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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Starting to panic about climate change

271 replies

DorothyL · 12/12/2016 17:30

I keep reading how climate change is getting really bad and how we're reaching the tipping point/point of no return. It keeps me awake at night and makes me feel so anxious and worried for my children. I struggle to feel happy because I keep thinking that we're literally facing the apocalypse. How can I deal with this? Sad

OP posts:
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FurryDogMother · 13/12/2016 16:06

The thing about science is that it works whether or not people believe in it - so I don't waste my time trying to convince those who deny the evidence in front of them. I'm also anxious about climate change (and bees) and am rather glad I don't have children.

The non-believers amongst you might like to take a look at these links:

More information from the WWF

Examination of the 97% consensus on anthropogenic global warming

I believe you are right to be concerned, OP - but probably not anxious, as such - anxiety tends to happen when you feel there's nothing you can do to avoid an inevitable outcome - it's about being powerless. Find a way to be active - whether it's simply arming yourself with the facts in order to attempt to convince other people that anthropogenic global warming is a reality, or taking action to reduce your own contribution to the problem - whatever - being able to actually do something may help you to feel better.

GrumpyOldBag · 13/12/2016 16:16

And I agree with Furry Dog, get out and get active and make a difference.

Challenge the naysayers. Lobby your MP. Sign petitions. Whatever your bag ...

UnderCrackers5 · 13/12/2016 17:03

I don't understand why some people think that science is something you believe in, as if it were a religion. It's not a religion. (although the cagw alarm has all the hallmarks of one). Science is a method of investigation. And for your information, the IPCC do NOT do science. They collect information and interpret it for us. They were set up to see how large the human impact on global warming was, they were not set up to see if it was the only impact. They have ignored 97% of the information out there, because they were told to.

TheWoodlander · 13/12/2016 17:08

UnderCrackers5 Tue 13-Dec-16 17:03:28
I don't understand...

Clearly.

BroadBeanSlippers · 13/12/2016 17:27

"They have ignored 97% of the information out there, because they were told to."

Riiight, so it's all a conspiracy, then. Gotcha.

BertrandRussell · 13/12/2016 17:28

Illuminati, Bilderberg or lizard people?

LuluLozenge · 13/12/2016 17:31

Under you're beginning to sound a lot like claig... do you get your info from the Daily Mail, too?!

OP, plenty of reason to hope. Read positive news - make a point in seeking it out. Read about Tesla, about the rapid switchover from fossil fuels to renewable energy, read about fossil fuel divestment. More people care than ever before, more people are acting. Be one of them!

GrumpyOldBag · 13/12/2016 17:42

Who told them to ignore it, Undercrackers?

BertrandRussell · 13/12/2016 17:43

And if it's been ignored, how do you know about it?

madnessdescending · 13/12/2016 17:51

Unfortunately, OP is only being realistic in feeling desperate about the situation. It IS desperate. Yes - do what you can to reduce the carbon emissions produced by your own family, and talk to others about the seriousness of the situation to encourage them to do the same. And become more active, politically.
That will actually help slightly, as well as making you feel better and enabling you to answer your DCs' questions about what you did to try to stop their world turning to chaos before their eyes.
Personally, I am doing far too little as it seems so hopeless.
I am also encouraging my children to think very very carefully before having children themselves. If I were thinking about having children now, I would not do so. I'm encouraging them to think of adopting as a positive way forward. Of course, it is totally their decision.

BroadBeanSlippers · 13/12/2016 17:55

Perhaps Crackers can reveal this 97% wealth of information that has hitherto been ignored?

I am guessing it will all be found on websites with urls like "climatechangehoaxxx.com" and "truthaboutclimate.php"

MirriVan · 13/12/2016 18:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MuseumOfCurry · 13/12/2016 18:10

I don't understand why some people think that science is something you believe in, as if it were a religion. It's not a religion. (although the cagw alarm has all the hallmarks of one). Science is a method of investigation. And for your information, the IPCC do NOT do science. They collect information and interpret it for us. They were set up to see how large the human impact on global warming was, they were not set up to see if it was the only impact. They have ignored 97% of the information out there, because they were told to.

What a hodge-podge this is. Where did you get the idea that anyone thinks (other than you) that science is a belief system?

Only an idiot would use the phrase climate change denier.

You do know that all major news outlets use this term e.g. NY Times, Guardian, Telegraph, etc, it has an entry in Wikipedia, politicians use it, scientists, etc.

