What’s happened to all the concern over climate change?

[Helendee]

Just as the title says really.
It seems that now long haul flights, and short haul for that matter, are becoming more available, worries about climate change and the effect on it caused by international flights seem to be going out of the window.
Anyone else noticed?

From a corporate level it is here to stay for sure

But when compared to covid, it turns out that no one gives a shit and is happy to pump chemicals in to the water stream through endless hand sanitiser; dispose of millions of face masks; waste a lot of plastic in LFTs etc

And post-covid, everyone wants their life to return to normal so flights etc seem more popular

I also think that everyone thinks their little contribution is ultimately pointless when sorting your recycling counts for almost nothing, especially compared to the damage countries like china are doing

I wonder if for a lot of people, climate change feels quite nebulous and difficult to define.

Whereas the post-covid landscape, cost-of-living and energy price increases, rising inflation and tensions on the Ukrainian border are more immediately graspable.

Most people aren't concerned because it's seen as an inconvenience.

Until the millionaires change their lifestyles with their disgustingly polluting super yachts, others won't feel the need to change.

@Pyri

Good points. The sheer hypocrisy around the whole subject of recycling is astounding. It just irks that my local council has just introduced a clean air initiative in the city centre which will cause immense disruption and knock-on congestion yet are happy to have countless planes flying over day by day, spewing out their poison as they go.

It's the usual bias/hypocracy/virtue signalling.

People tend to shout the loudest about things that don't affect them. So those who want long haul holidays won't make a fuss about the pollution they cause and will excuse themselves by the usual "but millionaires/china ........", but those who just want to do walking holidays in the Lakes will continue to make a fuss.

I think its something which people just do what they can when they can. I mean its better to have millions of people doing something than nothing at all.

Many people go on holiday once a year if they are lucky. So perhaps don't even count it.

For many, jobs involving frequent international travel may well be what's funding their ability to make all the other changes.

Everyone I know is so close to the wire that no matter what their views on climate change, they'd still rather have much cheaper gas right now.

I do care and do what we can. I haven't been on a plane for 15 years, recycle everything. I work in a supermarket so take the store only bags home for plastic recycling.

We walk and rarely use the car.

But I still think that the millionaires with their private jets and super yachts are polluting more than the average person ever could. But those issues will never be tackled.

It’s mad. We’ve been told that devastating impacts of climate change will be seen in our lifetime, let alone our children’s. Millions and millions will suffer hugely (and already are). This should be front page news every day (like covid was), yet we all continue on as if nothing is happening. In most countries (uk included) there is no meaningful action on climate change.

I can’t get my head around it. How and why are the majority of the population sitting back and letting this happen? We should be demanding immediate and drastic action by governments and corporations.

It is possible to save the future for our children but right now we’re not doing nearly enough.

When you have the likes of David Attenborough travelling to talk about some cacti it makes you wonder, when those who discuss climate change don't see their travelling as an issue.

@Stellaris22

When you have the likes of David Attenborough travelling to talk about some cacti it makes you wonder, when those who discuss climate change don't see their travelling as an issue.

Agreed, a man who made his fame and fortune jetting around the world says us scum shouldn't fly.

Remember the Insulate Britain leader, you know, the one who hadn't insulated his own home?

The people who are most vocal about climate change tend to be the most hypocritical, and often are the people who cause the most damage (such as flying first class from America to speak at an XR protest in London).

Anyway, the concern hasn't "gone away" - the people who are concerned about climate change are still concerned. But people have been and still are faced with much more pressing issues like Covid and the cost of living emergency (and for non-Tories, lockdown parties).

Being concerned about what might happen in 2050 or beyond seems laughable when people are struggling to pay their heating bills. Remember the predictions for the future are just worst-case scenarios, what may happen if there is no effort to prevent it.

Why should I give a toss what happens during the lifetime of someone who won't even be born for another few decades? They don't give a toss about me, and their parents can decide not to have them at all if THEY are concerned.

The climate issue has long been kicked into the distance for a future generation to deal with. There's no reason for the present generation not to do the same thing, not while there are more urgent things to worry about.

Private jets aplenty when it was COP26. Imagine if Boris came on tv and said we all need to do our bit to save the planet. Would you believe him?

The politicians used Cop26 to make it abundantly clear that they have no intention of making the massive changes needed to make a real difference. Covid was the once in a generation opportunity to permanantly curb air travel but we have rushed to return to the status quo as soon as possible. The public (as a group) won't do anything on their own.
Looks like we just need to accept that the generations to come are going to suffer enormously because of our actions. Pessemistic but true I fear.