Does anyone else feel paralysed by climate change?

[onebeauplace]

Just that really. Having seen all the covid induced panic (most of which was justifiable IMO), I can't really understand why there isn't the same panic and associated action over climate change. Do people think it just won't happen, or if it does happen that it won't happen in our lifetime, or do they feel like nothing they do will make a difference anyway, or is it that the changes we would need to make are too big and overwhelming to think about?

This is not a judgy post BTW as I really only started learning more about climate change a couple of years ago and I am not perfectly eco friendly in any way shape or form. Often I do just feel totally paralysed by it myself, feel like anything I do is pointless and wonder why more people aren't freaking out because there are real things to freak out about here. This is going to hit in most of our lifetimes - by as early as 2040 we could be seeing extreme changes that will cause a huge drop in living standards. Our children will definitely be affected.

How do others deal with this? I'm going through a complete existential despair thing at the moment where I feel there isn't really any point to anything as the future I sort of believed I had as a child isn't there, and certainly isn't there for my young DD.

I feel powerless because the change needs to be global and with the people who have the power.. I look at my children and I think they will be angry at my generation (im mid 40s) for not doing enough. Ive been able to vote for over 20 years but ive never even had a change of MP in my constituency. I join lobby groups but no impact.

Im mainly worried about the human reaction to tightened resources which presimably will mean wars

I also think some of that is people don't think it will happen "here", it will happen in places like Africa so we don't need to worry.

There is a bit of a pervasive British attitude that bad things don't happen to us. Magical thinking.

I am worried about climate change (which is already happening), but I am not paralysed, I'm hopeful and doing my best.

Thank you @Xiaoxiong your post gives me hope. I'd like to hear more of things like this!

Rewilding, volunteering to plant trees, physically changing your environment for the better - these actions will help to distract you and benefit the world at the same time.

Your feelings are entirely rational. Anyone who has read beyond the headlines, listened to scientists, and actually taken the time to absorb the data will know what you mean.

The facts are undeniable.

We don't even have a garden at the moment (desperately hoping to move soon) so we can't grow our own food etc (live on a main road so stuff just dies in window boxes).

Thank you Ginger, I do feel like my feelings are rational.

I tried to grown my own food...it didn't go well well.

I think some of the problem with most ideas are they se very privileged based. Going to unboxed stores for example, great if you want to pay 3x as much and take 3 buses to get there and have the time to do that. Not so great if you're on a tight budget and have no spare time around work. Gardening likewise.

I try not to engage with fast fashion and haven't bought any new clothes for 5 years, which is unfortunate as I've lost 4 stone so I now have to use a lot of belts. But not everyone is willing to live in the 2010 fashion-wise

Sorry typos

Going to unboxed stores for example, great if you want to pay 3x as much and take 3 buses to get there and have the time to do that

We actually have three zero waste shops in walking distance!

But I do take your point they are expensive. There is a huge discussion to be had around the privilege it takes to be able to do some of these things. Not only in terms of money/background but in terms of time. When people work all hours of the day and night the time and energy to think and do is really dreadfully sapped.

Unless and until the biggest polluters change their ways, everything else is just to make people feel a little less helpless. Even if the whole of the U.K. became carbon and resource neutral, take a look at the globe and see how small we are.

As resources become scarcer and extreme weather makes life more difficult I think human nature will make things much much worse.

The good thing is that if there is a human extinction level event, some humans will survive and hopefully do better. The earth will also recover quite quickly once humans are no longer there to make it worse. When you consider how long humans have been around and how quickly we fucked up the planet it’s quite sobering.

Certainly I think my daughter and grandchildren will have much less pleasant lives than I have been blessed with.

It’s a shame and perhaps the time to do something was 100 years ago, but who would have believed it then? Maybe the luddites had a point?

@thenakedmolerat is proving the point that some people are really in denial and amazingly know better than 99% of scientists who specialise in this area. We are pretty fucked and the effects are just beginning. Let the companies and politicians who have some power to make the most difference know how you're feeling. Make changes where you can. And get active rather than overwhelmed.

Yes. I look at my daughters and feel sick with fear for their future.

It’s a shame and perhaps the time to do something was 100 years ago, but who would have believed it then?

Never mind then, people still don't seem to believe it. From what I can see that seems to be on no other basis other than a) hot summers have always existed and b) bad things they said would happen before didn't happen so this won't either.

