Climate change - is this a wakeup call?

[Tulipomania]

Seeing the wildfires in Greece and Turkey.

The extreme heatwave we had here in the UK. Floods in central London.

Flooding in China. More extreme heatwaves in the US.

Is anyone else as worried as I am for the future of our kids, or are we just going to carry on ignoring the warning signs until it is too late?

I feel so torn.

@chainjane on the one hand, brutal but probably true ...

Then I get hopeful moments....

I feel like we're in a barrel approaching the edge of Victoria Falls, everyone can't help but hear the roar of the falls now but many are refusing to acknowledge it, others are uneasy and others are panic stricken. I had my wake up call 40 years ago reading Catherine Caufields' Into the Rainforest - I've been worried to death ever since. The main difference now is that awareness is literally everywhere - that's what gives me hope in between the times that I don't feel utterly desolate about it all.

Also reading Michael Mann's book

Its so easy to just carry in as we have been, consuming without thinking. But we really need to make changes now.

And yet the outrage from people who have been asked not to go abroad on holiday for one year in the middle of a global pandemic!

We're screwed!

Have to agree with this. We've had the data for over 30 years now. No government is prepared to take a leap on their own which will have a massive hit to their economy.

We're already at tipping point. The record temperatures in the Northern States this year were broken by almost 5 degrees. We have unprecedented wildfires across the globe including the Arctic and Siberia meaning methane is being added at higher rates.

We aren't prepared to make sacrifices, and governments can't agree. I feel fortunate to be in the UK which will be affected less severely than many parts of the world in terms of heat increases, loss of rainfall, flooding. But a growing number of climate emergency refugees (water shortages, flooding - look at Bangladesh for example) together with changes to crop viability internationally (US dust bowl, loss of top soil around the world) will ultimately impact us.

What to do? Yes buy less stuff, recycle, reuse, don't fly, go veggie. But that is only a very little dent. Learn how to grow your own veggies - assuming you have the space - is one practical step.

Sorry but I think this just shows ignorance.
Things like this have been happening for a very long time but only now it's close to home you're concerned...
Big changes won't come unless government force companies to make changes.

You can live your life in fear, recycling everything, buying second hand, going without etc that's fine, but don't kid yourself that it will help. It won't

Well that sort of attitude helps nobody and is quite frankly a big pathetic. Its just making excuses.

I can only control certain things. I can control my own carbon footprint. I can influence the attitudes of my children, I can influence friends and family, I can ensure my own business isn’t contributing to the problem. Ultimately, If enough people do the same then manufacturers will be impacted and will change and politicians will realise this matters to people.

Defeatist attitudes help nobody. I don’t live my life in fear, I live my life in hope.
.

@AbsentmindedWoman I was also about to point you to the IPCC report/s or more specifically, to the press releases and media coverage of them. The reports themselves are very dense and not an easy read!

The Committee on Climate Change has recently released a report on the UK's preparedness for climate change (its 2021 adaptation progress report) which gives a more local view of the medium-term impacts of climate change on the UK specifically, and how woefully behind the government is in preparing. Again, this was widely reported so you'll be able to find news coverage summarising their findings!

Really interesting thread, it’s something I’ve been worrying about for a while now.

Something I find weird and would like to ask about is why do some people say that it’s a hoax? I see it often on the DM comments about any climate change article, they all say how it’s normal for the Earth to be going through the stages it is. What evidence is there (if any?) that climate change isn’t real?

This is nothing new though is it.

So worrying about the future of your kids is something you should have considered before having them!

It's normal. Sunspots, volcanic activity, the earth's wobble are just a few contributary factors. The earth has been warming and cooling in cycles for millennia

We've had a wakeup call for a long time. But we all (governments and individuals) are continually paying lip service.

Nothing will change until we all across the globe make real change. Until then it's all a waste of time.

And yes I'm talking restrictions on the number of children across the globe, banning SUVs, shaming middle eastern oil producing nations, ostracising China and its coal plants etc.

