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.

www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/feb/25/atlantic-ocean-circulation-at-weakest-in-a-millennium-say-scientists

www.cbsnews.com/news/climate-change-atlantic-ocean-gulf-stream-system-amoc-weakest-1600-years/

With increasing global warming it will definitely happen "here". If the oceanic currents continue to degrade our climate will get a lot less habitable. 2 different links, UK / US perspective. Link to the scientific paper is on both articles.

I remember learning about the oceanic currents in A-level geography. Even back then my teacher commented that the UK got its warm climate from the Gulf Stream, & that the coast of Scotland, & the islands to the west coast have a significantly more temperature climate than would be expected, because of this, despite being on the edge of a vast ocean. Mainland Scotland is on the same latitude as Southern Alaska. I seem to remember him being quite switched on about environmental issues. It was a subtle drip drip drip of pollution this, deforestation that, plastic in the ocean, monoculture, overfishing, overfarming, permafrost melting & the glaciers shrinking, building on greenfield sites contributing to flooding by reducing the land's capacity to absorb rainfall etc. It informed a lot of the choices I've made since then.

@JaneJeffer

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

No it wasn't apart from 1976

@Indoctro

I'm scared for my young kids, I think their lives as adults is going to be tough. I read recently humans will most likely be extinct in 100 years if we don't change now

I'm terrified for my grandchildren if my kids going onto have kids as that will be there generation. Can you imagine this planet as extinction looms

I try not to think about it ,as it's very upsetting

But the thing is that is very unlikely to be true. Think back to life 100 years ago. No electric in most homes even. No cars or planes . Nothing much to really relate to every day life we have now. The pace of technological advancement increases many fold as time progresses. So the next 100 years will see that advancement accelerated. I can’t remember what the amount of acceleration is but I have read extensively about this in past years. Imagine the last 100 years development x5 even. Picking up someone from 2021 and dumping them in 2121 would probably blow their minds. Say to day life will look absolutely nothing like today.

No, I rarely think about it. I would certainly do my best to minimise any ill effects which could result from my actions but, honestly, I don't do that much anyway. I don't even drive and have no plans to fly anywhere. For myself, I wasn't and am not panicky about Covid but careful and conscious how awful it has been for others.

I'm glad that younger people are environmentally conscious and prepared to make changes, that is something to be encouraged.

I hope technology is the answer.

I think humans are adaptable and we can change how we live to suit very different conditions but we will need food and water and i still think scarce resources lead to war. All those displaced people from uninhabitable bits.

COP22 should be dynamic this autumn after the floods in Germany

I don't get the shit losing at 29c today.

I remember in 2003 doing my uni exams in a heatwave of 38c

1976 anyone - I wasn't born but we hear about it.

This is such a timely thread, just the other day I was having a chat with someone IRL about this and can we really reverse or stop the effects of climate change by doing things like not using plastic straws when much bigger things are going on unchecked e.g. industry in China and whatnot. We both agreed that it makes sense to do small measures like reducing single use plastic regardless, but is there actually any hope at all.

People saying that climate change hasn't happened yet, did they see the footage from Germany last weekend? All down to climate change and around 180 people lost their life.
It was a footnote on the main news , but outside source on sat morning did do a special piece about it, but I doubt many saw that it was hidden away amongst covid news.
It is happening now.

@thenakedmolerat

Does anyone else feel paralysed by climate change? no. weren't we all meant to be under water by now? or was it that Britain would effectively be a desert state by now? i remember a major story where we were told in 20 years we'd have cacti in the garden instead of grass. Think that was a good 20 years ago. Anyway, it's beautiful weather here and I'm loving it

This. Modelling on climate change has proved to be incorrect time and again.

People saying that climate change hasn't happened yet, did they see the footage from Germany last weekend? All down to climate change

Can you prove this? There are many other reasons for floods. In fact worse floods have taken place in that location in Germany over the years. Lots of other things cause flooding including building on flood plains.

