To ask how drivers of massive SUVs square it with themselves in terms of climate change?

[Bleepingtons]

Same goes for those who go long haul on the regular? Buy loads of cheap, disposable fashion? Etc etc? Do you just not worry about climate change?

I know I sound sanctimonious but I am genuinely baffled by people driving massive diesel SUVs like there isn't a major issue.

[quote DallasDerby]@daimbarsatemydogsbone no idea why you felt the need to defend the ‘baddies’ aka 4WDs then - but I’m sure they are glad of you understanding and support because you couldn’t possibly give a shot and be one of them.[/quote]
So anyone who drives an SUV automatically “doesn’t give a shit” is that your argument? Because if it is you have no argument at all. That’s just chanting.

My SUV is a hybrid, and very rarely nerd the petrol in it.
No it's not a status symbol, we have 2 large long haired, quite often muddy dogs that need room to travel comfortably.

I am glad for you OP. Wherever makes you happy but do not lecture others about it. People may have reasons for their choices or not. Shaming people that do not follow your lifestyle does not make you look like a very good person.

Most people also assume "massive SUVs" have large fuel gussling engines when that's not always the case (especially with the new cross over SUVs) but I just bought a 4 cylinder jeep - most people would assume as it looks like a "massive SUV" it's a fuel guzzler, when it isn't. Also, most electric cars are actually worse. The amount of earth drilling and shipping needed to make their batteries does massive damage to the environment. And hybrids often use more fuel to keep pace - going faster they use more fuel because they have to work harder

Do you have any dogs OP? They're worse to own than most Range Rover SUVs, simply because of the meat they eat (and for the love of god please don't say yes I have a dog but it's vegetarian because that's just god awfully inhumane and cruel to an animal with a body and mind designed to eat meat)

People always have excellent reasons and justifications for why they need all the things they have, and too many people are also addicted to convenience, and are useless at planning, which is why they are so helpless when they don't have access to a car, even for the shortest journeys.

I also think we are in a state of collective denial about just how awful our lives are going to be in a few years, as climate change destroys societies, increases migration and serious conflict, and reduces the food supply. With this state of denial, its easier to justify all the resources we waste, because we can't allow ourselves to really believe we will ever be presented with the bill for our environmental misdemeanours. (But we will get the bill, whether we like it or not.)

Truthfully I don't really care. I can't have children so don't have the 'what about my kids' argument

This is the logic of a sociopath. Other people have worth even when we don't have a direct genetic connection to them.

I have a city car we also have a saloon and a lotus Elise so not green , I travel long haul probably once or twice a year it's rainy here and I like to explore different countries and cultures. I crank the heating up high because I don't want to be cold. I recycle as much as I can, but I don't see why I should make loads of changes to my lifestyle when billionaires are jetting off into space on jaunts , have huge mansions and private jets!!

Can I please point out that premium batteries need premium coke........ this is ONLY produced from oil refining!!!! Trust me I work in this field

Truthfully I don't really care. I can't have children so don't have the 'what about my kids' argument

Wow - beyond selfish! Just because you can't have children you don't care about anyone else's? I don't have children, but still worry about climate change - because it's not all about me.

I have an SUV, but it’s actually a small petite model. I actually do need one because where I live is very rural, remote and impossible to cross in a car when it snows. I live on a mountain for context

@Rummikub

US and China need to be on board otherwise we are fucked

yes and for most things really

I have an SUV because I'm disabled & it suits my disabilities because it means I'm not at pavement level to struggle out & it has everything I need to allow me some independence.

@ArcheryAnnie

People always have excellent reasons and justifications for why they need all the things they have, and too many people are also addicted to convenience, and are useless at planning, which is why they are so helpless when they don't have access to a car, even for the shortest journeys.

I also think we are in a state of collective denial about just how awful our lives are going to be in a few years, as climate change destroys societies, increases migration and serious conflict, and reduces the food supply. With this state of denial, its easier to justify all the resources we waste, because we can't allow ourselves to really believe we will ever be presented with the bill for our environmental misdemeanours. (But we will get the bill, whether we like it or not.)

No we are in a state of collective denial about how good are lives are compared to literally any point in history; and how the comfort of our lives is due to the usage of fossil fuels.

