To think we’ve already f****d it up when it comes to the environment.

[MynameisWa]

Am I being unreasonable in thinking we’ve already passed the point of no return when it comes to the environment and that it’s just no one in power or in the know wants to be the one to admit it?

I think the problem is we keep talking about saving the planet when we should be phrasing it as saving humanity. The planet will be fine - once humans have fallen to the results of climate change Earth will simply renew in time. As humans we are destroying our habitats in the same way we have destroyed so many animal habitats and eventually we will become extinct. Maybe if we started saying save humanity rather than the planet then people would start making more of the small changes and pushing their governments to make the big changes.

Yup.
I used to be quite worried in primary school when we learned about the environment.
In secondary school. Learning about acid rain, and smog.

And it was the ozone layer that had a huge hole in it

@Thebookswereherfriends

I think the problem is we keep talking about saving the planet when we should be phrasing it as saving humanity. The planet will be fine - once humans have fallen to the results of climate change Earth will simply renew in time. As humans we are destroying our habitats in the same way we have destroyed so many animal habitats and eventually we will become extinct. Maybe if we started saying save humanity rather than the planet then people would start making more of the small changes and pushing their governments to make the big changes.

I do actually agree that would probably have a different impact and reach some people that don't feel that engaged. I think because we have humanised the world so much, as in towns and villages we just build what we want where we want to suit us, the concept of being on a planet spinning around in space feels quite removed and cool yet bizarre. I mean obviously I know we do, but when you really think deeply about it it's incredible really!

@Suspiciousmind20 do you mean 5kg? Not tonnes?

The world will die because of capitalism and industrialisation.

As humans we are destroying our habitats in the same way we have destroyed so many animal habitats and eventually we will become extinct.

Seeing displaced orangutans isn’t enough to stop us devouring resources. Seeing fellow humans starving isn’t enough to stop us. Seeing Uk farmers wading knee deep in floodwater isn’t enough.

I think you are right.

As stated by PPs, the Theory of Gaia means the earth will self sustain...if humans are damaging it, humans will die out.

My career is agriculture and sustainability and no, no way humanity has a long term future. People are selfish and the bits they do do to help are microscopic. Capitalism and overpopulation will see us off quite soon.

@Squeezita

I read that the planet will survive, it’s just humans that will disappear off the face of the earth.

Good riddance.

Yes but we'll take a lot of innocent species with us

So sick of the doomsaying.
We haven’t passed a “point of no return” whatever that means.
Significant changes have already happened world wide to protect the environment.
Humanity is not a parasite, we are part of the ecosystem.

Ignore me @Suspiciousmind20 I was getting confused because giki uses kg, I've just looked at wwf and they use tonnes so perhaps that's more normal! Interested how you'd get to 5 tonnes, I'm pretty green and am on 8t. I don't fly, drive an electric car, good insulation, green energy tariff. Eating meat and having purchased a new fridge have pushed me up I think!

@PlanDeRaccordement

So sick of the doomsaying. We haven’t passed a “point of no return” whatever that means. Significant changes have already happened world wide to protect the environment. Humanity is not a parasite, we are part of the ecosystem.

We are a parasite, we have destroyed many eco systems and have done a lot of damage as a species to facilitate what we want and how we want to live.

@Thebookswereherfriends

I think the problem is we keep talking about saving the planet when we should be phrasing it as saving humanity. The planet will be fine - once humans have fallen to the results of climate change Earth will simply renew in time. As humans we are destroying our habitats in the same way we have destroyed so many animal habitats and eventually we will become extinct. Maybe if we started saying save humanity rather than the planet then people would start making more of the small changes and pushing their governments to make the big changes.

I agree, but people are selfish and greedy in the main. They aren’t propane’s right give things up or make difficult choices. Also for many many people, survival is about getting through today or this year, no further. For them it is a case if maki g money any way they can, doing anything, just to eat. Whether they use a plastic straw or use an environmentally unfriendly car is just not on their radar.

We are pretty fucked but not so fucked to say “let us all lie down and comfort ourselves with the biggest Amazon order we can manage and then a new car on top”.

If this is a wake up call then great. If you are using it aa an excuse to wallow then no, wake up and do something.

For starters everyone could learn how to get a pint of milk or drop a child off at school without getting into a bloody car.

