Would anyone be interested in trying to do one small thing each week to tackle climate change?

[riotlady]

I’ve seen a few threads on aibu recently with people panicking about climate change and I often find myself worrying about it too, especially in light of the report published today. Studies show that one of the best ways to combat anxiety is to feel like you’re doing something about the problem, so I’ve decided to challenge myself to do one small thing to reduce my impact on the planet each week. I’m wondering if anyone would like to join me? I’m thinking small actions like walking or cycling a journey when you would normally take the car, swapping shower gel for bar soap, switching to a greener energy supplier, etc. No judgement about what is and isn’t feasible for people- for example I have ME and am very fatigued, so often use my tumble drier instead of hanging things out as I just don’t have the energy. There’s no point guilting myself over that, so I might as well focus on the things that I CAN change.

I’ve just sent an email to my MP so that’s my start to this week :)

It's pointless, give up....nobody gives a shit.

Behaviours I've witnesses today:

• driving on the motorway as if it's the 'Wacky races' (every day).
• in the gym, the aircon is on, but hey let's open the windows anyway, and waste even more energy (everyday).
• in the gym, 20+ yummy mummies + instructor walk out of the studio, and not one even thinks about turning the lights off (happens every day).
• young couple aged c20 sitting in car, eating chips, looking at sea, windows closed, engine running to keep the aircon on (happens every day).

I could go on.....

Mrs Thatcher was the first UK politician to get climate change, viz her speech at the UN, in 1984....that's half-a-lifetime ago, and still people don't get it.

Give up.....people are stupid, and selfish.....we're fucked !

Re flying, I happen not to fly as I’ve recently gotten phobic. We had an amazing holiday to the south of France via Eurostar which made me realise just how doable Europe is by train if you are willing to spend the time.
But the above poster is right. The issue isn’t Mr and Mrs Smith going to Spain for their annual holiday. It’s the 1% of very frequent flyers that need to be targeted by additional tariffs.
I used to be regularly sent all over Europe for business meetings. The same meetings I now have on Zoom. I really hope that COVID has proven that a lot of business meetings can be conducted remotely.

@DolphinFC

I know few people who do lots of small things. Trouble is they then fly off long haul for their holidays and change their large car every 3 years.

Doing a few small things will ease your conscience. If you want to make a difference you have to make significant sacrifices.

To be fair, I do a fair bit of that “big stuff” by virtue of being poor xD Don’t fly anywhere for holidays and run one 12 year old car.

@riotlady

How are you getting on with the shampoo bars *@GoldenOmber*? I tried a Lush one years ago when I went backpacking and it wasn’t great but assume things have improved since then!

I would like to know this too. I tried a lush one and it was a sloppy slimey disaster. I would love to find a good alternative to all the plastic bottles.

Yes some people don't care and won't care

Covid was the same
And like covid , We just need enough people to care, not everyone

Glad to see so many people do care

Can I mention turn down the heating again please ?

Honestly this was meant to be a positive thread for people to feel a little bit less anxious and a little more in control. If you think it’s all pointless then that’s fine, don’t bother. If you think we need massive governmental change then great, get campaigning and emailing your MP. But I don’t see the benefit in trying to bring people down

I buy things with the lower amount of miles - so I’ve given up all new world wines in favour of Western Europe.

Given up coffee (has to be imported)

Drive a diesel for now but one with very low co2 emissions.

Sell things on and buy 2nd hand where I can.

No more plastic tat party bags when we get back to parties.
I eat vegetarian meals 75% of the time.

I do agree though that small changes like this are in the burying head in the sand category. If we were really serious we’d be be having our dogs and cats put down as they’re bad for the environment, stopping imports of inessentials etc.

I’m not sure anyone has the appetite for what’s truly needed.

Dont buy physical newspapers.

About 1/3 of your emissions are likely to be in heating your house snd water

Switch all your lights to led

Don’t buy artificial grass or block pave large areas

Can I add moving the deck chairs of the rear of the ship?

Plant hedges along boundaries

Dry your washing on the line

@FinallyDecided

I'm already not having kids - anything else I could possibly do will be a drop in the ocean compared to that.