DorothyL · 13/12/2016 18:49

I feel rather confused now

OP posts:
UnderCrackers5 · 13/12/2016 18:55

Its not a conspiracy, don't be silly. The IPCC was set up to look at the human component of global warming. They do not look at the other papers which cover natural effects. Don't forget, the climate has changes for millions of years due to natural causes, they did not suddenly stop in 1950. Why some people think that human action suddenly took over and natural effects suddenly stopped beats me.
sleep sound DorothyL

NameChanger22 · 13/12/2016 19:04

There are lots of things to worry about but you should try and enjoy the time you have.

The way I stop myself from freaking out is to realise that we're all going to die anyway, all of us, including rich people. Most of us have about 60 to 100 years, then that's it.

I read somewhere that 98% of all species have become extinct. Nothing lasts forever, that's one of nature's laws. When people become extinct something else will take our place.

BroadBeanSlippers · 13/12/2016 19:09

Why some people think that human action suddenly took over and natural effects suddenly stopped beats me...

...but not scientists.

madnessdescending · 13/12/2016 19:34

Human beings are basically a disaster zone. Not just knowingly destroying the planet for our own children, but also wiping out other species and plants as we go. Personally I don't believe that there are very many genuine, in good faith climate change deniers. Ask yourselves how many of the people who are currently denying the existence of man-made climate change would do so man-made climate change or the measures being taken to combat it, eg renewable energy, was to their personal advantage, rather than the opposite. Rather, they are putting their own personal convenience and profit before the future of their, and everyone else's children, other species, etc.
I also comfort myself by the thought that we can only die once. But it's a bit of a cop-out. Do we look back on the Nazi holocaust and say that it didn't matter much really, as each of those 6 million victims only died once? So that it wasn't really any worse than a car accident?
This is also far worse than a natural disaster, eg an earthquake, because it is being done knowingly, by humans to other humans and to themselves.

madnessdescending · 13/12/2016 19:36

NB if more people were as anxious about this as the OP, maybe individuals and governments would actually start to do something about it. IMO it is the OP who has got it right - the big question is why most people don't seem to be remotely bothered or prepared to take any action at all, eg stopping flying or writing to their MP.

UnderCrackers5 · 13/12/2016 19:57

And there you have it. MadnessDecending admits that its a good thing for people, including children to be frightened out of their wits. Based on zero evidence. Not nice imho
I am getting sick and tired of these alarmists

wetcardboard · 13/12/2016 20:08

The way I stop myself from freaking out is to realise that we're all going to die anyway, all of us, including rich people. Most of us have about 60 to 100 years, then that's it.

I don't really understand this attitude. Sure, we all die - but not all deaths are equal.

A "good death", for most people would be dying at old age from natural causes, in a comfortable, warm environment, with pain relief and palliative care if needed. Ideally surrounded by family and friends, looking back on a lifetime of joyful memories.

Then there are "bad deaths", like dying at at a young age, from malnutrition and dehydration because the soil won't produce enough food to feed everyone and clean water has become a scarce resource. Or dying of an easily preventable disease, because the healthcare system collapsed along with the environment. Or dying in a civil war caused by resource shortages.

The scale of the issue means that even those of us in the developed world won't be able to fully insulate ourselves from basic survival problems, and only the mega-rich will be able to afford to have a "good death" as described above, and probably not even them, in the worst-affected parts of the globe. If we do nothing about the wholesale environmental collapse facing us right now, we are condemning our children and grandchildren to a "bad death". That's just the reality of the situation.

Lweji · 13/12/2016 20:14

This
Thing is, despair is as bad as denial. Humans are clever and resourceful. We're figuring a way out of this mess, we just need to keep pushing and do what we can

And this
The only proven way to reduce population (humanely) is to raise the status of women. Once women have power over their lives, and genuine choices, they naturally opt to have fewer children, and for some women none at all.
As well as overall education and resources.
That's why we, in more developed countries, should care about and help develop those behind.

BertrandRussell · 13/12/2016 20:17

And there you have it. MadnessDecending admits that its a good thing for people, including children to be frightened out of their wits.

That's not what she said.

Based on zero evidence
You can't possibly believe this.

UnderCrackers5 · 13/12/2016 20:18

Lweji

well said

UnderCrackers5 · 13/12/2016 20:21

BertrandRussell

I do indeed. There is no causal link. no evidence. no experiment
no way to falsify the theory
it is a very shaky theory.

Any theory that has to change every few years to match the real world, is on very dodgy ground

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