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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

If it’s that bad, why aren’t we panicking more??

911 replies

Nightgardenisodd · 07/08/2021 20:59

Climate change.
I keep reading posts about it and it’s scaring the crap out of me for my DD’s future.
How bad is it? Anyone have any positivity about it?

OP posts:
NigellaSeed · 09/08/2021 22:04

Its bad. I fear for my child's future. But ultimately, I see humans as "the bad guy" in the story of our planet. It will be sad for us to be wiped out but the earth can start to heal and restore nature. Sucks. Wish we could all just change and save ourselves.

HeronLanyon · 09/08/2021 22:07

10 o’clock news bit chilling now. ‘Dangerous increases’ and ‘catastrophe’ both used. ‘A lot we can do’

HasaDigaEebowai · 09/08/2021 22:11

It’s such big news that they might even finally start to make some changes. I think Boris has made comments today which will make it tricky to proceed with the Cumbria coal mine which would be amazing news.

Sarahlou63 · 09/08/2021 22:16

It makes sense that the media/politicians are talking up the possibility that the world can do something to reverse the damage. Otherwise there's no incentive for anyone to change their behaviour. But the changes needed will be life changing for the western world and I just can't see people accepting that they need to make sacrifices.

There will always be an excuse or a "well, no one else is doing it/my need is greater than yours/I can't afford it, etc, etc." I very much doubt the current UK govt. has the balls to enforce the very hard measures needed.

HasaDigaEebowai · 09/08/2021 22:19

Well then east Anglia, Hull and half of London is going to have a tricky time in the property market since they’ll be underwater in a few decades.

HasaDigaEebowai · 09/08/2021 22:19

Bristol and big chunks of Wales yoo

HasaDigaEebowai · 09/08/2021 22:20

Too

NCwhatsmynameagain · 09/08/2021 22:29

What I find most frustrating is that there is still such a focus on what individuals can do to reduce their carbon footprint, which is lovely but this is not how we are going to have a chance of preventing catastrophe- its businesses and governments that need to be targeted- no point telling us to switch to reusable bottles when virgin plastic factories are being built so that the oil industry can protect its interests as fossil fuel demand has peaked and electric cars cause then a headache.
And a million other examples of course. If we keep pushing this back onto end users we will get nowhere.

RavingAnnie · 09/08/2021 22:47

@ChainJane

Don't worry about it. Humans always predict the worst. 60 years ago people were genuinely scared that there might be an atomic war at any moment. 40 years ago we were told that AIDS would kill off huge numbers of people. 25 years ago I remember BBC news telling us that mad cow disease might decimate the population within a decade. Then it was terrorism, now it's climate change.

Humans need something to worry about, it is in our nature. It's also convenient for the powers that be because they can use whatever fear people have as an excuse to raise taxes and cut services.

The world is hotter than a century ago, certainly. But before industrialisation temperatures were already rising, ever since the peak of the "mini ice age" where the Thames regularly froze solid to the point they held fairs on the ice. Go back a thousand years and temperatures were about the same as they are now.

The point is temperatures have always fluctuated and the world has adapted to the new conditions. Yes, people die off and populations rise and fall. We are due a correction in population figures because there are too many people for the planet to support. Natural disasters such as floods and famine will help bring about the necessary reduction (because obviously politicians can't actively promote sterilisation or genocide). But that's always been the case, that's how we evolve - the people who adapt best to the prevailing conditions are the ones who survive.

The problem with those who shout that we need to stop climate change are misguided. It's the height of arrogance to think humans have the power to change nature.

"Global temperatures have risen faster in the last 50 years than any other 50-year period in the last 2,000 years. That's because humanity emitted about 2.4 trillion tons of carbon dioxide between 1850 and 2019. Every trillion tons causes the world's average temperature to increase roughly 0.45 degrees Celsius (0.9 degrees Fahrenheit)."

I don't see much point in doing anything as an individual until something very dramatic is done at a national and international level. This focus on what individuals can do is just to distract us from that fact that nothing that would actually be effective is happening.

But there is no doubt that climate change is a result of humans. This is not a natural would have happened anyway change. If you think this you are fooling yourself.

malificent7 · 09/08/2021 22:55

The problem is capitalism pure and simple. The corporations have manipulated us through advertising to believe that the American Dream and consumerism is desirable.
We vote for capitalism and literally buy into it so we get it. Everyone will now start shouting " but communism dosn't work. " perhaps socialism is the answer. I've no idea.
Basically we are screwed but that's no bad thing for the rest of nature , it is shit for our kids.
We are supposed to be an " intelligent" species but what intelligent being would knowingly pollute the planet by using cars and eating shit tons of meat and pesticide soaked foods and buying utter trash then moan when our kids get asthma, cancers and face a dying planet?

malificent7 · 09/08/2021 22:57

And i am sorry if anyone's children gave suffered those things...i am not putting the blame on you but as a species we don't seem to want to see a connection between our behaviour and the destruction of this amazing planet. If we think about our kids it may change our behaviour.

