Is anyone really making any actual sacrifices to combat climate change?

[Cam77]

Saw a news article about a well known celebrity who is very outspoken on climate issues having another child, which is of course literally the worst thing you can do in terms of your climate footprint. But anyway it got me thinking: Does anyone make any actual sacrifices/significant life style compromises for climate change? Or do we instead merely big up choices that we would have made for different reasons anyway?

For example, I'm vegetarian and when people ask the reason I'll cite the effect of beef and pork farming on the environment as one reason. But the truth is I wouldn't eat them anyway, as I hate the idea of inflicting suffering on other intelligent mammals. Or sometimes I tell myself not owning a car is me "doing my bit" but the truth is I don't really enjoy driving and don't need a car for work. Anyway, it often seems when you scratch the surface, there are nearly always reasons of immediate self-interest attached.

Of course, people are good at spending a few minutes to sort and separate their rubbish now, and we take more care to turn off lights we're not using. All good. But how many people are really making significant life style compromises for purely altruistic reasons. 1 in 100? 1 in 1000?

I think it’s hard for many and consumer push is strong enough to require other mechanisms. Look how hard the pandemic is pushing down on various things like flying and how hard it is to suppress.

I was listening to a thing on Gates’ new book on climate crisis and radio person said he flew in a private jet to interview people which felt ironic.

On change - Something like ULEZ in London does have impact over people just choosing it. Even the plastic bag fee worked markedly to reduce use. Financial tools work.

Oh and Shell has tied pay for senior execs to meeting zero carbon goals. Again using financial incentives.

Great question OP.
My sphere of power and influence is tiny, like most people. I could make huuuuge personal sacrifices but all it would do is put me at a serious disadvantage in the society I am in, at great personal cost. It would make not a jot of difference. I realise that if only we all made an effort that would not be the case but that's never going to happen because for everyone who cares there are 50 who couldn't give a monkeys.
I know someone who works in the field of ecology, professionally skilled to care for the environment... Actively blocked his ndn installing solar panels on their roof as it didn't meet his preferred aesthetic, he couldn't even see it from inside his house. This educated person in the field won't compromise a inch, he is not alone!
The only way this game changes is if the big companies and governments do something... But they pay it lip service.
I'm am so embarrassed that the UK is hosting the UN conference on climate change this November having just mown down some of the tiny remaining scraps of ancient forest we have for HS2 and given the go ahead for a new coal mine in Cumbria! How we, the UK, can tut at Brazil for burning it's rainforest when we are doing this I don't know.
So, do I make personal sacrifices, no. Do I make an effort when I can, yes. Do I have the resources to do better, no (and I'm not in poverty just a average citizen). Is my heart broken for the future knowing that this conversation had been going on all my life and nothing has changed at the top so the chances of disaster (even now parts of the world are becoming uninhabitable) being averted are minimal, yes

Does it really matter what the reason is, so long as the result is positive?

We haven't flown for 6 years, went down to one car with us alternating who takes public transport (and will replace with electric when it dies), and buy local where we can food-wise.

They were all done deliberately because of the environmental impact. And we recycle lots, grow our own veg, buy second hand furniture etc.

But I see what you mean - I try and buy ethical clothes (but mostly because it makes me feel better/I like the brands), we're not having children and I'm glad about the environmental impact angle (and would probably bring it up if asked) but actually, we just don't really like or want children. So I know what you mean, it's easy to frame choices you'd have made anyway as part of your eco credentials!

Same most things would do anyway. Don’t eat meat, haven’t done since I was 8, don’t even have a passport let alone fly anywhere.

Harry moaned publicly about climate change and all that, even claimed to be hesitant to have kids because of it.... and now he's had another kid...

In fairness I suspect the private jets dwarf the effects of having a kid and he did make clear he wanted the rest of us to make sacrifices, not him.

@Ozgirl75
I honestly can’t think of any specific genuine sacrifice that I would be prepared to make. Kind of an awful realisation about myself really as I do lots of “good” things like careful recycling, shopping local etc but all of them involve no sacrifice for me.

