shadows of manipulation and control. Challenge ambiguity, demand clarity, and dismantle the facade of deceit. Don’t let the serpents of double speak (many of our world leaders) coil around your understanding, but instead, cut through its coils with the sword of critical thought.
In this battle for clarity and truth, let skepticism be your shield and discernment your sword. Beware the siren song of double speak, for only by remaining vigilant can we safeguard the sanctity of language and the integrity of communication.
REFERENCES:
https://www.c40.org/press_releases/global-gnd
Stay in the loop with exclusive news, stories, and insights—delivered straight to your inbox. No fluff, just real content that matters. Sign up today!