Also I don't see how we can actually do what needs to be done without essentially dismantling the entire structure of our society and how things work. But I might be wrong and maybe it doesn't need to go that far to make a difference.

I believe one of the best things I can do for my DD at this point is focus on teaching her practical skills which may be of use in a future where all the modern comforts we enjoy now may not be available.

I also need to lose weight so I can better tolerate hot weather. I'm not hugely overweight but I could do with losing a stone or even two.

@AutistGoth

Agree with *@CharlotteCollinsneeLucas, and @Xiaoxiong. Agree with @Dollpiglet* overall, but I do think that individual action is important too.

Yes, you're right. I feel very frightened too. I am changing my own ways, as is my DH (his own choice, not mine). One way to help make a difference is to switch your energy supplier for one who solely uses renewable sources (Bulb or Octopus for example). This also means that the "Big Six" can have less money and influence. Another step is to switch your bank to one that does not invest in fossil fuels or deforestation. If you can find a zero waste independent food shop near you, take your old containers and shop for supplies there. Buy second hand. Whether that's through charity shops or private sellers on EBay. Whenever you need something new, ask yourself first if you can borrow it, make it or get it second hand. Buying new should be a last resort. Whichever country you live in, try to purchase goods and services based in that country. Shipping things over isn't so good for the environment.

Individually, do these actions do very much? No. But when many, many people are doing them - the more the better - they will tip the scales in our favour.

These are great ideas.

This is just from a quick google so it might not be the best example (there a couple of charts in it with ideas), I was trying to find a list of actions which have the most impact.

www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/05/climate-change-behaviour-impact-survey/

The idea is to prioritise the actions with the most impact first.

The graphic from the link above:

www.ipsos.com/sites/default/files/ct/news/documents/2021-04/Environmental%20Perils%20of%20Perception%202021_0.pdf

Page 8 shows what people think has the most impact on climate change.

Page 9 shows what actually makes the most difference.

thanks Happy, that's a great link.

I feel powerless because any real change needs to come from countries and corporations. But I do try my best to do my best while also balancing the fact that we only live once. I am as eco as I can be for my own conscience but realise that individuals can’t change much at all really.
If we want to point the finger at individuals, look and Bezos, Branson etc who probably have enough money to make enormous changes to the future health of the planet.

We do only have one child. I would have liked another but I just can't bring myself to have one.

Mainstream science does not tell us that a human extinction event is likely. It does tell us that emissions need to fall much faster than they are to keep temperatures as low as possible. This is not to downplay the seriousness of the situation.

I think we can agree that things will absolutely get worse, most of all for people in the most vulnerable of regions but impacts will likely be felt globally. Children in the UK will have the massive advantage of being in a cooler climate to begin with and also being wealthy.

@Xiaoxiong is absolutely right climate doomism is a form of inaction. Again, mainstream science is very clear that there is a lot than can be done to mitigate and adapt.

I am hopeful that action to avoid the worst affects will be taken. But I do agree that many lives will be needlessly lost because of lack of action, which is a complete moral failing of the developed world and utterly criminal.

I'm trying to think about what has the most impact - so recycling is good, but from looking at the chart, it doesn't have a huge impact. Same with LED lightbulbs. I've thought about zero waste shopping, but I'm low on time and headspace and it's true that it is expensive and there is a certain privilege about having the money/time/mental bandwidth to do it.

Already have two children so can't do anything about that, but I do wonder what kind of world I've brought them into. They are amazing but it is hard to think about the future.

Main things for me are (influenced by the link above): switching to a green energy supplier, flying less - I'm not going to stop completely but I would aim for only every 3 years or so, driving less and trying to eat less meat and dairy.

It's not the whole answer but it is better than nothing. We're in a situation where we feel powerless because big corporations and governments are failing to act. But they are driven in some part by our expectations too - if it became more socially unacceptable (change is possible, just see the relatively quick banning on smoking in public places), would they have more pressure to change?

Also, write to your MP! Many people believe this is useless, and it is if everyone believes this!

Support organisations that are mounting legal challenges against fossil fuel companies. If you can, donate to their legal funds.

This heatwave was a normal summer back in the 70's

In 76 it was 😂

Its interesting seeing the things that have the most impact on those charts.