Yep, that's exactly my point and I'm basically the same. I did once draw the line at going on a cruise, but I'm ever wavering on that now. As many others have said, it seems we need collective action. 1 person in 100 or 500 taking a "moral stand" just doesn't affect the overall machine.
A basic first step would be more governments doing more to incentive "green" businesses and those who develop or invest in green technology. Unfortunately in the UK we currently have a very ungreen government .... I guess that is one area where I do put the environment over my own immediate financial well-being - how I vote. Though I believe the research shows that everyone benefits from living in fairer societies in the long run through greater well-being.

@Meredithgrey1 Cop out or not, it's true that the impact individuals can make is insignificant compared to the corporations, big industries etc. I live in a world where plastic is used for most things, can I change that? No. Can the companies who produce it change their materials? Absolutely.

By the end of it the kids and I flew back and dh (green warrior) drove.

Lol. Have to be careful with that! I think the research shows that a single occupancy car has a WORSE footprint over a set distance than an air passenger. While 2+ car passengers is considerably better than two flyers (in a plane full of loads of other passengers) over the same distance.

I suppose our main sacrifice if you can callbjt that is that though we could easily go abroad in the summer every year, we've cut it to every 2 to 3 years in an effort to cut our air travel.

We also have vegetarian meals 3 to 4 times a week and if we can walk somewhere in 15 to 20 minutes we will unless there's a lot to carry.

Pretty careful about sorting recycling and have metal straws. We use smol for washing tablets and cleaning sprays (cardboard packaging and refillable spray bottles) and try to remember bags when we go to the shops.

Otherwise I am ashamed to say not as much as we should.

we will be looking for an electric car next time round.

[quote farandfew]@Meredithgrey1 Cop out or not, it's true that the impact individuals can make is insignificant compared to the corporations, big industries etc. I live in a world where plastic is used for most things, can I change that? No. Can the companies who produce it change their materials? Absolutely.[/quote]
Companies are run by individuals, they are not lifeless machines.

When society changes its mindset - through individuals changing their mindset - then companies will follow.

I am sure you're right: but I don't think that means that the small inconveniences (faffing with recycling; composting food waste; not driving short distances; choosing local and seasonal food over flow-in options; choosing lose rather than plastic wrapped veg; eating less meat ; buy secondhand when possible etc etc) don't impact. Each step - once integrated - becomes natural and ceases to be an inconvenience, so you add another. I'm always amazed how many people don't do those simpler steps: why aim for sacrifice when there is so much simpler stuff to do first?

That said, in terms of larger sacrifices: we are currently on a meat-cutting exercise, very much more from environmental factors than anything else, as I aim for good animal husbandry/rearing conditions (whilst accepting this is still not optimal). We've cut out beef totally (a HUGE sacrifice for one of my dc who is a total carnivore); lamb is next on the list (which will feel like a sacrifice for all of us: we love lamb!!). Sure there are potentially health benefits, but cutting out biscuits would be a more sensible step if that was the only goal ;-)

Of course, people are good at spending a few minutes to sort and separate their rubbish now

If I’m completely honest I probably wouldn’t do this regularly if the council provided more general waste collections and a larger bin. I do it scrupulously because it benefits me not to have piles of rubbish sitting around waiting to go to the tip.

I don’t drive and fly very rarely but again that’s more due to circumstance and opportunity, same reason I’ve only got one dc.

I have a fine collection of reusable cloth bags and generally buy clothes and furniture second hand but that’s driven by my love of a bargain rather than any altruistic reason.

I agree that the biggest changes need to happen further up the supply chain to encourage widespread normality. I’ll happily take the environmentally friendly choice if it’s the easier option.

YANBU. It's laughable that someone claims to be concerned about the environment whilst still carrying out activities that cause massive harm to it - be it having children, flying, driving and so on.

Personally I am happy to say I have made zero effort to combat climate change. That doesn't mean I don't do anything to combat it, but I don't willingly do anything that I wouldn't have done anyway. I don't fly, because I can't afford to go on holiday (even if we were allowed to). I don't have a car because I can't afford one. I recycle because otherwise there is too much waste for our normal bin. I don't leave lights on and run electrical appliances more than necessary because I want to save money. I don't have multiple kids because they are expensive.

