To think that cars are the biggest cause of climate change?

[malificent7]

I didn't learn to drive till I was 30 as I was concerned about the effects of cars on global warming. Everyone thought I was mad...however now that climate change is a hot topic i wonder how many people still feel that driving isn't damaging to the planet?
Then there are the car accidents, roads are an eyesore.
I mean I drive as I live in the country but I kind of hate it too.

I always though the biggest cause was burning fossil fuels for heat & electric.

Clothing is a huge proportion for climate change due to the manufacturing process and throw away fashion.

and the transportation of said cheap clothes.

Eating meat is right up there tbh!

Yes. Fast fashion. Have you seen the impact of the fashion industry?

Population growth, There are more than three times (3X) the number of people in the world now than when I was born.
W all need land: for living on and food
We all need electricity so they burned coal to generate it.
We have been very successful so far, there is less starvation and we live longer. This applies to a greater or lesser extent over the entire world most years.
Unfortunately there are still about one billion people who lack a reliable safe water and sanitation and a 60Watt light bulb.

Proper facts from the UN:

“The countries consuming the most fossil fuels probably aren’t surprising because they’re home to about 43 percent of the world’s population. China’s population of 1.38 billion consumes about 4.7 billion metric tons of fossil fuels per year, 31 percent of global consumption. That’s about 3.4 metric tons per person per year. The United States consumes twice that amount per person.

But the United States is far from the top when it comes to per capita fossil fuel consumption: seven countries (Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Singapore, Qatar, Trinidad and Tobago, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait) consume 10 or more tons of fossil fuels per person. Many of these are countries that also produce a lot of fossil fuels. Equatorial Guinea has a relatively small population of just over 1.2 million people and is one of the top oil-producing countries in sub-Saharan Africa. The country leads the world in per capita fossil fuel consumption, at 18 metric tons per person per year”

Having kids

[quote cinammonbuns]@hamstersarse hate to see this banded around. Yes that’s true they also have the biggest population on the planet and are producing goods for all of us. The device you used to type that comment was made in China in full or in part. It sounds completely ignorant and pushes the blame to another country when it is fuelled by consumption all over the West.[/quote]
Actually it's their use of fossil fuels. It may sound 'ignorant' to you but that is because you've already decided it's the West's fault. To coin a phrase, I think you'll find it's a bit more complicated than that.

The four big hitters are fossil fuels (Inc driving), manufacturing, food production and deforestation. Or something like that. So driving might not be biggest single contribution but it's a significant one, as are fashion consumption, meat eating etc .

I did a carbon calculation online and apparently my mortgage is the biggest contribution from our household. Maybe the bank has invested in oil or something?

Manufacturing is actually one of the biggest causes. But it's not a popular topic for politicians because a lot of our economy is based on us buying stuff. So whilst cars are a major contributor we also need to stop buying lots of stuff that is manufactured....we are pretty much doomed as a species.

I misread cars as cats for some reason. I’m glad it’s not cats as I have three of the little furry beasts and I was

Breeding

Life expectancy increases has had a big impact on the population

@whippetwoman

I misread cars as cats for some reason. I’m glad it’s not cats as I have three of the little furry beasts and I was

Same !!!!! 🤣🤣🤣

Computer servers contribute massively. I heard that on Radio 4 so it must be true

According to Google the top ones are

"What are the top 5 causes of climate change?
They include:
Burning fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas for electricity, heat, and transportation.
Deforestation.
Industrial processes.
Livestock production.
Agriculture.
Waste and food waste"

@Davros

Computer servers contribute massively. I heard that on Radio 4 so it must be true

That's more to do with the reduction of rare earth elements, then climate change.

Animal agriculture is the biggest contributor.
And rampant consumerism.

China is responsible for one third of the entire world's CO2 emissions, producing more than the US and the entire EU combined - according to the BBC.

So, while they continue to do this we are all fucked.

I wouldn't have thought of cars, if making a list I'd have put air travel ahead of road travel.

If you ask a vegan they'd say its all down to meat eaters

@hawkins001

No, it's not. They consume huge amounts of power. See here:

www.computerworld.com/article/3431148/why-data-centres-are-the-new-frontier-in-the-fight-against-climate-change.html

Like someone else said…..China. Cars will eventually be electrified, what is the solution to the biggest polluter in the world that shows no sign of slowing down.

I thought it was cows farting that were on the top list of climate change

Well they contribute but the main things are industry etc

Watching the fires in USA the other day on the news. I imagine this year that will contribute a chunk.