--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our atmosphere can't tell the difference…" description: "\"Our atmosphere can't tell the difference between emissions from an Asian factory, the exhaust from a North American SUV, or deforestation in South Amer..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fc/ban-ki-moon-1778_america_our-atmosphere-can-t-tell-the-difference_2662166.png" --- # Our atmosphere can't tell the difference between emissions… ![“Our atmosphere can't tell the difference between emissions from an Asian factory, the exhaust from a North American SUV, or deforestation in South America or Africa” quote by Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fc/ban-ki-moon-1778_america_our-atmosphere-can-t-tell-the-difference_2662166.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fc/ban-ki-moon-1778_america_our-atmosphere-can-t-tell-the-difference_2662166.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fc/ban-ki-moon-1778_america_our-atmosphere-can-t-tell-the-difference_2662166.png) > “Our atmosphere can't tell the difference between emissions from an Asian factory, the exhaust from a North American SUV, or deforestation in South America or Africa” [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. All emissions impact the global atmosphere equally, regardless of source or location. **In simple terms:** All emissions affect the planet equally. Key Takeaway Reduce your carbon footprint. Themes environment global equity climate change Mood concerned urgent Type activist informative When to use this quote - policy making - education - business strategy - personal habits Key Concepts sustainability policy justice Questions to Reflect On - How does your daily life contribute to emissions? - What policies could level the playing field? A Different Perspective Economic interests often block emission reductions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Asian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asian/) [Climate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate/) [Deforestation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deforestation/) [Differences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/differences/) [Emissions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emissions/) [South america](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/south-america/) [Suvs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suvs/) ## Related quotes > [The things that inform student culture are created and controlled by the unseen culture, the sociological aspects of our climbing culture, our 'me' generation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-van-sant/the-things-that-inform-student-culture-are-created-and-controlled-by/) [Gus Van Sant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-van-sant/) > [Go figure that. Joseph Morelli with a house, a dog, a steady job, and an SUV. And on odd days of the month he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/go-figure-that-joseph-morelli-with-a-house-a-dog-a-steady-job-and-an/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) > [This much is certain... No initiative put in place starting today can have a substantial effect on the peak production year. No Caspian Sea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-s-deffeyes/this-much-is-certain-no-initiative-put-in-place-starting-today-can/) [Kenneth S. Deffeyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-s-deffeyes/) > [Anyone who would argue that this third-generatio n MDX is an SUV might as well belong to the Flat Earth Society. The 2014 Acura…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/anyone-who-would-argue-that-this-third-generatio-n-mdx-is-an-suv/) [Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/) > [Think of Iraq as "East Korea," because it was a shoot the cuffs war for the edification of Kim Jong Il to let him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-miller/think-of-iraq-as-east-korea-because-it-was-a-shoot-the-cuffs-war-for/) [Dennis Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-miller/) > [The chattering bloody classes, or what I call the liberal Guardian readers, they're all buying SUVs to drive around London. I smile at these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-o-leary/the-chattering-bloody-classes-or-what-i-call-the-liberal-guardian-2/) [Michael O'Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-o-leary/) > [The chattering bloody classes, or what I call the liberal Guardian readers, they're all buying SUVs to drive around London. I smile at these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-o-leary/the-chattering-bloody-classes-or-what-i-call-the-liberal-guardian/) [Michael O'Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-o-leary/) > [Drilling in the Refuge is completely unnecessary when we could improve the average fuel economy of cars, minivans and SUV's by just 3 miles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-markey/drilling-in-the-refuge-is-completely-unnecessary-when-we-could/) [Ed Markey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-markey/) > [The message I am trying to get across is exactly this: Protecting the environment does not require us to be against large SUVs or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/the-message-i-am-trying-to-get-across-is-exactly-this-protecting-the/) [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) > [Every time I was driving on the L.A. freeway in a small car, it was very unnerving for me. One time I rented an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-lee-smith/every-time-i-was-driving-on-the-l-a-freeway-in-a-small-car-it-was/) [Lauren Lee Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-lee-smith/) > [People don't want to give up their SUVs. They don't want to turn the thermostat down in the winter and up in the summer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-begley-jr/people-don-t-want-to-give-up-their-suvs-they-don-t-want-to-turn-the/) [Ed Begley, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-begley-jr/) > [The problem was money and the indignities of life without it. Every stroller, cell phone, Yankees cap, and SUV he saw was a torment.