In essence, I do things that combat climate change because I am poor. So it's no surprise, but still disappointing, to see the hypocrisy of the wealthy and influential harp on about climate change whilst massively contributing to it, mainly because they have the means to.

First answer is absolutely right. We, as individuals, can bend over backwards and sacrifice whatever, but...
The biggest culprit is an energy industry. There are plans for a coal mine in Cumbria...

I can be childfree, walk everywhere and never fly and do you know what difference does it make? None.

[quote farandfew]@Meredithgrey1 Cop out or not, it's true that the impact individuals can make is insignificant compared to the corporations, big industries etc. I live in a world where plastic is used for most things, can I change that? No. Can the companies who produce it change their materials? Absolutely.[/quote]
Tbf the problem with plastic isn't that it's used but HOW is it used and disposed of. Apparently it can be great and ecological material IF used, reused (especially that) and disposed of properly.

@Lockheart - true companies are run BY people, but the are run FOR profit. Very few companies are run completely altruistically, so for the majority the main reason for the business is to create profits for the companies shareholders/owners.
There is definitely a greater movement towards companies recognising the issues around ESG (environmental, social and corporate governance) but it is slow-going. Some shareholders are becoming more interested and therefore are putting greater pressure on their companies to introduce new policies etc around this, but ultimately no company is going to make itself bankrupt to please the populace.
There is a very large debate going on, mainly spurred by the pandemic, about whether business should operate for profit or for societal good, or both - but this is a complex issue as often the two can be in direct opposition to one another, and at other times they can be aligned. But most companies are aware that their stakeholders expect more.
As stakeholders (consumers, customers, pension-holders, employees) we can play our part, by voting with our wallets/feet but ultimately you have to realise that companies rarely act quickly. Only last year did the FTSE 350 finally managed to get 100% of boards to have at least one female board member! Whilst over half still don't have any ethnic minorities on their boards. I'm not excusing them - it's utterly ridiculous and shameful it has and still is taking so long to make boards representative of both their customer base and society - but companies will usually only make rapid changes if there is a lot of pressure from above (government).

I never plan to own a petrol vehicle, or a car at all.

I was listening to a thing on Gates’ new book on climate crisis and radio person said he flew in a private jet to interview people which felt ironic.

Yeah, Bill Gates seems nice to me. But I don’t think this is the right battle for him (which he acknowledges to an extent to be fair). He’d have a far better impact quietly investing some of his billions in earth friendly companies (and I know he is v.charitable) rather than writing a book from a vantage point of “do as I say not as I do/did”.

I only fly about once every 5 years.
Did reusable nappies.
Keeping ancient car limping on until we can afford an electric one.
Holiday in UK
Cut down on meat and dairy (although traditional grass fed meat is not the villain its made out to be)
Won't be replacing my carnivorous pets when they go.

@Lockheart I know that companies are run by people. But given that change needs to happen on an industrial level, those in government, who have decision making power and also access to the high level data re. climate change, should be focusing on regulating the industries with the highest impact on the environment, not fining individuals for putting their rubbish in the wrong bin etc. When the industry changes, consumer behaviour will change because there will be no other choice. Doing it the other way round imo is a sad state of affairs, because it's essentially waiting for environmental issues to be trendy before the regulators will actually do anything.

I'm not
I will be honest, it's pure want and convienence.
I have no desire to make life hard, spend extra time and money

Forgot about putting up with a cold house!
Akso got rid of some investments which were involved in companies that weren't very green.

@Lockheart
Companies are run by individuals, they are not lifeless machines.

Yes, they are run by individuals but companies are kept alive by profit margins. If governments help make going green profitable they will happily do so. If not, then the vast majority won’t. Unfortunately it is that simple - and that of course applies to consumers to a large extent as well. Unfortunately this government in the U.K. is crap at pushing for green innovation/incentiving alternative energy.