Anyone else want climate change further up the political agenda? It should be in the news every day.

[MrsAlexxis]

I am increasingly worried about global
warming, but although I have tried to do my bit for decades, I find myself reading more about Harry and Megan’s returns to the UK than climate change in the papers and politicians and industry leaders are just pressing on with their data centres which will consume even more AI and we have peoole
like Trump in charge who don’t even believe in climate change. We are ruining the planet for future generations and not even taking much about it. Is it only me feeling helpless watching this unfold?

No. I agree with you, there is the odd article here and there but anything else gets spoken about at great length. I’m also concerned at the accelerated rate of global warming and how close we’re getting to a Mad Max scenario. Everybody is also using bloody AI if it didn’t cost us tremendous amounts of water.

100% don't get why people aren't terrified

But unless the big countries China, USA change were stuffed -why worry yourself over something we can do nothing about ( we can make our own energy which we are doing ) but the rest is destroying our ability to compete in the world. We make no money and are building a horrific debt for our children

I think we should all worry and put pressure on our politicians to put it top of agenda. Actually we should be panicking. It’s late in the day for our planet and we are doing nothing to preserve it for future generations.

This.
We do our bit definatly but we are a drop in the ocean .
We need to tackle the energy crisis first players like iran and Putin control us.

Suggest you read the Guardian. Yes I know it's not perfect but it does drill down into the detail of what IS being done over the climate crisis and has a dedicated section. Just because these things don't make the popular headlines don't think nothing's being done or it's being ignored. It really isn't being ignored. It is, though, extremely complex and therefore liable to be ignored by the tabloids unless it's mid-crisis.
For instance this.
www.theguardian.com/membership/ng-interactive/2026/aug/25/we-asked-our-climate-reporters-to-highlight-one-idea-for-positive-change-we-got-a-chronicle-of-global-transformation

That’s really positive, but again drop in the ocean. The tabloids should be writing about it.
Ghats my point. Why are people caring more about Harry and Megan than the destruction of our planet. It’s so visible now.

Yes I agree with you.
Trouble is people, both individually and collectively, at both the personal and societal levels, change slowly. Whereas this needs fast change.
I'm not sure what can be done about it that isn't being done though.
Except all of us keep it all on the agenda.

The planet will be fine. Humans will destroy themselves and the earth will regenerate and continue on just fine without us.

This is true of course, but there will be a great deal of suffering in the process, both human and animal, and it's incumbent upon us to at least try and change that trajectory.

For some people, the more it's in the news, the more they will ignore it, think "whatever, heard it all before", and wonder "what are the government spin doctors trying to bury?".

Can we have prison building, funded by confiscating the assets of wealthy career criminals starting with Johnson and Farage, Paula Vennels, and water company chief execs and protecting the public from real crime higher on the agenda please, instead of police going after people who swear in Tesco car parks?

And how ironic that on this thread, I'm seeing an advert promoted by Mumsnet "Sun, sea and sand, even in January!" I thought the caption of the picture was "beaches will never look like this again", until I had a closer look.

The energy giants spend millions to lobby and suppress unfavourable reports. In return they make billions. The oil industry knew of climate change 50 years ago but suppressed reports, bought off politicians etc. Every major industry oil, gas, cars, airlines, shipping plays a part and investment companies join in. But your pension may well be on the rise as these companies garner profits

You are of course right about China and the US being crucial and “Britain can’t solve climate change alone.” Where I strongly disagree with you is “there’s nothing we can do.” The countries of the world, in particular wealthy ones like Britain, need to act collectively. If every country sits back and waits for China and the US to do something before taking action, then we we’ll be waiting for eternity. We do have influence, as do other world powers.

i also take serious issue with the suggestion that we have a choice between having a good economy
or investing in the environment. From the Climate Change Commitee report to tbe government (the ‘Seventh Carbon Budget period refers for the years 2038-42):

“We estimate that the net costs of Net Zero will be around 0.2% of UK GDP per year on average in our pathway, with investment upfront leading to net savings during the Seventh Carbon Budget period. Much of this investment is expected to come from the private sector.
Net Zero will increase economic security against fossil fuel price shocks, which have caused around half of the UK’s recessions since 1970. There are also opportunities for new jobs in areas such as heat pump installation, and growing markets such as green finance. Clean, efficient, electric technologies will mean reduced air pollution and should mean lower energy bills than continued reliance on fossil “fuel technologies.”

https://www.theccc.org.uk/publication/the-seventh-carbon-budget/

What, precisely, would you like politicians to do about it? Tax people more?

I agree! I want to see some grown up politicians bringing in some policies that aren't quick soundbites but real solid changes to tackle climate change

There has always been suffering. Animals will always struggle. That’s nature - it’s brutal as hell. Nothing we can do at this point is going to make any difference unless the entire planet signs up and commits, which is nothing but a pipe dream.

You can’t compare employment in the oil industry - offshore engineers, other labour , cleaners,cooks,helicopter pilots,ships supplying oil wells,harbour masters etcetc then scientists,engineers ,workers in the refinery,lorry drivers carrying g diesel etc round the country (all paying tax on income)
with
build a windfarm -some digger and lorry drivers,
install a heat exchanger 2 blokes
The lies over green energy jobs (NEVER spelled out by politicians) made me utterly distrustful of the Green agenda and all this private investment mantioned above -private investors expect a profitable return ie the tax payer pays them back more than they invested so win for them debatab le lose for us

No, climate change is usually wheeled out to distract the population from something else.
Personally I think the natural world, including climate and weather, will continue to evolve on its own. As PP gave already stated, it seems ridiculous to impose strictures on certain countries when others show no willingness to curtail detrimental activities and practices.
Finally, I rather doubt whether the situation can be reversed and would this be desirable?

Yes it would be desirable.
Depressing post to read.

Im pretty sure the manufacturing process for the turbines creates jobs. They dont just materialise to be dug in. Plus those windfarms at sea must need a whole heap of specialised equipment to build and presumably engineers to maintain. Then there is the national grid element presumably its designed and operated by people.

I dont know about jobs created as a comparison but youve seriously underestimated windfarm jobs.

The manufacturing of wind turbines is done in China and possibly Denmark and the shipping done by non British firms

I agree OP. There is nothing more important
All the tripe about we cant do anything/1% impact/ no jobs. Its just not comparable to what's happening
And dont get me started on Trump, Reform and all the conspiracy theorists out there
Getting rich from sending us into oblivion quicker

China are actually massively investing in renewable energy. What’s criminal is is our consumption in the uk. We are complicit with China. If we were not buying tbsp much shit they would have the market to make it. We may not be directly omitting carbon but we are buying it second hand.

also thinks like extreme days out and plastic grass need to be banned.
data centres need to be stopped
we need a massive tree planting campaign to begin. Parks gardens towns cities

This is trotted out time and time again, it shows the ignorance about climate change.

uk is a bigger contributor than China and India per capita

its like saying my house is clean as i put all the rubbish over next doors fence. Uk has so little industry we import and consume it from elsewhere

Um yeah - it's evolving all right. Thanks to fossil fuels continuing to be used on a massive scale. Biodiversity has been lost by up to 75% since 1970 due to human beings. Is that the kind of evolution you meant?

Climate change is not a distraction, it is a crisis. More wildfires next summer will spoil everyone's holidays...