AIBU to be terrified by what David Attenborough has said?

[ArcheryAnnie]

He's just said about climate change ""if we don't take action, the collapse of our civilisations and the extinction of much of the natural world is on the horizon." He's not the only one saying this - it's now common currency amongst scientists, and indeed anyone paying attention.

www.theage.com.au/world/europe/civilisation-may-collapse-if-climate-change-ignored-attenborough-20181204-p50jzs.html?platform=hootsuite

There's no time left for pissing about. We've got to take radical action now. It isn't something that any of us can ignore.

The rate we are killing the rainforests and oceans is a concern since so much of our world's oxygen is produced by them.
I'm just surprised that anyone would think this is news.

Unless you're living a plastic free lifestyle and walking everywhere there's more to do at home before telling everyone else to panic.

YANBU. I've been in this state, on and off, since the IPCC report came out. I have 2 small children and feel we've been incredibly selfish to have them - not only because of the impact on the planet, but because of what they'll have to face as they get older.
It's hard to face for long, but we have to if there's going to be any change.

We got rid of our cars 3 years ago and committed to walking, using public transport or hiring a car for essentials four year ago. (We’re in London, not a huge sacrifice)
We’re gradually getting further away from meat as the focus to every supper and have switched to natural energy suppliers. I’ve also realigned my stocks and shares portfolio to support companies who prioritise a minimal footprint and responsible social attitude (I’m not wholly there with this yet and am still a shareowner in companies I’m unsure about. Work in progress)

I wouldn’t say this stuff to anyone in real life as I’d sound like a massive twat but DH and I have spent chunks of time working in countries which are already affected by the rise in sea levels.
The predicted effects of our lifestyle are horrific.
Every day I walk past stationary traffic (engines on) with just one person in each car. It’s crazy.
YANBU

Thank God he cares enough to make this passionate speech. However, Trump for one isn't going to listen, is he? China is not going to listen, or Russia. It's truly terrifying. My children are adults now, but if I were to choose again, I definitely wouldn't have children. I think we are long past the tipping point now, and it's heart breaking.

maybe people should start by stop over populating the planet i am sure that will help a lot.

After doing a module on this for uni several years ago (same time Brexit began) I spiralled into anxiety. YANBU. It is scary as hell and I couldn't understand why more of my cohort weren't seemingly fussed. Once you've done a 2.5k paper with 60+ references and a 2 he exam on it, the vector bourne diseases alone are enough to make you itch!

I had this anxiety when I had my first child and it’s worse now.

I don’t know what to do though. No one globally agrees it is an issue. The population of Africa is set to double by 2050. The waste produced in developing countries is the issu as they have no waste disposal or recycling. Us going plastic free is a piss in the ocean.

I am a member of Greenpeace as I feel they are one of the last bastions of commonsense

I do think Western capitalism has a lot to be blamed for. Companies do not give a shit. I am not sure I should have had children!!

There's no time left for pissing about. We've got to take radical action now. It isn't something that any of us can ignore.

Thanks for letting us know op. I had no idea that climate change or the environment was such a pressing concern until I read this thread.

I agree that radical action is needed, I assume you wrote this thread on a computer, phone or tablet, all of which are environmental nightmares, so as part of this radical action you'll be giving up technology products, not having children or pets or traveling anywhere via a vehicle with an internal combustion engine? Or is it someone, somewhere else that you want to do something?

This time of year is always a terrifying lesson in mass consumerism, it makes me feel sick

Yeah, cos all that sarcasm really helps, @FunkyKingston.

Ffs

He is right but what most feel is that nothing noticeably catastrophic will happen in our, or children's or grandchildren's lives. Selfish maybe.

I do best I can but don't own herds of cows, I recycle but there is a limit to what impact any of us will make.

Chill.

That is the essence. Our great grandchildren will pay the price.

I can’t believe people are so selfish - well I can - bluerussian are her ilk are the norm

Yeah, cos all that sarcasm really helps, @FunkyKingston.

