To think the environment is fucked and no it won't get better?

[clairemcnam]

I have been an environmental activist pretty much my whole adult life. But in that time nearly everything has got worse. Even individual consumer behaviour is far less environmentally friendly than 30 or even 20 years ago.
I am growing very cynical and I think most people simply don't care enough to do anything that will make a real difference.

The world population is predicted to level out and/or decline at 10-11 billion. The share of that population is interesting: Infographic

It's self-limiting. As is economic growth. We cannot increase our living standards forever without influencing our own health anyway - as is already shown in the predicted decline in longevity in the developed world. But then population is only an issue if it comes with a Developed World lifestyle.

I agree. There's just no point sorting out plastic rubbish from paper rubbish when people are popping out two, three, four, more children and insisting it's for the good of the species. MN has made me realise we're doomed and the sooner humans are wiped out, the better for the rest of the planet.

There's just no point sorting out plastic rubbish from paper rubbish when

It's obvious our own government(s) couldn't give a shit. (Plural, since it's all previous ones, as well as this shower).

I asked, many years ago for the details of the government agency that is tasked with ensuring that everything the government does next year has a smaller carbon footprint than this year.

I'm still waiting.

In the meantime (for the lolz) try and find out how much the increased paperwork for Universal Credit has added to the UKs overall carbon footprint. The response is hardly one you'd expect in a crisis.

Carbon footprint of Trident ? Think of a number.

When the government shows it's taking it seriously, maybe more of us will.

The government is elected by the people. If people's priority was plastic and the environment we would have a Green Party gov.

The government is elected by the some people.

Fixed that for you.

Thomas Malthus saw many problems with over population way back in the 1700’s.

I sometimes think total control 1984 style or huge amounts of the population being wiped out are the only ways the planet can survive with humans still being top of the food chain. Who wouldn’t want a developed world lifestyle though, our own success is our downfall.

huge amounts of the population being wiped out are the only ways the planet can survive with humans still being top of the food chain.

That's how nature works.

Of course, a rising population is music to the ears of big business. More workers than work benefits the boss.

Now if there was more work than workers, the equation goes into reverse, and the workers call the shots.

An economic history of Europe 1300-1500 is fascinating. England in particular. Where they discovered that trying to pass a law to hold wages down didn't work and the living standards of the survivors increased considerably. Until they multiplied again.

But it amazes me that people buy disposable cleaning cloths for example. Or disposable bottles of water. That is not being time poor, that is just not giving a toss.

Or maybe "that" is just intelligence, recognising that there is zero probability that invidual voluntary sacrifices will make a measurable difference to anything.

Changes need to be made, but they need to to be imposed on all, by government.

Clamping down on plastic bags is a small example. A big one would be a commitment to replacing liquid fuels (petrol, diesel and jet fuel) with carbon-neutral fuel manufactured from air and (wind or solar-generated) electricity. I read an estimate that using current technology this could cost about 1 US dollar per litre, which sounds vaguely affordable to me.

As a mum I worry about the environment and have made eco friendly lifestyle changes.

However I find it both bonkers and heart-breaking that big companies and governments aren't putting in place the radical changes that are needed to actually make a difference.

Donald trump is one of the most powerful men in the world yet he is a climate change denier. How did this even happen?!

I try to reduce my plastic usage but I sometimes honestly think what's the point? I feel like for every 1 person who is making an effort to cut back on plastic, there are 1000 who get through tons of plastic without even thinking about it. There are millions of people who are 'hinching mad' and getting through tons of unnecessary plastic waste - it's so sad and wasteful.

I wouldn't change my baby for the world but I'd change the world for my baby!

The advantage of being a climate change denier is that you can continue to do things in the cheapest way and be more competitive/profitable

That’s why the US have one of the highest carbon footprints per capita. Their wastefulness is shocking

Why is it always the responsibility of others? Do we, as individuals not have a choice? Do we not have any power?

Why does it need a state, a government, an industry etc. to sort it out?

Why is it always others and not ourselves? I like to sort my own before I think about the bigger picture, but I do pass this knowledge and attitude on to my children and students.

Time to sit back and enjoy the end