To find it strange no one is talking about this?

[FruminousBandersnatch]

The latest IPCC report - a result of looking at 6000 climate change studies. It’s horrifying. The world as we know it is going to change so quickly and not enough is being done.

Why is this not being discussed here?

But even if everyone did all that, and they won't, will it have any real effect?

Imo, no, it won't.

Did you know that 4% of global energy consumption goes on just breaking up rocks that are mined? The amount of energy that goes into producing a smart phone, which generally only lasts a few years before needing to be replaced, is massive.

spectrum.ieee.org/energy/environment/your-phone-costs-energyeven-before-you-turn-it-on

In 2015, worldwide sales of mobile phonesreached about 1.9 billion, those of laptops amounted to about 60 million, and tablet sales surpassed 230 million. The aggregate weight of these devices came to about 550,000 metric tons. Assuming, conservatively, an average embodied rate of 0.25 gigajoules per phone, 4.5 GJ per laptop, and 1 GJ for a tablet, the annual production of these devices required about 1 exajoule (EJ, 1018J) of primary energy.

I can't see anyone giving up their phones anytime soon.

It's also, imo, too late anyway. Climate change is happening and we can't stop it.

Climate change is happening and we can't stop it

But we can try to halt global warming at 1.5oC as opposed to 3oC which will limit catastrophic changes in the medium term.

We are on a path to self destruction and it's unlikely to change because no one wants to take it seriously. Overpopulation is the driving force of the problems we're facing. Are people prepared to accept a rule of maximum two children? This is what's needed urgently imo.

I am so distressed by this, and can’t understand why is isn’t the overwhelming political issue. I am really frightened for our future and what our children are going to have to face. The other species we share this planet with too. At my bleakest I feel ashamed to be human and wish we had never evolved.
This is also one of the reasons I stopped at two children.

I feel the same op. It's like the elephant in the room. I'm looking around thinking why isn't this a massive topic of conversation at work, on the bus, in the pub etc brexit is going to look a like nothing more than a ripple in an ocean when we look back unless we do something fast.

We absolutely need investment in clean and affordable public transport, where it's needed.

What we get instead is huge vanity projects like HS2 and Heathrow3 which well be devastating for the environment.

The U.K. is s tiny country and this needs to be tackled globally. For example, stopping the destruction of the rainforests is a big factor that we in the U.K. can do nothing about.
We will do what we can and hope the bigger global powers will be able to push through the necessary changes.

We can all do our little bit by using less power, less plastic, etc., but judging from some of the hygiene-freak types on here - washing towels after every one or two uses, clean pyjamas for dcs every night, etc., there are plenty who won't.

Having said that, even if everyone in the UK went majorly eco-friendly overnight, we are only a small country and if countries like China can't or won't bother, then it's not going to make a vast difference in the great scheme of things.
Best to try not to worry about things too much, IMO, when there's very little you can do - except your own bit - to change them.

We recently visited Amsterdam and I couldn't help thinking how terribly vulnerable it's going to be to any rise in sea levels. And Amsterdam is very eco-friendly, at least as far as transport is concerned - thousands of bikes whizzing past everywhere you look - but again, it's a small country, and if much bigger industrialised countries can't or won't act....

It wouldn't bother me if the whole human race was wiped out overnight.

afternooninthepark, I am ashamed to say I thought for a long time climate change wasn't really true. After all there has been an ice age and, in roman times, they grew olives in the UK so obviously must have pretty hot weather.

I don't think that any more and it is very very frightening. As I said, we chose not to have children, but I worry about my nieces and nephews and any children they may have and, obviously, children in general.

I too, on the whole, feel ashamed to be human. We have a beautiful planet to live on and we have completely fucked it up. Even if we manage to survive we have already destroyed rain forests and habitats of so many animals. I am sure the planet would be much better off with no humans on it and the animals can live in peace.

So many people don't care though. While we are worrying about the youngsters what are a lot of them doing? Look at the pictures of any music festival and see the rubbish they leave behind. They buy a cheap tent and then leave it there when the festival ends. They can't even be bothered to take it down and put it in a bin if they really don't want to take it home.