But people don't like the fact they will have to make hard sacrifices so nothing will change.

Thanks folks - I will look out for the IPCC report.

Something I find weird and would like to ask about is why do some people say that it’s a hoax?

Denial is comforting for some, I guess.

Hoax theories abound over everything people can't control or don't want to acknowledge

Hope the link works - it's a very short film from the 1950s warning of global warming.
So that was 70 years ago and what has happened?
I fear it is too late...

<a class="break-all" href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=m.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DT6YyvdYPrhY&ved=2ahUKEwiYjNjOxp_yAhUHDcAKHTyYBiEQz40FegQIBhAI&usg=AOvVaw2WTB6MK66kJOl5F-w5H-Nt" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=m.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DT6YyvdYPrhY&ved=2ahUKEwiYjNjOxp_yAhUHDcAKHTyYBiEQz40FegQIBhAI&usg=AOvVaw2WTB6MK66kJOl5F-w5H-Nt

Hundreds of thousands think Covid is a hoax

Literally no climate scientists think 'we're just in a warm period and it'll all be fine'

We are PROPER FUCKED

@nevergoesaway there is literally no credible scientist or scientific organisation that refutes man-made climate change.

Climate change deniers are the new flat-earthers. It's pleasing to see them being ignored on this thread - arguing with a climate change denier is about as fruitful as banging your head against a wall.

If you genuinely care about the environment then veganism is the way forward, or at least being vegetarian. This is an inconvenient truth for many.

Was talking about this with my neighbour the other day as my 10 year old DD is really concerned about climate change but I’m 40 and remember the same things being discussed when I was her age. So I was saying to my neighbour, that the wake up call was at least 30 years ago. Seems like the situation has only got a lot worse and unfortunately, I think it will only deteriorate further with no way of getting back to how things were. I hope I’m wrong.

I live in NYC. A few weeks ago, there was a weird dull haze over the city here caused by the Californian wildfires.

It was very discomfiting, a stark visible reminder of how something happening thousands of miles away produced this effect here - air quality plummeted, the sky was greyish.

I wonder, as more and more things like that happen, if people who currently deny and don't care about the climate will be forced to acknowledge there is a big fucking problem.

@LaurieFairyCake

Hundreds of thousands think Covid is a hoax

Literally no climate scientists think 'we're just in a warm period and it'll all be fine'

We are PROPER FUCKED

Yes I suppose it’s the same kind of thing as COVID denial, and I’ve even come across some on Twitter who say viruses don’t actually exist and deny the Holocaust too 😱

It will make a HUGE difference if people just make one meal a day veggie - it would be incredible if they did it one day a week

Then 2 days a week ...

Apparently 20% eat meat for literally EVERY meal

[quote Howtotameyourtoddler]@nevergoesaway there is literally no credible scientist or scientific organisation that refutes man-made climate change.

Climate change deniers are the new flat-earthers. It's pleasing to see them being ignored on this thread - arguing with a climate change denier is about as fruitful as banging your head against a wall.[/quote]
Ah yes flat earthers too, I’ve attempted to argue with a few of them in the past - never again!!!

It's terrifying. This summer felt really ominous with all the extreme weather. I feel like we'll really start seeing the effects soon. And I just don't think leaders/companies will change, or not enough.

@hibbledibble

If you genuinely care about the environment then veganism is the way forward, or at least being vegetarian. This is an inconvenient truth for many.

Certain grasslands are not suitable for growing crops, but will sustain sheep or goats.

High meat consumption and industrial agriculture is of course a problem. Vegan diets in high income countries typically involve a significant amount of food miles too though.

The food issue isn't black and white.

Legislation is the most important thing

Allocate every adult air miles. Set up some swap your allocated for the year air miles with some business exchange thing.

Basically charge businesses for flying people round the globe - they're the biggest consumers of flights

Or something more complex than above but government to do it

FORCE everyone to carbon offset. Don't let anyone fly anywhere for £50 - no one NEEDS a cheap holiday

Ive not flown for 18 years and yes, I could have afforded to