I’ve seen charts comparing the CO2 emissions from various lifestyle choices, and having children did appear to have the worst impact. But this was being compared to a single transatlantic flight. I think this is misleading - it’s led some childfree people to declare that they’ve done their bit for the environment and can fly as much as they like!

Anyway, I’m already vegetarian, but aim to cut down drastically on dairy products.

I’ve gone through my shopping and identified the products with packaging made from the most toxic forms of plastic, or any packaging that’s non-recyclable. I’m now looking for alternatives.

When I went to the beach recently, I did a two minute beach clean.

We no we don't need to kill the pets !

That's scaremongering

We need to get to net zero
So green electric with transport/heating on electric . The uk grid is halfway there already

Reduce emissions from agriculture... much less meat snd cheese

Carbon capture and storage for the tricky stuff ( plant a tree)

Great idea, I would be interested. I think the report is scary but doesn't give enough practice information about what we actually can and need to do to combat this. We are too slow, we make promises and make deals but then it's fine if they aren't met.

I think this is a good idea but it's out of the hands of individuals and that's what makes it scary. We can only do the minimum and we have countries such as India and China who don't care. Every country has to make huge changes, it's down to the government, large companies and businesses need to be forced to do more. We are now past the point that Recycling more and using a soap bar instead of shower gel is going to do much. However, I will try.

Having a compost bin drastically reduced our household waste.

Other steps we've taken are to not use pesticides in garden, have a small pile of twigs and leaves for the bugs and to sprinkle some wildflower seeds into the borders. We've had lots of butterflies this year.

Use the shower on eco/low mode (if you have one), a small thing but millions of house holds using less power?

Heating during winter is very low here, oft around 15'C, just put an extra layer on as my gran would say as she lit the paraffin heater.... and i breathed on the window to melt the ice on the inside....

Make sure all your loft insulation is maxed out too.

We've been making changes for a few years and here is what we've done so far

• we will probably only have 1 child and if we did have another, we 100% wouldn't have a 3rd
• we have a pretty much fully plant based diet
• we don't use disposable wipes for anything
• we've used mostly cloth nappies for our baby (19m now)
• we use boxes, stainless steel tubs and silicon food covers instead of clingfilm and plastic food bags
• my husband almost always cycles to work
• I am in the process of switching all my cosmetic products (not many!) to bar or sustainable packaging
• we buy second hand a lot, most of DS clothes, toys, and household furniture etc
• we don't buy fast fashion - both me and DH probably buy 3 or 4 items of clothing a year and I usually try to find an ethical or sustainable brand
• we grow some veg in our garden and plant lots of bee friendly flowers
• I am a bee guardian for solitary bees
• we are in the process of switching our stain remover, washing up liquid, DH shower gel, hand soap, etc to refills (through fillrefill, milk & more and our local zero waste shop)

Things we want to change

• switch to a 100% renewable energy supplier (current contract runs out soon)
• eventually switch to one electric car instead of the 2 diesel estates we currently have (this is a long term plan as we can't afford an EV that is big enough atm)
• linked to the goal above is me to cycle more but I currently don't feel comfortable cycling with my toddler in a trailer on the A road we have to use to get anywhere so we use the car for even short journeys now (not short enough to walk but easily cycleable)
• fly less - we currently fly southern England to northern Scotland 2-3x a year to visit family. in the next 5 or so years we want to move so we can visit family by train.

I am not so worried about China - they know they need to reduce

India and USA are the problem countries

Like other said, it’s a nice sentiment but it makes no difference at all. UK accounts for 1% of global carbon emissions. China 28% and US 15%. Honestly, it would be nice to think us not using plastic straws could help but it wouldn’t.
The question is not what we can do but how much damage China is doing to the world and where it will end.

If we were really serious we’d be be having our dogs and cats put down as they’re bad for the environment

We’re far worse for the environment than cats and dogs.

I’m in!

I’m going to invest in washable pads and try a mooncup.
Given up dairy for oat milk.
Trying not to buy new disposable fashion, which is a big bad habit of mine.

We’re far worse for the environment than cats and dogs.

Is anyone suggesting we put ourselves down?