If you ruled the world, what would you implement to help with climate change

[GiraffeInTheCity]

Daydreaming if world domination whilst doing a rain dance...

If you ruled unilaterally, what would you do to make things (anything) more climate friendly? I would

• set net zero targets for much sooner (net zero 2050/2030 feels like ages given the emergency) and would require companies to have solid plans to get there. Probably set it for the next 3 to 5 years. Massive fines if you don't meet targets.

• mandate large scale public transport infrastructure upgrades in big cities where there isn't enough (tax the billionaires to pay for it) and make driving in them difficult (ULEZ, scant parking etc)

• renationalise energy and water, with the view to run it on clean energy and without pumping effluent into the rivers / sea. I imagine there would need to be massive upgrades here too to achieve that. Not renationalising because the private sector is being a bunch of thieves dishonest, But because things need to move quickly now, this is an emergency.

• make eating meat / dairy / fish illegal (I know I'll get flamed for this one...) --

-- What would you do?

RIPWalter
I would vote for your manifesto.

It couldn't be a case of only those who want to grow and do the work get the food, because we would have to feed those who physically can't do the work as well. That's more complicated

Gnilliwdog What about those who don’t want to work on the land? Would they be made to? That could be hard to enforce.

As things are now if people don't want to work they can continue to buy food from shops. I actually think many people in cities would enjoy subsidising their diet in return for a bit of gardening and it would be good for mental and physical health as well as ease the grocery bill. It may be better than allotments as they are a lot of work for one person and there is often a long waiting list. So right now, nobody would have to, but I think some would like to, which would mean more locally produced food. If food shortages become really dire then the situation changes. More people will need to focus on food production and work also for those who can't do the work. Anyone who just doesn't want to will either starve or possibly be rich enough to find another way of feeding themselves.

You understand this is a chat forum and I was making a joke, right?

Stuntbubbles in that case my apologies.
It’s hard to tell sometimes - there have been posts saying ‘come the revolution……’ - and I don’t know if they’re being serious or not.

I don't think I have seen any posts that say 'come the revolution.' Suggestions for rewilding or community gardens on public land are not revolutionary. We have a few lovely community growing projects in my area which not only produce a bit of food but liaise with social welfare projects and schools and organise community events.

I don't think I have seen any posts that say 'come the revolution

I meant on other threads over the years.

@Andante57 OK! Sorry, now I understand.

Diddums

Carbon Tax for every person in the World according to their consumption profile (like VAT does). Equal carbon tax rate for someone in India versus someone in China versus someone in New Zealand. It all goes into an international pool (the carbon fund), and like a tax, is administered by a government (only an international governmnet) which determines the projects that are the highest priority.

First priority for the carbon fund will be to buy up large tracts of land and replant trees. Second priority will be to fund dedicated teams who implement incredible, reliable, hydrogen-powered public transport routes and and bicycle (ebike) routes through all major cities. There'd be enough money to revolutionise transport in the shitty third world cities where such projects never get funded or properly executed.

I would ensure every woman around the world had access to contraception.

This !!

This !!

I’d enforce home working for any job where it’s possible. Keep as many cars off the road. All new build houses would be given solar panels with a battery (my electricity bill has gone down by 90% since April) And I’d give lots more grants for other houses to have panels. I’d make it mandatory for supermarkets to sell things like pasta/rice loose so you can just bring a plastic tub and refill it by weight. Those wanky shops that do it right now are all very well but they’re always in really posh areas and cost the earth. No wonder more people don’t use them. I’d also make public transport a lot cheaper and ensure that people with a bus pass can use it before 9.30am. I still have epilepsy before 9.30 you know. My mum is still 71 before 9.30 FFS!!

Stop talking about climate change and start selling the economic benefits of the green economy and how it will improve our lives and save money. I believe in climate change and think people like @MadonnasKebab are uneducated idiots

However the rhetoric turns people like her off. You’ve got to sell them the benefits they want to see. To make it more attractive we need to talk more positively about what’s in it for them, rather than banning stuff and punishment.

Environmentalists are often talking to the converted and need to find new ways to talk to non-greenies.

As we near the end of fossil fuel, venture capitalists will pivot towards renewables. It’s already happening. The market will provide solutions to climate change better than any government can!

In my benign communist dictatorship, I would:

• Dismantle capitalism, starting with plastic toot like B&M, The Range, etc
• Outlaw “hinching” and excessive domestic cleaning. Everyone gets some vinegar and soda, with the possibility of a lemon if the UK climate warms enough to grow them. No imports
• Requisition land and redistribute, encouraging communal, multigenerational living on nationalised land, with requirements to grow your own, dig for victory, etc, supported with my National Free Water Butts policy
• I’ll also be requisitioning second homes and holiday homes; we need affordable housing for all in order to make all homes energy efficient and fit them all with:
• Solar, plus hydro power where relevant, and X% of land given over to wind
• Bring back rationing: for food, clothes, products, carbon, everything
• Ban flying
• Limit children: 2 per couple and if you’ve already got 2 but have a new partner, tough
• Ban private ownership of cars. Radical overhaul of public transport – we need more of it, more cheaply, more widely spread and more reliable, and powered by renewables
• Turn off the internet. No more cloud, no more email history backup going back years, no more Mumsnet AIBU (gasp!). Instead of making loads more renewable energy to cover the internet’s requirements – because even renewables have a footprint – we reduce our need for energy
• Ban dogs. Cats will be gradually phased out
• One bath a week like the olden days, shared
• Ban astroturf

@stuntbubbles your benign dictatorship would need to be a hostile totalitarian dictatorship for those to happen. I'm with @Whyaretheynotdoinganything

Stop with this personal responsibility deflection crap (we are way past the point of heaping climate responsibility on a populace whose focus is increasingly on survival in the hear and now and not survival in the future). Instead, ban harmful products at the source i.e, stop corporations pumping out stuff that is bad for the planet in the first place.

Invest in rail infrastructure and restructure peoples working patterns to give them more time off to take train journeys to holiday destinations, visit family, attend business events etc. In fact, slow the whole pace of life down so that people aren't constantly rushing around and so that instead they have more time to make environmentally friendly lifestyle choices. Once this is done, ban most airline journeys and become a global society that is far more reliant on high speed rail travel.

Nationalise all essential services including transport and energy and spend what would be grotesque shareholder profits on massively speeding up the transition to greener energy and transport instead.

Make environmentally sustainable choices and products the most affordable and convenient options.

End capitalism and ultimately its inevitable profit over people and the planet, consumerism and unsustainable growth.

@Daftasabroom No, cos I’d do it nicely, and there would be plum tarts.

Sounds great stuntbubbles, sign me up!