RavingAnnie · 09/08/2021 23:05

@Lucycantdance

I can’t express how frustrating it is reading this thread and seeing some people say “iF We aLL dO oUr BiT” like that would have any meaningful impact on this unfolding disaster.

This is down to capitalism. Corporations and the powerful are the only ones who can actually mitigate this because they are responsible. That means pressuring them. Educate yourselves.

THIS. I mean the caps. You doing your recycling or buying an electric car is going to make zero difference. Putting pressure on corporations and the politicians just might.
malificent7 · 09/08/2021 23:51

You can put pressure on corporations by ceasing to buy their products. Companies that may be worth boycotting:
Nestle
Coca cola
Anything with palm oil
Macdonalds
Primarmeat and fish etc
Fast fashion in general...

Parrotsandpussies · 09/08/2021 23:55

I have to confess to not having read the whole thread. I will.

I can see the major thing is to put pressure on the Government, support action through demonstrations, social media and so on.

Opinion seems to be divided about how effective individual actions are. But it surely can't do any harm. I get the less meat and dairy, less flying and driving, buying local etc etc.

What if your house is in need of repair? What should /could I do beyond not getting artificial grass? What is the best way to heat my house? Can anyone give me ideas, or point me in the direction of books or websites for advice? Thank you.

QueenofDestruction · 10/08/2021 00:20

A child in a developed country has a carbon footprint of about 58 metric tonnes annually compared to a Malawian chi,d who has a footprint of 0.1.- the best thing humans, especially in developed countries is to have less children to ensure that children who do exist have a liveable earth.

onlychildhamster · 10/08/2021 01:46

I am worried.

I am not going to feel guilty anymore for opting for an only child, its the least I can do, considering that I am someone who needs to fly 14 hours to visit my parents. I will also continue to live in London in order to ensure that I would be able to stay car-free with minimal pain.

I know that big corporations are a bigger cause but it still doesn't mean we can just absolve ourselves of all responsibility. A little is better than nothing.

HarebrightCedarmoon · 10/08/2021 03:53

The question over who should have children isn't so easy as "people in developed countries shouldn't have them", for fuck's sake. Think about it for 30 seconds. Many people in developed countries aren't having children, that's why the birth rate is barely one point something. Countries where girls start to educated beyond eleven and are not forced into child marriage or to get married and have lots of babies at any age have fewer children per capita. Regardless of climate change, that needs to stop, but it will also have the effect of slowing population growth and reducing the global population.

GreatAuntEmily · 10/08/2021 06:24

Surely it's just us buying stuff that keeps the big corporations going.look at Amazon - it mostly sells stuff made by others, car manufacturers, oil companies.

jasjas1973 · 10/08/2021 07:51

@HasaDigaEebowai

It’s such big news that they might even finally start to make some changes. I think Boris has made comments today which will make it tricky to proceed with the Cumbria coal mine which would be amazing news.
He made similar positive comments to the Climate Change committee but unfortunately he also has a long line of saying one thing and doing another - if he was that bothered about climate, he wouldn't have 7 or 8 children. UK is also issuing oil exploration licenses, going out to 2050, suspended but only until after COP26.

Its not big news now, we on to A level results this morning.

TheGoogleMum · 10/08/2021 08:21

Maybe mumsnet needs a climate change board where we can all discuss the easy to implement suggestions and bigger pictures and who to lobby about what etc etc. I think it would be nice to have a section to ask whats the easiest things we can all do

HasaDigaEebowai · 10/08/2021 08:21

Maybe mumsnet needs a climate change board where we can all discuss the easy to implement suggestions and bigger pictures and who to lobby about what etc etc. I think it would be nice to have a section to ask whats the easiest things we can all do

The depressing thing is that there is both a climate change board and an ethical living board. Neither are very active at all.

ChardonnaysPetDragon · 10/08/2021 08:22

I cannot see how they can get away with Heathrow3 as well.

LadyLaSnack · 10/08/2021 08:24

Its not big news now, we on to A level results this morning.

This is it!!

Forget that life on our planet is ending and that societal bureaucracy will cease to have meaning. Here's some societal bureaucracy to tell you about.

jasjas1973 · 10/08/2021 08:27

@ChardonnaysPetDragon

I cannot see how they can get away with Heathrow3 as well.
If you look at how the 'report hasn't even been mentioned at all on BBC breakie news this morning, its very easy to see that HR3 will go ahead.... unless of course BJ lays down in front of the Bulldozers?

COP26 will be talked about in November and following that we will be commenting on threads about the latest JL xmas ad.

AllisoninWunderland · 10/08/2021 08:32

The Climate Change board is under ‘other stuff’ and the Ethical Living board is under ‘home and garden’.

It would be good if we all started going there more instead of getting sucked into random dramas on aibu!

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