Code red for humanity -

[54321nought]

www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-58138714

UN climate change report

Climate change is already massive, unstoppable and hugely destructive.

We have to reduce the number of children we are having, reduce the amount of meat fish and dairy we eat, stop driving cars so unnecessarily, stop burning fossil fuel, convert to using renewable energy, stop sending rubbish to landfill, reduce reuse and recycle.

Otherwise the human race is finished. Its as simple as that.

Thank you @Tuscancat that’s a great recommendation for local flowers!

@Greenrubber

I don't think people care enough to make big changes until they effect them personally

Agreed, but also people don't see the point when, well... China. What do we do about what they basically aren't doing?

Honestly, I really was dismayed to see everyone just jetting off on holiday again. We didn't try to use any of the advantages that the pandemic had actually given us. International travel should never have gone back to what it was in 2019.

The book really is worth a read. Bananas aren’t bad by the way. They tend to come in on boats

Dishwashers save both water and fuel. They are far less damaging than using a lot of water that has to be heated. Modern dishwashers sense how dirty the dishes are and use water accordingly.

And they do not take the shine off the cutlery or ruin crockery. They can etch glasses but only if you try to use them with coldish water and it is not hot enough to dissolve all the detergent.

As for the manufacturing, the same can be said for solar power, bikes, windmills, electric cars and all the "things" that are supposed to reduce your carbon footprint.

I've got to the stage now where I won't argue with people who have closed minds. I won't argue against anti-science.

I just do what I can.
What changed it for me was thinking about future (mythical) grandchildren asking me what I did ONCE I knew about climate change. I want to be able to say that I did absolutely everything I could!

And I also don't argue with any whatabouttery. What about China? What about India? Nothing I can change there. So I do what I personally can.

Hopefully if enough of us set an example then others follow. If not, at least I can say I did as much as I could once I knew.

@OakPine

I've got to the stage now where I won't argue with people who have closed minds. I won't argue against anti-science.

I just do what I can.
What changed it for me was thinking about future (mythical) grandchildren asking me what I did ONCE I knew about climate change. I want to be able to say that I did absolutely everything I could!

And I also don't argue with any whatabouttery. What about China? What about India? Nothing I can change there. So I do what I personally can.

Hopefully if enough of us set an example then others follow. If not, at least I can say I did as much as I could once I knew.

When climate change worsens, that booming young population is going to head north for Europe, causing chaos.

Tbf we probably need immigration in the west

Madness isn't it, we have so much knowledge these days. Science is amazing. It's what is getting us out of this awful pandemic.

Yet science and reality don't seem to matter to far too many people these days.

We continue to churn out more and more plastic crap and buy stuff we don't need due to being told it's some sort of special day..and even if it's not a special day the amount we consume is scary.

I know quite a lot of people who have at least 4 hols which include flying every year, some seem to manage more than 6, so at least 12 flights for one person a year. Should be illegal imo.
Isn't it time to have a cap on amount of holiday flights taken per year?
We need to start teaching reuse and recycle more, clothes and countless other things.

Shed loads of beauty products, on one channel alone you could probably buy 500 different skin creams to make you look younger.

Bottom line is we all need to stop and think about how much stuff we really need.

Write to your MP too, I do even though he is completely useless! A hard copy letter seems to be taken more seriously than an email too.
Oh and delete old emails, photos and files. Every server contributes to global warming!

@Kris02

Today’s headlines are really scary. The frustrating thing is that what we do in this country makes little difference. We produce less than 1% of the world’s CO2 emissions. China, which produces nearly a third of emissions, have told the west to get stuffed. The Russians also seem indifferent, and even hope to benefit from climate change.

Africa’s birth rate also frightens me. I think It’s nearly three times higher than Europe. The African population is going to double by 2050, which is just insane. Why is no one talking about it? When climate change worsens, that booming young population is going to head north for Europe, causing chaos.

Still, I do have a certain amount of faith in science. People said there’d be no covid vaccine for ten years, and that it would be a miracle if we invented one in under five. I’m sure there are brilliant people out there working on solutions.

Even though Africa has a higher population most greenhouse gases are currently produced by people in developed countries, either directly (e.g. by flying abroad, driving everywhere) or indirectly (fashion, technology, ...). China produces a lot of CO2 but it's basically the world's biggest workshop, producing goods that are consumed across the globe!

China have some of the most aggressive co2 and pollution reduction targets in the world.
We don't only contribute 1% to emissions we simply outsource our emission generation, I.e. manufacturing to China, we are responsible for a chunk of that 30% too. Stoo buying things you don't need, invest the money you save in ethical funds and trackers.

@shadypines

We continue to churn out more and more plastic crap and buy stuff we don't need due to being told it's some sort of special day..and even if it's not a special day the amount we consume is scary.

