@janwax If I recall correctly, there used to be a "hole" in the ozone layer, near the south pole, anyways... So, we reduced the use of fluorocarbon gasses, in spray cans. I have no idea, what sending off large space rockets, does to the atmosphere. Satellites get sent up & the space station needs ( requires) to be regularly resupplied, .( We definitely don't need more "accidents" like that at Wallops Island, where the "re-supplying rocket explodes & fuel goes everywhere ! )
But, just as with Nuclear (& all that "testing") the accidents are usually attributed to "human error." & then there are those accidents, that can be natural disasters, such as at 'Fukushima.., but what do we do with all that "waste", after use up -(spent- ) at the power plant? Dump it deep underground, somewhere ( safe?) ???...
Apart from that, we are not only sending off rockets to Mars, no less., but want "nearly outer space" travel, too.. When does that all stop? The older ways requires , tremendous amounts of fuel, just for lift off & all that testing which was done.. & going to the moon & then learning from all the Space Shuttle trips... Does that put holes, in our outer atmosphere, upon getting into orbit , plus re-entry, every time ? Mostly all of it is :, "whatever goes up , must come down.."
Yes, farming & trucking is a big fuel expense, ( reason why railways are still in use.) not mention... all the travel to & from work., - due to the suburbs-..not just air travel for vacations, but work. Even Congress flies in & out of D.C. each week... It all adds up.
We do need to move towards reduced dependency on fossil fuels, plastics & use of similar synthetics ( While increasing our use of "renewable" or solar , wind & water (derived energy)
It will take huge investment & ought to have incentives (apart from selling excess power back to the Electric companies) & to be affordable too. Not just a "return", on a homeowners initial investment after over ten years time...
