To ask how you deal with climate anxiety?

[Bleepingtons]

Just that really.

I'm not obsessive about it but it plays on my mind a lot, specifically what kind of world we are leaving for future generations and the inequality of the fact that the people suffering are often not the biggest carbon contributers.

As China and Russia refuse to up their targets and Bolsonaro continues to reduce protection of the Amazon, I feel frightened and helpless and angry.

I also don't understand how people can continue to live lifestyles that they KNOW are detrimental to the planet (I'm talking long haul, meat everyday, massive SUVs etc).

How do you feel about it? Is there any hope?

Badly.

I deal with it badly.

China and Russia do have a fair share of the blame but so do we. Just look at this week’s budget (tax subsidies for the aviation industry!!), at the overconsumption (fast fashion, waste around the holidays, new cars / construction), driving and flying everywhere. The MN crowd is awful I think - don’t date a man who doesn’t drive, wash your sheets twice a week and wash your whole outfit daily, yeah totally buy it you deserve it, of course you drive to school drop off. I kind of think that Russia and China in a sense just want what we have, and cannot be expected to sacrifice their prosperity until we sacrifice some of ours.

Like any problems I have I sit and think what can I realistically do about it?
So with climate change I try and cut down on my consumption, travel less, buy second hand etc. Then I simply try and forget about it. I know I don’t make a big difference but getting worried/upset won’t change anything either and just make my life a lot worse.

Grim acceptance. I accept that I can’t change it directly. I can only manage my behaviour, vote for parties who might take action, and raise awareness in others.

@eatyourvegetables you're absolutely right and I'm not laying the blame solely at the door of Russia and China, I guess what I'm saying is that without their co-operation then we're totally fucked.

I agree with your assessment. It angers me beyond belief although I know I'm not perfect either.

I try and do something - anything - that helps even a tiny bit.
For me that takes the form of:

• not using the car unless strictly necessary
• recycling carefully and avoiding plastic
• trying to buy second hand first

I'm also in the Green Party and have moved my pension fund to a fossil free one.

But I hear you, it's very tough to stay positive

Not that well these days, as so many people are behaving as though we're not in the midst of a climate crisis. I actually don't blame them, as the predictions seem so unbelievable at times. Also, maybe people just can't face it.
I'm a vegan, don't have a car, only fly when it's absolutely necessary etc. Those small things make me feel slightly less helpless. But I know that until industry and governments do the right thing, our small efforts aren't anything close to enough to stop the planet warming.
As you know, climate change is much more serious than Covid. I just wish that everyone could recognise that, and act accordingly. Sorry you're feeling so anxious about it. I empathise totally