Climate report - what can the little man do?

[SGChome20]

After reading in the news about the climate report and that we are running head on into disaster it’s got me thinking. I strongly believe the big businesses need to step up and do more but I can’t practically affect that change. Yes I can sign petitions etc etc but it’s not making the changes.

I wondered what I/we as a small family can do? I mean I do the standard recycling, try to reduce single use plastics where possible. I’ve pretty much stopped buying new clothes unless they really need something and wear things till they are done. What do you do that you think is helping the environment? Bonus points if it actually also makes life easier/more enjoyable.

Get off social media:

www.nature.com/articles/d41586-018-06610-y

As others have said

Reusable san pro, masks and nappies etc
Go vegan / veggie and grow your own veg or buy a local veg box
When it's time to replace the car, go electric or better still use trains/ car clubs/ bikes
Dont buy fast fashion. Buy secondhand clothes or arrange clothes swaps.
Cut down on packaging, bulk buy from zero waste shops. They are popping up all the time.
No travel by air

the throwaway nature the pandemic has opened up, wipes, masks, lateral flows, just Not helping.

Agree re having a maximum of 2 kids

reuse recycle reduce

Have no more children and no more pets.

bluejelly Mon 09-Aug-21 20:01:33
Oh yes and buy your electricity from a renewable energy supplier - really easy to switch.

Renewables (hydro, wind, solar, biomass) exist, and generate electricity whether or not people 'sign up' to them. 'Signing up' doesn't of itself increase the percentage of renewables in the energy mix.

This is a really helpful and nice thread. Thank you.

@tanguero but doesn't paying your money to a company that doesn't use oil or gas mean you a) helping the renewable energy sector to grow b) not helping the oil/gas sector to grow? And also not putting extra co2 emissions into the atmosphere? Or am I missing something?

Don't eat meat.
Don't buy cows milk.
Limit how many children you have.
Buy local.

I'm focusing on what for most people are the biggest hitters

Turn down the heating and get good insulation

Less meat and diary

Avoid flying , reduce driving

@Tulipomania’s list is an excellent start; but one of the biggest things we can do is have smaller families. Smaller families have a significantly lower environmental impact than bigger ones, but it’s difficult to discuss without seeming critical of people’s families.

Otherwise, vote locally and nationally for parties that are serious about climate change, go flight free, drive less, shop less, consume less.

Email is small impact
Videos are much bigger
Don't worry about the email
Don't play a video if you just want to listen to a song
You can check if your internet provider uses green electricity

Nobody needs to replace their car every few years, or upgrade their smartphone just because a new one has come out.

Stop covering your gardens with gravel, decking or block paving.

So there's a big tree. Don't chop it down - leave it the fuck alone.

Well thats absolutely fascinating. Why didn't I think where the Internet comes from!! Never even thought about the carbon in an email.

Stop buying products with palm oil

Go vegan if you can. Dump beef and milk, cheese and other dairy products otherwise. Oatly barista oat milk is the best replacement I've found. Drive an EV if you can.

Mainly - eat a plant based diet. It's the biggest difference you can make for a huge range if reasons. It will genuinely change the world if enough people do it.

The biggest difference is not diet (but home heating and transport

Less easy to be making visible statement bur walk :/cycle /train and turn the heating down

Almond milk is really really terrible, from an environmental perspective.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jan/07/honeybees-deaths-almonds-hives-aoe?CMP=ShareiOSAppp_Other

I seem to remember reading somewhere that oat milk was the least problematic of all the non-dairy milks.

@AbsolutelyPatsy

the throwaway nature the pandemic has opened up, wipes, masks, lateral flows, just Not helping.

It's really quite shocking.

1. stop flying
2. stop driving
3. stop eating meat
4. stop shopping (for new items)
5. live in a smaller house
6. use renewable energy

Plus campaign, campaign, campaign

Iannistunut list is good, but I would suggest people aim to do less rather than stop completely as it's much easier.

If 80% do half that's better than 20% doing everything.

@Tulipomania

Iannistunut list is good, but I would suggest people aim to do less rather than stop completely as it's much easier.

If 80% do half that's better than 20% doing everything.

I do occasionally drive, using a car club car. And of course I buy items I need.

But 'stop' is an important word. If we all just 'do less' it gets a bit feeble.

What people immediately need to stop doing is thinking recycling their yogurt pots makes them an eco warrior.

Mostly it's about boring for change politically and financially, ie not putting your cash in the hands of the big polluters. Every £ we spend is a vote for the kind of world we want.

The top 20 companies on this list have contributed to 35% of all energy-related carbon dioxide and methane worldwide.
www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/oct/09/revealed-20-firms-third-carbon-emissions?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

20 firms are responsible for 55% of the world's plastic waste www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/may/18/twenty-firms-produce-55-of-worlds-plastic-waste-report-reveals?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/oct/09/what-we-know-top-20-global-polluters?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

Stop buying fast fashion

Stick to two / three children or under (maybe two but as I have three feels a bit off saying to others only two)