I know quite a lot of people who have at least 4 hols which include flying every year, some seem to manage more than 6, so at least 12 flights for one person a year. Should be illegal imo.
Isn't it time to have a cap on amount of holiday flights taken per year?
We need to start teaching reuse and recycle more, clothes and countless other things.

Shed loads of beauty products, on one channel alone you could probably buy 500 different skin creams to make you look younger.

Bottom line is we all need to stop and think about how much stuff we really need.

I agree that unless someone is travelling for work, people should be limited to the number of flights they are allowed to take. 12 flights a year, that's obscene.

@HasaDigaEebowai

Im pleased there have been numerous posts on this over the past few days. It means people are listening. Unfortunately certain people are bombarding all of them STILL denying that climate change is an issue even when faced with a report like this. Best thing to do is to ignore since they just derail what is an important discussion.

Most of us here will see these changes unfortunately. Things are changing now. People are dying and we are reaching the point of no return. Every single thing that people do to make a change is of vital importance but the most significant things you can do are to massively reduce meat and fish consumption, stop flying, change to public transport/electric cars (but only once your current car is no longer useful unless you are selling it on to someone else), use green energy (generate your own if you can but if not then switch to a green tariff) and to stop consuming endless "stuff". Nobody needs fast fashion in particular.

Yep, same old names with their same old denialism. Most of whom will no doubt be dead when the food chain finally collapses.

@gardeninggirl68

we've been doing most of that for years though..

clearly not working

We haven't though.

Humans are a throw away society. Every single day their are threads on here with people wanting new outfits, dresses etc, when they will have plenty of clothes already.
People buy the latest fads to use once or twice before throwing in the bin.

People aren't and never have in my 46 years been helping to save the planet

So many of these threads advocate an all or nothing approach. If you say that its only worth doing if you're vegan, cycle to work, have no children, make your own clothes, only buy produce from a 5 mile radius (without using a car) and never go abroad, the take up of people willing to live like that will be fairly small.

If you ask people to eat less meat, make less car journies/car share etc, buy fewer clothes, shop online or locally as much as possible and take fewer flights...ok they wont individually make much difference but maybe 20 x more people might do that?

And what is the answer about getting our tech from China? Like it or not smart phones or computers are fairly essential to modern life - even more so if we're encouraging more people to wfh (making less car journeys) ...what do we do? Would we manufacture more here - or would that be more polluting? And presumably drive up the cost too.
We often buy second hand (my DD got a new laptop for her birthday this year, but her previous one was second hand and lasted 4 years) ...but for 2ñd hand to be available it suggests someone else is upgrading theirs....

Also (slightly off topic but possibly related) there was a thread on here a while ago about how some manufactures purposefully made things to only last x years therefore encouraging the consumer to replace after a certain number of years - particularly talking about white goods (which in previous generations had lasted much longer) and phones, laptops etc.

@Tuscancat

China have some of the most aggressive co2 and pollution reduction targets in the world. We don't only contribute 1% to emissions we simply outsource our emission generation, I.e. manufacturing to China, we are responsible for a chunk of that 30% too. Stoo buying things you don't need, invest the money you save in ethical funds and trackers.

Fair point re outsourcing emission generation

Our elites can't be that worried, with their giant cars, enormous houses with heating and air conditioning, belching factories/offices, private jets with frequent travel, and multiple children, often adding further children in later life by subsequent wives.

They're SO worried.

It can only change if big companies change their ways, mining for Bitcoin is one of the most harmful things to our global warming problem but people don’t even think of it as an issue!

We can all eat less meat and dairy and do our recycling but it’s a drop in the ocean compared to fossil fuel hungry companies.

Fair enough @HasaDigaEebowai I agree ebikes are great for longer distances. If you can afford them.

@PicsInRed they are building bunkers to survive it!

@PicsInRed

Our elites can't be that worried, with their giant cars, enormous houses with heating and air conditioning, belching factories/offices, private jets with frequent travel, and multiple children, often adding further children in later life by subsequent wives.

They're SO worried.

Being wealthy will be a huge buffer I agree - and also a cause, the rich add more emissions can’t remember figures

Being poor and in wrong countries will exacerbate suffering

I don't know what else to do.

I've stopped buying meat/fish....might occasionally eat it meat when out
I decided 3 years ago to stop flying.
I cycle to work
I've tried to stop buying "stuff" as much as possible.
I recycle.

I'm really worried, I feel my efforts are such a drop in the ocean especially when most other people don't even seem to be doing this.

'WE' don't have a car.

'We' have never owned a car.

'We' have engaged and worked for environmental organisations campaigning for greater awareness and action for actually myself fourty five years now.

'We' garden.

'We' walk mostly everywhere.

'We' eat mostly vegetarian and don't waste food.

I suggest you look in the mirror OP and stop talking bullshit.