@Xiaoxiong

No, I don't feel paralysed because my job is 100% about working to prevent it at a much more impactful level than personal actions - think investment, carbon taxes, regulatory change and elimination of fossil fuels. There is so much we can and are doing, from energy efficiency, energy transition, sustainable everything, resource management etc.

We CAN do it, and actually, feeling completely gloomy and helpless is in fact a "soft" form of climate denialism - if we feel we can do nothing and have no agency, then we will stop fighting because we think we can't win... but we can win!! And the changes are not as huge as you think, especially not after what we've been through as a society with covid.

I would recommend reading "The New Climate War" by Michael Mann - it's excellent.

Thank you

@Watchwoman What exactly is the point of coming on here and just denying everything? Does it make you feel just super duper cleverer than everyone else? Specifically, can you explain how you are better educated on man made climate change than say, NASA?

climate.nasa.gov

Do post all your links. Ta.

The outside source people on Saturday morning news channel said that the floods in Germany were ' a direct result of climate change' . It wasn't me saying this!
I tend to believe the news : not always one hundred percent , but I do about this.

I won't engage with climate change deniers tbh as there is no point.

If you don't believe in something that is clearly evident to be true what conversation can you have?

But I certainly understand why people don't want to believe it.

Although it’s great for everyone to work at an individual level against it, it’s a drop in the ocean. The USA is pumping out almost double what the Entire EU is. China pumps double the US. These are big corporate companies that will only stop with law, regulations and world cooperation. It does feel hopeless

It’s happening now though isn’t it. German floods American fires. It’s frustrating and terrifying. I do what I can but it’s too huge so frankly I try not to think about it. I do get frustrated with people merrily popping out 3 plus children. Just seems incredible to me.

It is worrying.

The heatwave in Canada and the US, the forest fires land super high temps in Russia last year, the flooding in Europe and the torrential rain in the UK.

The melting glaciers. The breaking off of the ice shelf.

It's brewing and we can't stop it. The 23 biggest polluting cities and in China and they don't give a toss.

I do get frustrated with people merrily popping out 3 plus children. Just seems incredible to me.

I don't think people realise it will affect them (seriously) in their lifetime. They think it's hundreds of years away.

I didn't realise myself when I had DD 5 years ago.

So having less children is the best thing to do but a) you will get told that it is none of your business/it's personal choice/stop being smug if you say maybe having 4+ children is a bad idea (have seen it on here) and b) it brings economic problems ie: if there is a declining population, who pays the taxes/cares for the elderly in a few decades?

I think a big issue if the inability of people to think in the long term. Individually we tend to prioritise what makes us happy now. Politicians focus in what will get them in power now not what is best for the country in the long term. Large corporations and wealthy individuals focus on what will bring in profits for them/their shareholders now. Etc etc

The Brazilians burning the rainforests 🙄

I work with the terminally ill and as I age am determined to enjoy my time left on earth - I do what I can (reusables / cycle / one car / stopped at 2) am far from perfect but I can’t take on this issue as it is impossible and I don’t want to ruin my own life fretting about something I cannot change.

No. I do what I can where I can but I don't spend time freaking out over it. We are only here for a short while what is the point in being 'paralysed' or despairing over things we have very minimal control over.
How would it benefit my children to have a mother who can't get a grip? Who would it benefit if I was despairing over it?

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jul/19/oregon-bootleg-fire-latest-news-largest-us

It's happening. and we're encouraging it by buying crap, flying everywhere and eating like never before. And by thinking trees and dirty and only spoil out fun by keeping our garden in the shade. And by concreting our countryside over.

Absolutely.

No. I do what I can where I can but I don't spend time freaking out over it. We are only here for a short while what is the point in being 'paralysed' or despairing over things we have very minimal control over.

We can. Start by buying less, travelling less, having fewer children so the ones you have can have a healthy life. Your children will benefit from it. They won't benefit from a mother who can't be arsed.