Prepared to give things up

Are the stories of hope and inspiration there to soften the blow and keep up spirits? I think they are. I think leaders are jollying us along so that all hell won’t break loose. To keep us toeing the line while the walls cave in.

@Starpleck
Yes we have done a lot of damage but also a lot of good as well. And humans are not parasites, we are apex predators which are in fact part of the ecosystem.

We are not all going to die or go extinct anytime soon. Humans have been around for dozens of Ice Ages and Interglacial periods..some of which were warmer than we are now AND warmer than the “magic” 2.5C “limit” that has been pulled out of hot air.

Why do you think waves of human species migrated out of Africa in the first place? Climate change.

Climate change is not new to the human species. We’ve adapted in the past and can do so again and with more tools than fire and flint at our disposal.

@EatYourVegetables

We are pretty fucked but not so fucked to say “let us all lie down and comfort ourselves with the biggest Amazon order we can manage and then a new car on top”.

If this is a wake up call then great. If you are using it aa an excuse to wallow then no, wake up and do something.

For starters everyone could learn how to get a pint of milk or drop a child off at school without getting into a bloody car.

Exactly right. Doomsaying just encourages people to give up and do nothing when this is a stand together or fall together situation.

[quote PlanDeRaccordement]@Starpleck
Yes we have done a lot of damage but also a lot of good as well. And humans are not parasites, we are apex predators which are in fact part of the ecosystem.

We are not all going to die or go extinct anytime soon. Humans have been around for dozens of Ice Ages and Interglacial periods..some of which were warmer than we are now AND warmer than the “magic” 2.5C “limit” that has been pulled out of hot air.

Why do you think waves of human species migrated out of Africa in the first place? Climate change.

Climate change is not new to the human species. We’ve adapted in the past and can do so again and with more tools than fire and flint at our disposal.[/quote]
What good have we done for the planet? Or for animals?

For starters everyone could learn how to get a pint of milk or drop a child off at school without getting into a bloody car.

Yes!

We live about 10 mins walk from school and other people on our road drive to and from school because they are too fucking lazy to walk. They literally say stuff like 'oh you are so good walking to school'. I think I'm going to start saying something back tbh.

[quote happytoday73]@hollyhead totally agree.. My 6th form chemistry text book was dated 1973 and went into lots of detail about emissions and the effect climate change would have on the environment and concerns about water pollution[/quote]
I agree @happytoday73 & @Hollyhead. I was taught about global warming when in high school in the 70's too and have been doing my bit ever since,now I just despair if I focus on the greed of capitalism and the effect on our environment.

Sometimes I look around at the litter,people burning rubbish, the general waste and how our weather patterns are changing and wonder what it'll take for the majority to connect their behaviour and the impact it has. After all, if we refuse to buy it,it'll have a huge impact on manufacturing,but I doubt it'll happen.

It's an interesting idea that Gov't is paying lip service in order to keep the masses in a state of denial and I'll add, all the while sending out exploratory missiles into space for the rich and elite to colonise.

It's unconscionable.

What we do here makes little difference as its a global problem. While other countries aren't interested nothing will change. Also the worlds population keeps going up, it will need major changes just to maintain the status never mind lower the carbon.

What can we do? Ban foreign holidays, stop importing products from abroad (food as well). All that fresh fruit and veg being flown in from around the world so we can have stuff thats out of season or doesn't grow here. Cut back on the greenhouses we have growing foods that don't thrive in our climate. None of this will really make a difference though but it may make us feel better.

@Starpleck
Google is your friend if you really have no idea. Too many things for me to list.

[quote PlanDeRaccordement]@Starpleck
Google is your friend if you really have no idea. Too many things for me to list.[/quote]
I mean I know the good we have done for ourselves as a species, but nope even Google can't enlighten me as to how our existence and actions has benefit the planet and the other animals in the eco system (because it doesn't, the world will be better off without us).

My understanding is that it will take significant systemic changes on a global scale to do this and massive changes to the infrastructures as we know them.

Considering we haven’t achieved this with a pandemic affecting humans I, personally, don’t hold out much hope for the planet. And, at the end of the day, the planet will look after itself once we’re out of the picture.

As the Queen herself said, less talk more action but that should have happened decades ago.