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.

@wentworthinmate

When China et al change their ways so will I. UK = 1% global emissions don't forget.

Very selective.

Per capita, we’re 5.5%.

And half the emissions from what we consume happen abroad. A lot of them are in China.

Maybe we should change our ways to enable China to change theirs, at least for what we’re paying them to do?

How do virtue signalling posters square it with themselves to start finger wagging posts.

How many months can you go without buying anything but food?

Are you including electricity, gas, oil and water into the equation?

We each pickup but live in the country. I don’t really care about other peoples opinions, it’s great to transport our family and animals, and pull trailers

We have….

I was trying to avoid the word essentials

As so many people have essentials that others live without

This type of thread crops up every 5mins, either SUVs or log burners.

So many people have no idea about different classes of car and just think I have a tiny 1l or an electric and insist they're beyond reproach. Decent electric cars aren't affordable, though a lot of Mumsnet appears to be over privileged and where does the electric come from?

We have a 16yr old diesel estate, it's suprisingly fuel efficient, but probably not so good on the emissions. It's what we can afford, it's reliable and well looked after and owes us nothing. DD inputted our lifestyles into one of those carbon footprint websites at school and suprisingly we came out fairly well. Never fly, old but well insulated house, eat very little meat, recycle, buy many things second hand, repurpose stuff a lot. I'm not going to be lectured on our choice of car - which although isn't an SUV, is probably less eco friendly. I also would prefer to be safer in a bigger better built car, can't imagine tripping up and down the motorways in a tiny car.

PS: A third of your carbon footprint comes from your diet!

No it depends on your lifestyle.

They just don't care. They are the Sentra of their own universe

@imakemyowndeodorant

They just don't care. They are the Sentra of their own universe

Centre of course

Due most people in the uk

Hone heating and transport will make up the bulk of their emissions

Ours is about half on transport alone , and we don't have huge mileage

@wentworthinmate

PS: A third of your carbon footprint comes from your diet!

Since the average MNer eats only two bites of a radish daily to stay within her calories, this is not such an issue here.

This is fun I’ll have a go too. Diesel was was the eco friendly option so people bought in. We know better now but there are 1000’s of Diesel cars on the road now. The comparative carbon, water etc etc cost of replace for new vs maintain and repair old even with the electric power advantage means driving old cars if well maintained is the greener option (that’s before we even consider lithium mining)
Almost always the green option ( cars building clothes ....) is take care of, improve where possible, and use up the old one first
Before buying new. Its very unglamorous to use up the second hand old stuff in the world but the greenest people are the wombles in society and I salute you all ( even if you are nursing an old SUV past 100,000 miles and round the clock again on comfortably below original emission limits for the same model when new)
Environmentalism is much more complicated than buy a new green thing ASAP.

To be fair, diesel is still lower emissions than petrol per mile.

It’s just really bad on particulates but the govt was ignoring air quality a decade ago.

I have an SUV. However it’s a 1.2 petrol Nissan Qashqai. So whilst it looks like it might be some kind of fuel guzzler, it actually isn’t. It’s fairly economical.

Unfortunately my wages wont stretch to an electric vehicle. And even if they did I live in a flat and have absolutely no means of charging it. There are no local charging points where I live. So until they become more affordable and charging points readily available, I’m afraid I’ll have to continue driving around in my petrol SUV.

Actually I think from a global warming perspective diesel is still better than petrol

It's just bad for particulates that are nasty on the lungs

And sorry for typos in previous post - hope it was understandable

Tbh, I very nearly bought a Hummer a few months back instead of my pickup. I still wish I'd bought it sometimes.

My volvo xc90 is a diesel hybrid and returns 45 miles/gallon. That is better than an older model petrol Mini. Before we got the XC90, we often had to take 2 cars (2 large dogs, 2 adults, grandparents, 3 kids, bikes or surf boards) for days out, now, with 7 seats, we get everyone into 1 car. Dh takes train to work, we walk most places in town. We use the car mainly on the weekends for trips to the beach/muddy countryside to walk the dogs and we take bikes and/or surf boards or to the tip/garden centre/DIY shop, and it's incredibly useful for that. I sometimes wish I had a smaller car when driving in town, but it would be terribly wasteful and a massive carbon footprint to get a small runaround in addition to the large car we really need.

I "square" many things with myself that would possibly have you quivering with anxiety OP - because I'm a thinking, reasoning adult more than capable of making decisions based on what is best for my situation & circumstances.

I'm more interested in what your friends think of you....

I drive an electric hybrid Range Rover. I can’t tow my horse trailer with a lightweight car. Most of my non towing journeys are 100% electric.
People have different lifestyles and different needs.
It’s not obvious that my car is electric so no doubt the judgy smug type think I’m single handedly killing the world. I don’t care.

I find it a lot easier just to live without any guilt on these issues. I am very lucky and content.

@Pecially

Why do you need a horse, or could you not exchange the Range for a carriage... climate crisis solved?

To be completely truthful, I secretly enjoy picturing the eco-Karens twitching over their bean salads as I drive past in my enormous black truck with all its bars, light array, and huge double straightpipe exhausts. 🤣 Makes my day!

@Xenia

I find it a lot easier just to live without any guilt on these issues. I am very lucky and content.

Spot on!!!