Starting to panic about climate change

[DorothyL]

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?

And the weather in the UK may well get worse, actually, if the Gulf Stream stops due to colder waters from melting Arctic and Greenland ice.

www.independent.co.uk/environment/gulf-stream-is-slowing-down-faster-than-ever-scientists-say-10128700.html

"Some 11,000 years ago the NADW shut down in response to subtle shifts in global climate. This slowed and diverted the course of the Gulf Stream to such an extent that the regional climate of the Northeast Atlantic became considerably cooler. As a result Northwestern Europe dropped back to ice age conditions within tens of years. It is now suspected that global warming may trigger a shutdown in the NADW, and a slowing or diversion of the Gulf Stream, which would ironically lead to colder climates throughout the UK and Northwest Europe."

www.weatheronline.co.uk/reports/wxfacts/North-Atlantic-Drift-Gulf-Stream.htm

I suppose that eventually, with no Artic ice cap, the Gulf Stream would restart, though. :)

I quite like that, Grumpy.

GrumpyOldBag

That is SO true.

I think it can dilute the message and make the conclusions seem weaker.
But then, scientists are also criticised if they use soundbites to get the message across (other thread). We can't win.

I like that too Grumpy

Despite the latitude, the UK, most of Norway's coastline, Iceland, Denmark and the low countries, enjoy a temperate climate due to the north Atlantic drift. It's the Jet Stream I'm more worried about.

I'm terribly sad that the Polar ice caps are in decline, especially the Arctic. It seems to me that the Arctic is a vibrant system, struggling to recover. The rebound is less each year since records began and the thickness declining at an alarming rate. The Arctic warming comes from the North Pacific, not the North Atlantic.

DorothyL please don't worry. Do talk to your GP about your heightened anxiety. However, I do think you are going through stages of grief? Get angry and get motivated. Above all know that this lovely planet of ours is not going to fail drastically. It will continue.

I like that too, Grumpy.

Elendon, I share your & Lweji's concern for the gulf stream. Everyone assumes we'll be making wine in Scotland in years to come, but one possible outcome of climate change may make us (in the UK) very cold. But it won't happen the day after tomorrow

On a smaller level, I fight a small battles in my own house every day, called, for example, "switching things off" and "no DC, we're not buying any more plastic tat" etc, there is a lot you can do, and if everybody did it, it will make a difference.

The worst thing you can do is deny it is happening, or suffer from "green fatigue" where we don't feel we can make a difference. We can.

The worst thing you can do is deny it is happening, or suffer from "green fatigue" where we don't feel we can make a difference. We can.

Green fatigue is real. As I said upthread a bit this is far too important to rely upon altruistic consumers to fix the whole thing. We need strict industry regulation today.

We need strict industry regulation today.

And government commitment to push for renewables too.

I absolutely agree with you, Museum.

There are a thousand terrible things about life. We'll all die sometime, most of us in pain. We've no idea what will happen to us after. (Even if you believe in Heaven you can't be sure you'll end up there).

Children get cancer, good people lose their minds and there are wasps that lay their eggs in living worms. There's also a million wonderful things and one of them is that despite knowing all this we keep going.

Yes climate change is fucking scary, no we're not doomed, yes there's a ton of practical things we can do, no they're not all hairshirty or judgey. We will all muddle through this well enough in the end - but we have to be willing to do the muddling.

Incidentally - iplayer radio has Colin Morgan reading Louis MacNeice on the start of the second world war at the moment. It's worth listening to.

I haven't read the whole thread, but before the post-truthers come back, I wanted to share one practical thing people can do right now.

Write to your MP, particularly if they are Conservative and say the government needs to back off from their plan to stick an extra tax on rooftop solar panels from next April. They are going to start charging business rates from electricity generated, so it's going to be much less cost effective to install them. State schools (not private as they have charitable status) who have already tried to be green as well as make a sensible investment by installing solar panels will find themselves paying about £800 extra in tax a year.

It is utter bollocks and the latest in a very long line of counterproductive things this government has done on climate change. Google solar tax hike to find out more.

Thanks Rose! That's a good idea. I didn't know about the tax and it does sound ridiculous. Will write to my MP tonight.

More on the solar tax hike: www.solar-trade.org.uk/big-brands-say-stop-solar-tax-hike/

That is an excellent idea, Rose.

There was also talk of a climate change topic on MN to talk about constructive things to do, if anyone would like to register their interest...

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/site_stuff/2764769-Please-can-we-have-a-climate-change-topic

Read Ten Billion by Stephon Emmott (Ok, maybe not you, OP).

I have to say I can't help but agree with his conclusion - "I think we are fucked".

GrumpyOldBag

No wonder the UK is behind in renewables. :(

Stephen Emmott's book was roundly slated by scientists for its shaky science. I think (and fervently hope) you are wrong, AyeAye.

YABU to worry as by the time the full impact of global warming (also known as 'the apocalypse) will only be felt by your children's children's children. This won't impact you as you and your children will be long!

Rose that is not true. We are predicted to pass the "danger" point of 2 degrees warming in 2050.

We are feeling some of the effects of climate change already - flooding and extreme weather, wildfires in other countries, etc.

Yes, and it's one of the causes of the mass migration we've had recently. Not to mention the effects on the planet's biodiversity.

A lot of people do seem to think this is some vague threat for a long-way-down-the-line future though.

There are also some theories that climate change is one of the causes of, and is exacerbating, conflict in the Middle East: Syria and Yemen, for example:

energydesk.greenpeace.org/2015/12/11/climate-change-violent-conflict/

journals.ametsoc.org/doi/abs/10.1175/WCAS-D-13-00059.1

Anyone interested in climate change should watch Leonardo diCaprio's documentary "Before the Flood". It's a sobering watch. We should all be concerned for our children and our children's children, if not for ourselves.

As someone mentioned upthread, the prediction for Europe is not an increase in temperature, but a decrease. In any event, the world's population will be in it together as people move towards areas that can sustain life.

We all need to consume less, have less tat, fly less, grow food closer to home...flying Brussel sprouts or whatever from the UK to another European country for processing and then flying it back is absolute madness. Our entire economic system is based on us buying more and more. How on earth we can change it is completely beyond me. People don't want to change.

I've read that too Grumpy. It's all linked.

By 2050 I'll be in my late 60s and DD will be in her mid thirties. God knows what sort of life she'll have then. It's terrible. I'd always envisaged having grandchildren one day but right now I hope I won't.