I posted on a facebook site about it and was told by lots of people that apparently the festival organisers tell the attendees to leave their tents up and also tell them they will be used by charities.

They are not used by charities though and end up in landfill. Why does anyone, regardless of age, think it ok to buy a tent, sleeping bag, table, chairs etc and use them ONCE? Also why just leave everything in situ? Also all the empty plastic drink bottles, fast food wrappers etc.

For example, stopping the destruction of the rainforests is a big factor that we in the U.K. can do nothing about.

We can boycott products that use palm oil.

You can boycott palm oil to an extent but it’s not going to make a difference. You’re just one person. You can’t influence the other billions of people on the planet

@kennelmaid

I’m sort of with you. What’s it all for anyway?

Loads of people die every day from horrible things. We’re all going to die. Yes there’s amazing and lovely things on the planet but what’s it all for?

Lots of rat race, moments of fabulousness, death.

It’s a shame but you can’t avoid it!

As for destroying the planet so what. Whats the universe for anyway?

I used to care a lot. I do care that I don’t want my kids to suffer. I care when I see all the awful devastation following the Indonesia earthquake and tsunami and many other disasters, and the pain and suffering. But it’s unavoidable. Just enjoy each day I think.

Palm oil is in so much now that it is difficult to avoid it, unless you cook everything from scratch and stop buying anything preprepared. Not impossible, but certainly time consuming checking every label. A lot of people wouldn’t have the time or patience to do that.

But maid some of it is avoidable that's the point. Yes the earth has its own rhythm which we can't change and people die everyday of illnesses and accidents which isn't fair but purposely destroying areas of the world, over consuming and over populating can be reduced and that's what we should try to increase awareness and focus on surely?

It can be done, but if people have this defeatist way of thinking then nothing will be done.

I do feel that me and DH making an effort is not going to change a thing but at least we can know we are trying. Maybe if everyone tried it might make a change (ok I know it's never going to happen).

We have made the decision not to buy anything with palm oil in because the plight of the orangutans upsets us so much but it is very difficult. We cook most things from scratch but do like things like peanut butter (very difficult to find one without palm oil and actually tastes nice). I guess we will have to make our own.

We do like the occasional biscuit too and most of them contain palm oil. When we check the ingredients in anything it is depressing just how many do contain it. We have been told that even "sustainable palm oil" is not good.

I have mentioned to a few people that we are trying not to buy anything with palm oil in. Not in a preachy way at all but am met with looks like I am mad or just a plain "why". Even when I explain most people just shrug. It seems only our vegetarian or vegan friends are also trying to avoid palm oil

@cushioncovers I am trying but feel it’s futile. I know lots of people friends, family, work colleagues. I am the only one who is bothered and does any more than recycling. Nobody else I know gives a hoot in fact I often feel like a piss take for bothering when it is so futile. But I’ll still do it

I used to be on the ethical living section all the time. I’m talking 10 plus years ago. Not one of mumsnet most popular topics

I think recycling is the very least we can do. Reducing population growth, eating much less red meat and dairy. Reducing unnecessary travel. Just consuming less in general. Making businesses accountable for their carbon footprint. There's so much to be done globally the mind boggles as to how it will be achieved.

Don't worry. We'll fix it somehow.

And yet you still get people posting on here that it’s irresponsible/selfish/somehow not adult if someone doesn't drive.

I think quite a lot of us have been worried over several decades tbh. Many people have been campaigning for better understanding and action on climate change. Does not help we have Trump they arch-naysayer and Ms May who has her head stuck up Brexit's bum.
I would have thought anyone who had children would be deeply concerned- what sort of world will it be if we do not take action NOW!

The people who could stop it aren’t cos they’re making money. I think they have made provisions for themselves & their families. I wonder what the super-elite plans are for living in the era of substantial climate change. How likely is it that humans can live somewhere else?

The super rich all have large ocean going yachts for a reason.

The rest of us are done for.

Because I come on here for a bit of light relief, I’ve got enough to worry about being a single working mum with a chronic illness without taking a burden like that on when there’s absolutely nothing I can do about it, Jesus fucking Christ