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-franzen/the-problem-was-money-and-the-indignities-of-life-without-it-every/) [Jonathan Franzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-franzen/) > [Ranger cradled my face in his hands, using his thumbs to wipe the tears from my eyes. "The ceremony is over. Can you make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/ranger-cradled-my-face-in-his-hands-using-his-thumbs-to-wipe-the/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) > [In some suburban schools, the curriculum is chock-full of rigorous A.P. courses and the parking lot glitters with pricey SUVs, but one doesn't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfie-kohn/in-some-suburban-schools-the-curriculum-is-chock-full-of-rigorous-a-p/) [Alfie Kohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfie-kohn/) > [It turns out the population issue is an easier thing to deal with than the consumption issue. Some obvious extremes in consumption we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-r-ehrlich/it-turns-out-the-population-issue-is-an-easier-thing-to-deal-with/) [Paul R. Ehrlich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-r-ehrlich/) ## More by Ban Ki-moon > [Planet Earth is our shared island, let us join forces to protect it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/planet-earth-is-our-shared-island-let-us-join-forces-to-protect-it/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) > [My observation is China is thinking more as a global player than regionally, in both politics and economics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/my-observation-is-china-is-thinking-more-as-a-global-player-than/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) > [With her courage and determination, Malala has shown what terrorists fear most: a girl with a book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/with-her-courage-and-determination-malala-has-shown-what-terrorists/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) > [I have been, and will remain, outspoken in my insistence that Israel has a right to live in peace and security.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/i-have-been-and-will-remain-outspoken-in-my-insistence-that-israel/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) > [Building sustainable cities - and a sustainable future - will need open dialogue among all branches of national, regional and local government. And it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/building-sustainable-cities-and-a-sustainable-future-will-need-open/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) > [We must follow the wisdom of the Brundtland Report. We must pursue development that meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/we-must-follow-the-wisdom-of-the-brundtland-report-we-must-pursue/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) > [We have reached a new milestone as a human family. With seven billion of us now inhabiting our planet, it is time to ask…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/we-have-reached-a-new-milestone-as-a-human-family-with-seven-billion/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) > [Grave security concerns can arise as a result of demographic trends, chronic poverty, economic inequality, environmental degradation, pandemic diseases, organized crime, repressive governance and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/grave-security-concerns-can-arise-as-a-result-of-demographic-trends/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) > [Some might complain that nuclear disarmament is little more than a dream. But that ignores the very tangible benefits disarmament would bring for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/some-might-complain-that-nuclear-disarmament-is-little-more-than-a/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) > [On this International Day for the Abolition of Slavery let us reaffirm the inherent dignity of all men, women and children. And let us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/on-this-international-day-for-the-abolition-of-slavery-let-us/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) > [I believe that the topic of chemical weapons is critically important for international peace and security, and I take note of the ongoing debate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/i-believe-that-the-topic-of-chemical-weapons-is-critically-important/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) > [Achieving gender equality requires the engagement of women and men, girls and boys. It is everyone's responsibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/achieving-gender-equality-requires-the-engagement-of-women-and-men/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) > [Three decades into this crisis, let us set our sights on achieving the "three zeros" zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/three-decades-into-this-crisis-let-us-set-our-sights-on-achieving-the/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) > [Businesses succeed when societies themselves succeed. When countries are affected by violence and the absence of the rule of law, business can and must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/businesses-succeed-when-societies-themselves-succeed-when-countries/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) > [New York is one of the greatest cities in the world. It is a fitting host to its many international visitors, who can come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/new-york-is-one-of-the-greatest-cities-in-the-world-it-is-a-fitting/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) [Explore all 209 Ban Ki-moon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) ## More America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/) [Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) [Browse all 20,382 America quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Our atmosphere can't tell the difference between emissions from an Asian factory, the exhaust from a North American SUV, or deforestation in South America or Africa", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ban Ki-moon" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/our-atmosphere-can-t-tell-the-difference-between-emissions-from-an/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "America" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/our-atmosphere-can-t-tell-the-difference-between-emissions-from-an/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fc/ban-ki-moon-1778_america_our-atmosphere-can-t-tell-the-difference_2662166.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fc/ban-ki-moon-1778_america_our-atmosphere-can-t-tell-the-difference_2662166.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0fc/ban-ki-moon-1778_america_our-atmosphere-can-t-tell-the-difference_2662166.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Our atmosphere can't tell the difference between emissions from an Asian factory, the exhaust from a North…” — Ban Ki-moon", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ban Ki-moon", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Our atmosphere can't tell the difference...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/our-atmosphere-can-t-tell-the-difference-between-emissions-from-an/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/our-atmosphere-can-t-tell-the-difference-between-emissions-from-an/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```