I used to subscribe to this approach of personal responsibility. But even if absolutely everyone made all the personal choices they can, using up all their energy and time, they would cut world emissions by between 10 and 20%. Climate change is simply not something we can fix this way, and if we focus on that tiny chunk of it, we ignore the really important conversation about the companies that generate the vast majority.
The act of doing so is a zero sum game with your other activities to make a real impact. If you refuse to fly to Washington DC, you can’t lobby. You are being taken in by a well-established campaign to get you to do and say what you are doing and saying.
