To ask how many of these you will do to stop global warming?

[LadyinRead]

Apparently if all indivisuals do these six things, we'll be 25% of the way to stopping global warming.
Are we doomed, then? I do most of these but (3) is impossible as appliances aren't built to last that long, and (4) would probably mean never seeing my parents again.

1. Eat a largely plant-based diet, with healthy portions and no waste

2. Buy no more than three new items of clothing per year. (Unlimited second-hand clothing allowed.)

1. Keep electrical products for at least seven years

1. Take no more than one short haul flight every three years and one long haul flight every eight years

1. Get rid of personal motor vehicles

6. Make at least one life shift to nudge the system, like moving to a green energy, insulating your home or changing pension supplier

www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/mar/07/six-key-lifestyle-changes-can-help-avert-the-climate-crisis-study-finds?fbclid=IwAR2llmcsBWVwzzdF0kzuW2tVPAnUbrMUn2hatbfIsrUQ1Awi1EI5XSe1lF0

1. Eat a largely plant-based diet, with healthy portions and no waste

I try and do this but it's not always possible.

2. Buy no more than three new items of clothing per year. (Unlimited second-hand clothing allowed.)

No. I need good quality, warm, waterproof gear for work and won't be able to do my job without it. I'm self employed so have to sort it myself.

3. Keep electrical products for at least seven years

I do this unless things break - it's often cheaper to buy new than repair and I can't always afford to repair.

4. Take no more than one short haul flight every three years and one long haul flight every eight years

I don't really fly anyway.

5. Get rid of personal motor vehicles

No, as neither DH or I can do our jobs without cars or vans.

6. Make at least one life shift to nudge the system, like moving to a green energy, insulating your home or changing pension supplier

We've already insulated our home - the other two would depend on affordability.

@RaraRachael

None of those.

Same.

1. I'm trying to eat more plant based. I do eat some meat, but not very much. I'd struggle to go completely plant based.

1. I don't buy that many new clothes, but do buy more than 3. I am trying to buy more second hand (from a cost perspective too!)

1. I keep electrical products as long as I possibly can.

1. I haven't flown at all for 3 years and have no plans to fly anywhere anytime soon

1. I definitely wouldn't give up my car. It's my freedom. My mileage is very high but I do keep cars until they die.

NO to all of them

90% of pollution comes from about 3 huge companies. Then they are guilt tripping us small ppl into this BS, they must be laughing their heads off at us!

None to be honest.

1. No

1. Definitely

1. As long as not faulty

1. Definitely

1. I don't drive

1. We have a water harvester and solar panels

I think we are doing fairly well. Not enough maybe but fairly well (as a family not a country).

1. Eat a largely plant-based diet, with healthy portions and no waste.

Not a chance, I love meat and don't enjoy vegetables at all. I only have red meat every few weeks anyhow, but white meat 3-4 times a week. I don't create much food waste at all & have healthy portions.

1. Buy no more than three new items of clothing per year. (Unlimited second-hand clothing allowed.)

I rarely buy new clothes and am happy to buy second hand so I think I could do this if I had to.

1. Keep electrical products for at least seven years

Happy to do this, as long as they don't break badly within that. My current dishwasher is over 10 years, and my washing machine is 8.

1. Take no more than one short haul flight every three years and one long haul flight every eight years

If everyone was made to do this, I could make my peace with it as I can't afford a lot of holidays. However, I love travel and would prefer to have the option. Saying that, I don't drive and never have, so I feel like I've done my bit for reducing travel!!!

1. Get rid of personal motor vehicles

I don't drive so happy to do this for myself, but my partner wouldn't give up his car. My parents live 3 hours away in the middle of nowhere so visiting them with 2 kids would be a real hassle - walk, bus, train, train, walk across town, irregular bus, and another long walk! I'd rarely see them!

1. Make at least one life shift to nudge the system, like moving to a green energy, insulating your home or changing pension supplier

Happy to do this.

@FrodoAteMyRing

NO to all of them

90% of pollution comes from about 3 huge companies. Then they are guilt tripping us small ppl into this BS, they must be laughing their heads off at us!

They get their profits from people like you who buy from them.

"I can't do anything"
Meanwhile continues to buy from fast fashion retailers, nestle, drive a car 100 yards down the road, fly 3 times a year, buys everything brand sparkling new.

