Op-Ed: I’m Watching From The Philippines, & Your Venti Latte Math Doesn’t Add Up - CleanTechnica

The article, written from the perspective of a CleanTechnica contributor based in the Philippines, highlights the stark contrast between climate realities in developing versus developed countries. The author shares their personal journey of decarbonization, including switching from high-emission vehicles to low-emission transport and adopting solar and energy-efficient appliances. They emphasize how, in their region, climate change is an immediate and tangible crisis rather than a distant policy debate. The writer expresses concern over the developed world's complacency and the undervaluation of meaningful climate advocacy, noting that sustaining independent green journalism like CleanTechnica is challenging amid audiences accustomed to free content and distractions. A key critique centers on consumer habits in wealthier countries, exemplified by the "Starbucks Index." The author points out the hidden environmental costs of everyday indulgences such as expensive coffee drinks—highlighting their contribution to waste, energy consumption, and water use—and urges readers to redirect spending from such luxuries to support impactful climate journalism. Additionally, the article proposes