AIBU to think the climate change debate has become over-politicised?

[XingMing]

Given the Earth's geological history, and its fearsome power to eliminate whole species with a shift of climate, do you really think humankind can dodge a big environmental shift by giving up flying and woodburners etc.?

Well we have to try don't we. We can hardly just sit there and say 'welcome imminent extinction!'

No, people in this country using bamboo toothbrushes and washing on a cold cycle will achieve exactly zilch. It’s just a way for them to feel good. Until China and US do something, no one else’s individual actions matter.

@Basicbitch40

Well we have to try don't we. We can hardly just sit there and say 'welcome imminent extinction!'

Unless you have any sway over comrade Xi and grandpa Biden, you may as well as be sitting there saying whatever.

Basicbitch40

Well we have to try don't we. We can hardly just sit there and say 'welcome imminent extinction!'

Well. Quite. Not much else to say.
It might be too little too late but it will be soooo much worse if we continue as we are.

Basically it’s only worth us making individual changes because it sends a message to government that we do really care about this issue and are willing for change to happen. That makes it politically appealing.

Well I've only flown twice in my lifetime of over 40 years, I don't have a log burner, all of my bulbs are LEDs, I walk and bus everywhere, my loft has cavity insulation...

But I will still have my bacon sandwich, thank you very much!

Oh. Here we go the ‘it’s not fair that we have to if they’re not’ excuse.

If we all make the changes needed it will make some difference and also leads by example.

People are now just using China and the US as an excuse not to change because they are selfish and have run out of other arguments.

The story I want to tell my descendants and their friends is ‘I did what I could’ not ‘I couldn’t be arsed so I made pathetic excuses’

@Suspiciousmind20, I don't really think that's true. I just think that climatic changes are planetary. I've made as many changes as I can to minimise my footprint, and I am certain that it ain't going to save humanity long term. I am (this evening) thinking that humankind is really a bit of a pimple on the Earth's surface, but then I ask what are we saving Earth for?

I think the overriding reason is that we have to (and this is MUMSNET!) try because of all the children

It's not just logburners though it is!

The solution IMO is technology. Unless technology can find a way to fix the issue we are all fucked.

Humans are never going to make the lifestyle changes required to solve it.

@LaurieFairyCake

I think the overriding reason is that we have to (and this is MUMSNET!) try because of all the children

Agreed! Or it's certainly part of the problem

I think my dilemma can be distilled into "Do we keep the planet for us humans?" or do we prioritise "nature"? I really can't answer this important question well or with any certainty. Hence asking the question.

The prioritise humans answer is a fuse lit, the natural progress argument rubbishes philosophy, the Renaissance and all of human art/science/ progress.

I tend to think (just, only just) that we let humans have their day, to be savaged by Gaia when we go too far.

Well that's daft

What with you being human...

I agree with your title OP, but disagree with your post.

Humans have survived multiple Ice Ages and it is objectively much harder to survive winter world with only stone tools, furs and fire than summer world with houses, unlimited fresh water and air conditioning...etc etc all our technologies.

We are not going to be wiped out. Civilisation isn’t going to collapse. The words in the media “crisis” “catastrophe” “emergency” is just so much click bait.

@Suspiciousmind20

Oh. Here we go the ‘it’s not fair that we have to if they’re not’ excuse.

If we all make the changes needed it will make some difference and also leads by example.

People are now just using China and the US as an excuse not to change because they are selfish and have run out of other arguments.

The story I want to tell my descendants and their friends is ‘I did what I could’ not ‘I couldn’t be arsed so I made pathetic excuses’

Ah so you don’t like facts then. You know, like numbers and data about carbon emissions. You just want to feel better. Fair enough, if that’s how you roll.

I think my dilemma can be distilled into "Do we keep the planet for us humans?" or do we prioritise "nature"?

Humans are part of nature. We are within the Earths’ ecosystems.

No, FairyCake, it's a question about do we toss all of everything humans have ever achieved that have made life better for millions of people via education, health or freedom or do we choose the soft soap option? We cannot have everything, so what would you choose?

We are as a species, very powerful, and much cleverer than any other species on the planet, by our yardsticks.

@Suspiciousmind20

Oh. Here we go the ‘it’s not fair that we have to if they’re not’ excuse.

If we all make the changes needed it will make some difference and also leads by example.

People are now just using China and the US as an excuse not to change because they are selfish and have run out of other arguments.

The story I want to tell my descendants and their friends is ‘I did what I could’ not ‘I couldn’t be arsed so I made pathetic excuses’

Nope, I'm not changing because I'm not prepared to go back to the bloody stone age to try & stop something that will happen (or not) no matter what we do.

I have one life, I plan to enjoy myself immensely whilst living it!

We are not going to be wiped out. Civilisation isn’t going to collapse. The words in the media “crisis” “catastrophe” “emergency” is just so much click bait.

My god, still there are people like you ? Even after all these years and all the evidence....just despair

What would I choose?

Well keep trying - for you, for the idiots who don't believe in climate collapse and for our children

these days its hard to know whats truly the main important issues at times, especially with different agendas, archaeological relics Piri Reis map, ect

@PlanDeRaccordement

I agree with your title OP, but disagree with your post.

Humans have survived multiple Ice Ages and it is objectively much harder to survive winter world with only stone tools, furs and fire than summer world with houses, unlimited fresh water and air conditioning...etc etc all our technologies.

We are not going to be wiped out. Civilisation isn’t going to collapse. The words in the media “crisis” “catastrophe” “emergency” is just so much click bait.

I agree. But also want to respect nature .. I feel we have too much power not to be caretakers of our planet. It's respect for the earth. I personally may achieve nothing in changing the climate, but I don't want to be responsible for fucking it up more.

@Privatesector

We are not going to be wiped out. Civilisation isn’t going to collapse. The words in the media “crisis” “catastrophe” “emergency” is just so much click bait.

My god, still there are people like you ? Even after all these years and all the evidence....just despair

There is zero evidence humans are doomed to imminent extinction and zero evidence civilisation will collapse.

The scientific evidence is merely that climate is changing, ecosystems are changing to adapt, and life forms are migrating or adapting. Which is normal for Earth from a geological standpoint.

I am actually green/environmentalist by nature and think we can do better to conserve the environment and wildlife. But it’s hubris to think we can stop climate change or that climate change will extinct us/collapse civilisation when both have survived much more extreme climate changes with only caveman technology.