To wonder how the general public would actually react if the government took drastic climate change measures?

[tequilasunrises]

I’m talking about measures that would severely restrict people’s ability to live how they choose. For example, implanting a one/two child policy, heavy restrictions on animal products and car and air travel mileage.

From reading threads on here and talking to people in real life it is clear that many people agree something needs to be done to stop climate change but aren’t willing to make the bigger sacrifices.

So, who thinks there would be uproar and who thinks the public would be behind extreme measures?

I’d be very sad to have my travel opportunities limited but would be behind it for the greater good.

If everyone was on the trains in London it would be even more overcrowded and dangerous at certain times.

I agree about the rural problems. My df has to pay £4 to park in the local small town. Our parking is much cheaper

Plastic - stored responsibly is a hell of a lot better for the environment that making more paper.

tHIS IS EXACTLY MY THOUGHTS - i WOULD RATHER CUT DOWN ON PACKAGING as a whole RATHER THAN THIS "PLASTIC BAD, PAPER GOOD" MENTALITY

I don't see how this will work, alongside wanting food with fewer airmiles, @BlueSkiesLies. Basically - if all the farmers move to the towns and cities, who is going to farm the land and produce the food in our country? No-one is going to commute from the towns to the farms - and farms are 24 hour a day, 7 day a week jobs - you need to be on site, not miles away. Or do we stop farming altogether, and import all our food, thus massively increasing the carbon footprint of our diet?

Agree completely

I agree with a points system as previously suggested because the fact that I chose not to drive or have childre and then to make me make other sacrifices wouldn't be fair.

As a side point I think attitudes towards cyclists generally make me want to weep, we are ALL treated worse than any shit driver on the road.

What M3lon said! Whatever they bring in (hopefully they do something!) I may not like it but tough shit to me, I'd like my child to grow up into a world that isn't completely fucked over.

And yes to public transport getting a big overhaul and actually being reliable and affordable so people can get on and know they will get to where they need to go on time and without paying an arm and a leg to be crammed in like sardines.

Teacup my Nan had one kitchen all her married life. It lasted 60 years and was still in use when she died. Solid wood units that were sanded down and repainted over the years. Her cooker lasted 30 years before replacement and her top loading washing machine was still in use up to her death.
Her sofa was as cut down and recovered at least once but I remember sitting on it as a child and sitting on it the day of her funeral 40 plus years later.
Now we live in a society where we get bored with our stuff. People think a kitchen needs replacing after 10 years. Sofas are changed every time we redecorate. Charity shops are full of last years duvet covers, curtains and cushions. Going to ikea is the new hobby of the masses

Reminds me of my Granny's best friends who has the kitchen in her little house that my Dad fitted for her when she moved in over 20 years ago - and even then it was second hand. He removed it from an old house for her and refitted in the new one. Couldn't even tell you what colour her teapot is meant to be as it is simply the colour of tea lol but "there is nothing wrong with it" We live in such a throwaway wasteful society now - and I am just as guilty as the next person (though trying to be more conscious about things now)

I would welcome a different form of heating for my home also, currently oil heating as live rural so no gas mains, expensive to run and not even that warm to be fair, we do have an efficient boiler only fitted last year but I have lived in a gas heated house and it was warmer and cheaper. Would welcome grants for the underground heating pump etc

People are all for going green unless they have to give up things they like. A dog has a bigger carbon footprint than a car so they should tax those and try and discourage dog ownership.

oyster agree.

I also agree with a poster that said about concreting over everything, in the city nearest to me they keep building on flood plains and then wonder why the city floods 🙄 housing estates are being built at an alarming rate around me and really disheartens me, I chose to live rurally have done all my life and love seeing green fields, trees, hills not someone else’s back kitchen. As another poster said there are so many empty properties and 2nd homes that I think permission shouldn’t be given until every home and building is utilised not to mention the infrastructure simply isn’t here rurally for mass building

Totally agree about dog ownership.

If everyone was on the trains in London it would be even more overcrowded and dangerous at certain times

but everyone wouldn't be if there were more decent cycle paths like the cycle superhighways and anyone who could work at home/remotely, was allowed to. More regional co-working places would be good so if you don't like being at home you could work with others but you don't need to make long journeys.

As for rural versus urban, it is more difficult for rural dwellers but if we sorted out a lot of the issues for urban dwellers it would have a huge impact.

But it can't just be tweaks, there needs to be a complete change of approach and say a 20 year plan. And a LOT of money invested. Oh well I suppose it could provide a boost to the economy after Brexit if you change the whole structure of everything to be eco-friendly.

Oh and green field building shouldn't be allowed unless every other option has been considered and rejected for very good reasons.

Actually I like moodys app idea. You get given an allowance. + and - for every flight you take, tree you plant etc.

I think there would be riots.

The only way of introducing it would be by having some form of military rule. Either that or the only way it happens is following some form of acute major climate disaster where it becomes obvious to everyone that the change needs to happen.

