These massive strides in technology mean that we use much less energy than we did in the past, despite appearing to lead much more extravagant energy-intensive lifestyles. The notion that we need to be frugal to live a low-carbon life is simply wrong. In the UK we now emit about the same as someone in the 1850s. I emit the same as my great-great-great-grandparents. And I have a much, much higher standard of living.
