AIBU to feel people are far too complacent about climate change?

So you're saying people who have muliple kids shouldn't bother with any lifestyle adjustments? Shouldn't try raising the next generation with those things being normal or the default situation?

There are people who never wanted kids in first place who make out they've done something nobel by not having them and they're fine to do endless international flights and endless consumption now.

Preaching at others trying to score moral points over others is annoying who ever is doing it - in fact I think that a huge part of the green problem - it's become a stick to beat others with and means many stop listening and shrug off change.

What's the point, though? Genuinely? If I wash my yoghurt pots and drive less, what difference is it actually going to make?

No, I'm saying people with children (especially multiple children) have no right to preach at other people about making changes.

Are they allowed to mention that they themselves have made changes?

Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates are apparently investing in solar and wind.

Though apparently solar panel don't do well in really hot climates - efficiency drops by about 0.3% to 0.5% for every 1°C that the panel heats up above 25°C.

Though have seen them over canals in hotter countries reducing water lost in evaporation and in France over car parks - so providing shade as well as generating electricity. So people are getting innovative.

Whenever I have been to America they do minimal recycling. Still widely using plastic straws, cutlery, polysterene food boxes (I thethink I last saw these in the UK in 1992!) there are no public recycling bins. I do agree these things are important but whatever I do in a year is undone by my counterpart in the US within a week.

Well, they can mention whatever they like, but if those changes don't outweigh the damage they've done by having kids, then they can't expect people to take them seriously IMO.

Not cynical. Realistic. The answer to every single "environmental" crisis has been money. If it causes "pollution", tax it. Don't ban it, tax it. 🙄 and has all this money solved the inpending doom? No. Ever wonder why the tax is set to a level that is just high enough to make it a money spinner, but low enough that people will pay it, so they can continue to do the thing.

YABU. What's the point in worrying? The planet will survive, even if mankind doesn't.

Well, exactly. And it's not just the US.

It's all very well telling people to drive less, or wash their yoghurt pots, or buy organic strawberries, but until other countries do their bit, it's just performative bollocks IMO.

So if someone is a net detriment to the environment (when their entire life is taken into consideration) rather than a net benefit, it means you can safely allow yourself to ignore any of their remarks about behaviour changes that might make you uncomfortable?

That's convenient!

When your big polluter countries are run by men/groups of men who are only 10-15 years from dying of old age it isn't surprising. The leaders of the US, Russia and China are 80, 73 and 71.

There's a reason that dystopian books and films show societies where certain things are banned - things like one-child rules and a national uniform to avoid waste. People won't do them by choice.

Who said it makes me feel uncomfortable?

I just think it's all performative bollocks.

Yes every time I've been to the US I come away thinking anything I do is entirely pointless. Plastic cutlery at a hotel breakfast!!

My friend in the US genuinely thought l shouldn't dry my washing on the line outside , apparently it's not done there . I appreciate this may not be everywhere on the US , she is in Arizona .

Have you seen any of the videos about people living in places like Korea?

Plastic cups in grocery stores filled with ice, and then you add liquid from another plastic container, drink it from a plastic straw - it's insane. And that's just cold drinks!

The animals of the world have done nothing wrong and don't deserve it

Everyone that switches to renewables from a gas boiler makes a difference. It reduces the need for new/replacement gas fired power stations that are supposedly 'low carbon' but will simply transport the CO2 away and hide it under the sea - that's making a difference right here in the UK. Investing in a heat pump and solar can also save you thousands of pounds, speaking from experience - that's an incentive and frees you from the trap of paying high energy prices, with a short payback time.

Some places in the US ban it! As in, it's actually illegal to hang your washing out to dry, lol. insanity.

They all have separate massive dryers (unless living in a city apartment with basement facilities) and just transfer every single item across from washer to dryer. It's madness. It ruins your clothing and costs a fortune!

How is any of that making a difference when you have people like Andy Burnham, Donald Trump and Taylor Swift getting in private planes everyday, and when billions of Americans use paper plates and plastic cups for their dinner every night?

I think people who say "it does have an impact" are kidding themselves, frankly.

Here's an interesting article from the UN Environment Programme, an interview with two scientists (both female 💪) in which they talk about the progress we've made in combating the climate crisis, and why there are grounds for hope.

One takeaway:

If there is one message you would want people, especially younger readers, to take away, what would it be?

Hinwood: My message is simple: do one thing.

We are a planet of billions of people. If every person did one thing, the impact would be enormous. Don’t think it’s all too hard. Find one thing you can do and be proud of yourself for doing it.

Climate crisis or climate progress? Two leading scientists separate fear from fact

If no one ever stands up and says, "That's it - as of today I'm going to do things differently," then nothing will ever change.

We need to stop letting the perfect be the enemy of the good.

You're talking about something different though. Getting rid of gas boilers will make a huge difference to the UK both now and in the future.

I think you're living in fantasy land if you genuinely believe that to be true.