I've made a recent decision that I'm not going to fly again. Only ever flown for holidays in the past so dont need to for work or to see family. All future holidays will be in the UK or drive/train to Europe possibly. I gave up driving to work at the start of this year and do a 14 mile round trip cycle commute instead. But i do feel like my changes are a drop in the ocean and not making a difference.

sorry but no. I do my bit, as do others, the UK as a whole is much better than many other countries, and it’s all very well saying fly less, drive less, eat less, etc etc but just what do you expect is then going to happen? Well for a start a global economic downturn as pilots, engineers, those in the holiday industry, farmers across the world and so on lose their jobs with no hope of finding another, shops will start closing, jobs gone , food shortages as we can’t grow enough in this country, but can’t import it as there are no planes or ships to transport it and so on

We do what we can, if you are that worried start canvassing those governments across the world who don’t, start canvassing all those luvvies like Emma Thompson who is happy to fly 5000 miles to join a protest, but to be honest the more that people like you bang on about it the more I switch off

The thing is, for every person who washes out their yoghurt pots, recycles every week, cycles to work, gives up flying and shops local, there are probably ten people who don't (or can't) do any of those things.

The people who live rurally and have to drive to get to work/the shops. The people whose jobs require them to fly on a regular basis. The people who can't afford to make ethical food choices so they shop in Lidl/Aldi/B&M because their need to feed their families is more important than saving the planet. And of course, the people who could make changes but simply don't care enough to bother.

When you're doing all you can and you read that people are being flown to/from America for work each week, that royals are flying their dogs around the world on private jets, you do realise how insignificant your contribution really is.

Thank you Chloe - as I said earlier the airlines play a large part in the area I live in and is a major employer. I don't think it is realistic.

I think we all need to be sensible where possible about avoiding waste and single use products.

Work business meetings wouldn't be part of it. Not on your personal app.

Business flying needs to be addressed separately.

Most flying for business is unnecessary. It/a lot of it/most could be done by FaceTime/zoom meetings etc.

Agreed that some changes need to me made with the longer term in mind e.g infrastructure, town planning etc. But shouldn’t we be doing that anyway?

Some things are just pointless and I don’t feel like their would be any victims from eliminating them completely. I’m looking at you Costa Cups, Happy Meal toys etc.

Also maybe the retailers should pay a plastic tax. I think it would take something drastic to get them to cut down on plastic. Consumers have little choice if every single brand of a product is packaged in plastic.

Just bring in a tax incentive/benefit to encourage people to have no children/less children so those who don't have children get a bigger tax break/benefit supplement, instead of the other way around. The world is far too overcrowded and it's pure insanity to pay people to have children.

"Flying is the worst thing any one of us can do. We all need to stop*

Not true. Having children is the worst thing for the environment at the moment. Though of course 'every 'little helps' and all that, so stopping flying is not a bad thing.

People always.say.they wouldn't mind stuff until it starts being something like you are not allowed more than a certain number of children ( say one.per adult).

About jobs disappearing...wouldn't different jobs be created?

If we can't import as much (because of fuel consumption), there would be more need for local production.
When petrol reserves are so low that running agricultural machinery becomes more expensive than paying humans, more jobs in farming.

I know most people would rather be a pilot than a labourer but I think it's inevitable that there'll be a reduction in standard of living .

I wish people stopped banging on about flying. Unless you're willing to ban all the billionaires, royals, Hollywood stars and others from owning and flying private jets wherever they please, hands off us plebs once a year holidays.

We need a new approach. We pulled together in the war we can do it again. If the bridge came down and rules enforced for everyone because otherwise our planet is destroyed I think the majority would go along with it. We can’t go on like this and deep down we all know it. Our grandparents didn’t travel and have the new stuff we do and they had decent lives.

I started an OU degree in science last year and that open my eyes to the issue. Before that, head firmly in sand. I worry about it regularly now. The scientific evidence is overwhelming and the results will be devastating for us in the future, but they are devastating now for those in the global south. To those who think climate change is a 'liberal' thing, I suggest you do a science degree, then say its nonsense.

Since I realised how bad things are I have recycled as much as possible (beyond the couple of boxes the council provide), use less water (fill old milk bottles with the water from the hot tap as I am waiting for it to heat up, then using on the garden to water), feed the birds everyday, planted up pots with wildflowers/sunflowers, put out water for birds and bees etc. Emailed my tory mp and asked what are the govt going to do about it and more needs to be done. Attended the student protests with my children. I have also now no car.

Managing on public transport in a village is hard. However if I have a car I am not using the service so can hardly ask for it to be improved, and more services laid on. I'm in a position to do this at the moment so I'm going to be harassing the council/bus companies/MP (again) about putting on a decent service.

Our nearest big town is 45 min by car, or 1 hr 20 min by bus and costs £18. The earliest bus gets you there at 10.05...how the hell is that any good for people who need to go there for work???? Its crackers.

I think in general many people want to do something, however they are too caught up in everyday life to actually 'do' anything. Many are waiting for the Government to catch up wiht the situation and for them to start distributing leaflets on what needs to change/happen...a bit like a no deal Brexit, except our children's/grandchildren's lives depend on this.

I have set myself 5 years to get my carbon footprint down to 1.5 kg carbon per year. I'm also looking for ways to raise the issue with as many people as possible. Some ignore, some listen, and some act. Then you hope word will spread.