Climate change is not going to ‘destroy our societies’ unless the moral panic over it leads us to dismantle our economies.

Rich countries are barely affected by natural disasters—flooding in China used to kill tens of thousands in the last century alone, now it kills hundreds.

You sound like those serious scientists of the 60s and 70s who predicted mass global famine that would kill untold millions starting in the 80s.

It never happened. It’s starting to sound like an apocalyptic cult frankly; with doomsday just around the corner and they’ve got the signs right this time!

Why do people buy Chelsea tractors? Quite apart from the environmental impact (manufacture is worse than running, so no, newer ones aren't somehow better) nearly none of these people can manoeuvre or park the bastards. They flail about and gesture apologetically to pedestrians and other drivers as they fail to adhere to the highway code, all because they bought a massively over-sized town car.

Unless you live in remote rural areas, you don't need these things. Even if you do, you have a proper landy, because - uncomfy as they may be - they're the only vehicles that reliably traverse rough terrain/icy conditions.

We have one. I like it. I’m not going to justify it. It’s like almost every other argument that could be had about living a greener life. Most people aren’t going to change until they are forced to, probably via tax. Nevermind electric cars, just introduce a rule that limits all new car engines to 1000cc, from now. Add a green tax to literally everything new. And I mean a serious tax (30-50%) that means that it pays to recycle/up cycle/mend and make do. Go to your local recycling centre and see what people throw out. Tax all bottled/canned/cartoned drinks (none of us need anything but water) and make refill taps compulsory everywhere. I could go on. Very few people are serious about making a measurable difference, and certainly no-one in any government.

Since we don't have children, about the worst thing you can do environmentally, I reckon we've done our bit.
Our diesel gets good mileage actually. It's the petrol Subaru that's the gas guzzler.

I agree. It’s consumerism at its worst. Change your car every 3 years. By a massive SUV that is big, takes lots of materials to make, is very heavy and therefore uses more fuel to lug around. All for ‘status’ and keeping up with the Jones.

I will continue to use my current small car until it is starts falling apart around me.

I have an SUV, but it’s actually a small petite model. I actually do need one because where I live is very rural, remote and impossible to cross in a car when it snows. I live on a mountain for context

Just by some winter tyres for a ‘normal’ car. It will then happily go along on snow! You don’t need an SUV for winter conditions, just buy the right kind of tyres.

I have a diesel suv we bought it as a family a car about 3 years ago. At the time we didn't even think of it although Now I would prefer to get a hybrid car rather than diesel next time.... I would change it now if someone would help me but one however there isn't lots of money in the bank so until I stop paying 85% of my wage on childcare and we stop scraping by I'm sticking with the bad for the environment suv.

You do know that there are hybrid and electric SUVs? In the early days of the technology, I had a hybrid SUV and I remember an ignorant woman who hit my car with her old estate car yelling at me regarding my "gas guzzler" and my chuckling at her ignorance. As soon as there was a good electric option, I switched to electric.

My 79yo uncle has a very newly purchased electric SUV, mustang.
It's quite swish car. I was very impressed by the review (Youtube video).

He just doesn't need any sort of SUV to toodle around the streets of Santa Monica.

Truthfully I don't really care. I can't have children so don't have the 'what about my kids' argument. Plus those that do have children have a far worse carbon footprint than I do with my car.

There have been quite a few of these types of comments in the thread - either ‘I don’t have kids so I don’t care’ or ‘I don’t have kids so I’ve done my bit’.

There’s an irony to it - [some] people who don’t have kids don’t care because they don’t see themselves as having a stake in the future and/or think they’ve already made their sacrifices, while [some] people with children care a lot but only because of their children’s welfare. And people who have had kids apparently (according to some on this thread) aren’t allowed to care about climate change because they’ve created new carbon generators so they’ll always be hypocrites.

(That said, some of the childfree people I know are also among the most committed environmentalists I know!)

Well I have a Dacia duster because where we live gets snow a lot and it also rains a lot, if I don't have access to a car when it's snowing the children I work with won't be able to have chemo at home.

However my car is a 1.2 engine and very efficient.

Why do people buy Chelsea tractors?

Because they like them? There aren’t that many cars with 7 seats