I. Supersizing Trends

Thoughtful Americans recognize that the United States is a prodigious consumer of energy and natural resources, and as such, a large-scale emitter of carbon dioxide (CO2), the primary greenhouse gas (GHG) forcing climate change. Few, however, recognize the truly, singular nature of the U.S. contribution to climate change. The U.S. share of CO emissions from energy generation is approximately 20% of the global total, which when allocated across the entire population, comes to a little over 20 tons per person per year. Some countries, such as Australia and Canada, have comparable per capita emissions, but without a large population base, their total emissions pale in comparison to the United States. China's total emissions rival those of the United States, but China's per capita emissions are exceedingly small (3.9 tons per person). Moreover, if we compare the United States to its economic counterpart, the European Union, we find European per capita emissions to be roughly one-half those of the United States.

Various explanations exist for why the U.S. emissions profile is sui generis. Some examples might be the country's large coal-based electricity generation and its extensive geographical scope (making the transportation sector a large-scale emitter). An equally compelling explanation highlighted in this Article is that American individuals and households, through their pursuit of the American Dream, have created a lifestyle inimical to combating climate change. Statistical evidence will be marshaled demonstrating that the "supersizing" of the American Dream--that is, the building of larger dwellings accompanied by the accumulation of more and larger household possessions--has taken place relatively recently and seriously diminishes our ability to reduce our collective carbon footprint.