Is Climate Quarantine Next on the Agenda?

When I first heard the term climate quarantine I was a bit skeptical. Shockingly, I heard it from a very level-headed elderly gentleman, not exactly the conspiracy theorist type. However, I gave the idea some thought and such fears are entirely justified. Dissuading people from traveling has been one of the main goals of the whole climate change movement from the very beginning and now it seems the tools to put such ideas in practice are being built behind the scenes.
How could a climate quarantine be enforced? How can you control people's movement? Why, by controlling their finances! The key element in imposing travel restrictions is already in your pocket. Your credit card can be used to limit your carbon footprint!

Do you know your carbon max?

The story begins in 2018, with a Sweden-based startup called Doconomy. This company launched a credit card, DO, inscribed with the slogan 'Everyday Climate Action', and one can only assume the very first one was offered to none other than Greta Thunberg.
Have a look at what this credit card does:

"While many of us are aware that we need to reduce our carbon footprint, advice on doing so can seem nebulous and keeping a tab is difficult. DO monitors and cuts off spending, when we hit our carbon max."

Got it? You hit your carbon max and your not allowed to purchase anything. I don't know what my carbon max is, but I am afraid someone does.

Enter Mastercard

At first sight, it would seem it was nothing but a gimmick, something to make Greta and her buddies feel morally superior to the rest of us. Nobody can force you to get one of these DO cards.
Oddly enough, less than a year after this startup launched it partnered up with Mastercard.

"Doconomy and Mastercard announce their joint effort to combat climate change by enabling DO – a free and easy-to-use mobile banking service that lets users track, understand and reduce their CO2 footprints through carbon offsetting."

In April 2021, Martercard and Doconomy proudly presented to the world the Carbon Calculator, 'a new way to look at environmentally informed spending'.

'The Carbon Calculator enables consumers to receive a snapshot of the carbon emissions generated by their purchases across spending categories.'

This Carbon Calculator is now a built-in feature of the Mastercard app and it can offer consumers advice on reducing their carbon footprint.
If you look at the terms used in all the press releases, it's all about helping people, make them understand the consequences of their spending. All very friendly and full of positive vibes.
So far.

What if Mastercard decides to implement Doconomy's strategy and limit your wasteful carbon-producing spending? If you've reached your carbon max this month you won't be allowed to buy airplane tickets for a city break. Does this sound far-fetched to you?

The climate warriors have been awfully quiet for the past two years, but they are back in action. The Extinction Rebellion group has been blocking highways in the UK for the last few weeks. And there's the Climate Change Conference in Glasgow coming up soon.
Looking at what is happening in the world today, you can easily imagine a future (and not a very distant one) where people will be shamed for exceeding their carbon max. The same slogans used during the Covid pandemic can easily be adapted to the fight against climate change. We're in this together. It's for the common good. Take one for the team.
Vaccine proponents tell us every day that we do not have the freedom to put others at risk and therefore we must be punished. The same is true about your carbon footprint. If you exceed your max you're putting others at risk by destroying the planet we share. If you don't understand that your actions have consequences, you deserve to be punished.
Once you've reached your limit, you will only be allowed to use your credit card to buy essential goods. Groceries, medicine, toilet paper (maybe). Definitely not beer or a new coat! Maybe you'll pay more attention to your spending next month!

Welcome to climate quarantine! You will be forced to self-isolate because you won't have the money to go anywhere!