It really, really does.

I doubt anyone on this thread needs telling that we are fucking up the planet big style and vague exhortations that Something Should Be Done, by someone, somewhere else are about as much use as a marzipan dildo.

Chill. LOL.

Fucking hell. You won’t be saying that when your kids are paying the price for our selfishness.

My neighbours can’t even be arsed to recycle. This is a young woman with two very young children. She’s in for a wake up call. I’m sure she also thinks fuck it, just chill.

Oh, that’s cool then, @FunkyKingston.

Let the quietism set in.

What actions does he propose?

I'm more concerned with other environmental issues such as deforestation and other types of habitat loss, wildlife poaching, over fishing, plastics in the oceans, excessive use of agrochemicals, general air, water and land pollution of toxic chemicals and heavy metals ... all of which are undeniably 100% caused by humans and can be rectified with firm action.
Whilst human activity has undoubtedly added to greenhouse gases there are so many other natural factors at play with the global climate that it's almost impossible to say for certain what impact we're having and what we could realistically do to reduce or reverse it.

Um ‘other environmental issues’? It’s all caused by us, destructive humans so no idea what you mean by that

We are a plague upon the earth, no sane person can knowingly deny that. Our greed will be our undoing, and climate wars will ensue.

It will inevitably make no difference if you recycle your cans, plastic etc because it's not enough and never will be. You are fighting at the wrong end of the issue.

The end you want to fight is the beginning and stop the production of such items. But that end is far too big, powerful and money hungry to be stopped.

Going vegan, cutting out driving, use solar power, recycling, it all means effectively nothing in terms of saving the planet. All it does it gives you a sense of belief that you are doing your bit.

We will still either face an ice age, a volcano erupting that will destroy humanity, or something else that will wipe out the majority of humans. It will be survival of the fittest. Some will live, the majority won't. I'm not including myself in that some part either, I couldn't survive anything like that.

That scientist is right. We are far too late to prevent this. Best you can hope for is damage limitation, and even that's a slim hope. But it will happen.

What actions does he propose? Thanos' snap?

(Marvel Avengers reference)

Nature is supposed to balance out. Living things die when resources are scarce. Humans, especially rich countries, buck that trend. We live artificially long lives and consume way more than we're meant to over the course of one lifetime.

I wonder if viruses will decimate the population and decimate them again. Then a humbler remainder will start to try and mend.

But one thing is for sure- if we personally survive, we willlook back at this time of plastic wrapped, individually covered foodstuffs, throw away clothes, plastic toy mass, bought bottled water when we had fresh coming from the taps and car usage- and we will shake our heads in dismay at what we came to be.

We live artificially long lives and consume way more than we're meant to over the course of one lifetime.

Yes, people claim that by having two children they are only effectively 'replacing' themselves and their partner. But that would only make sense if they died shortly after raising children to self sufficiency (I'm not advocating mass altruistic suicide btw) but they will go on living and consuming the earth's resources at an unsustainable rate for another forty or so years.

What can we do?
I appreciate everything everyone is saying but what can we do?

I would love to see these things:

Efficient, effective park and ride services in all towns.
Better, cheaper, public transport, get cars off the road as much as possible.
Fine supermarkets for any unnecessary packaging

Make people pay for unrecylable rubbish (the 5p plastic bag thing has worked so well, it shows, people will only be green when it costs them not to)
Better community recycling facilities, people who live small houses/flats haven’t got room for keeping all their recycling indoors, there need to be central locations to put rubbish - I have seen this in Portugal

Huge investment in ‘green’ energy sources, wind farms, solar panels etc

I know this is all pie in the sky stuff. But it would help. Like all of us though I have no idea how to effect change. I can stop shopping at Tesco but it won’t have an impact. I can’t give up my car as I live out in the country and the public transport is dire (none at the weekend, one bus an hour during the week). I recycle but according to some of you that has no difference so WHAT CAN WE DO?

Of course if an ice age is coming we’re screwed.