It's about principles and conscience if nothing else. If this is your attitude, I doubt you care in the first place, and big companies 'doing it too' is a merely a justification.

A lot of change depends on legislation and penalising poor behaviour. We need to force the hands of businesses. So definitely not futile, but people not caring means it's not a primary concern.

I think at the moment a lot of people are more concerned about keeping a roof over their head and not having to choose between heating or eating @mrkramps.

I'm lucky I'm not in that situation but I'm not going to be spending more than I have to on green energy and I can't insulate my home without spending a fortune so it won't be happening.

@PinkSparklyPussyCat

I think at the moment a lot of people are more concerned about keeping a roof over their head and not having to choose between heating or eating *@mrkramps*.

I'm lucky I'm not in that situation but I'm not going to be spending more than I have to on green energy and I can't insulate my home without spending a fortune so it won't be happening.

Of course @PinkSparklyPussyCat, I'm not blaming people for prioritising necessities, there are more urgent problems at hand. But it's still been pushed to the back, and always will be til the effects start hitting home.

Buy no more than three new items of clothing per year. (Unlimited second-hand clothing allowed.)
All well and good if you already have clothes to add to, but no good if starting from zero e.g. children growing up a size. I'm not a fan of second hand underwear and certainly would need not than 3 pairs.

Why do people think government and business aren't doing anything?

@FrodoAteMyRing it is absolute rubbish to suggest 3 big companies are responsible 90% of emissions.

1. Eat a largely plant-based diet, with healthy portions and no waste

No. I prefer meat and anyway plant-based diets are actually just as bad for the planet as meat-based ones.

1. Buy no more than three new items of clothing per year. (Unlimited second-hand clothing allowed.)

No. I buy what I need, when I need it. Usually I buy quite cheap stuff so throw it out and get new when required.

1. Keep electrical products for at least seven years

No. Stuff like toasters, kettles, washing machines and fridges I'd keep until they break, then bin them and buy a new one. Things like televisions, phones or computers, I'll buy one whenever I can afford a better one. I'd probably keep the old one though, I've got a ton of obsolete electronics under the bed!

1. Take no more than one short haul flight every three years and one long haul flight every eight years

Yes. I do this anyway. In 40 years I've had eight short haul flights (4 trips) and two long haul flights (one trip). (I'm assuming you mean these figures on average, because who takes an eight year holiday? Or do you expect someone to take one long haul flight to India for example then come back on land/sea?)

1. Get rid of personal motor vehicles

No. I don't actually have a car at present but aim to get one when I can afford one, probably a cheaper one so an older diesel perhaps.

1. Make at least one life shift to nudge the system, like moving to a green energy, insulating your home or changing pension supplier.

No. In normal times I'd change my energy supplier based on who was cheapest. Can't afford to insulate home or get double glazing. Pension supplier is decided by employer.

1. Eat a largely plant-based diet, with healthy portions and no waste

• already do, but there's some waste I guess.

1. Buy no more than three new items of clothing per year. (Unlimited second-hand clothing allowed.)

• I'd struggle with this, but I would def try.

1. Keep electrical products for at least seven years

• already do, unless they break.

1. Take no more than one short haul flight every three years and one long haul flight every eight years

• tough, but I'm close to this already, so could prob do it.

1. Get rid of personal motor vehicles

• can't, but it's an electric vehicle.

1. Make at least one life shift to nudge the system, like moving to a green energy, insulating your home or changing pension supplier

• done these, and solar panels.

So, I'm not a million miles away, and my life is largely like everyone else's. I'm not sat in the dark, knitting my own yoghurt.
I could do more, and I'm planning to, I'm hugely reducing my plastic consumption, etc but what's the point, when even people on here are totally honest that they won't do any of it?!
We've all got to, to make a difference. One person leading a smugly perfect life doesn't help, everyone doing stuff imperfectly creates change.

Also, I should add that I do understand that not everyone is unwilling to do these things, there's a privilege to being able to make these choices - which not all of us have.

One person leading a smugly perfect life doesn't help, everyone doing stuff imperfectly creates change.

Yes, I agree with this. There must be small changes that most people can make (not necessarily on the quoted list) and that's more likely to be achievable than the suggestion that everyone must fill minimum - quite draconian - criteria for it to be worthwhile bothering at all.

1. Eat a largely plant-based diet, with healthy portions and no waste

No. But happy to cut down meat portions and have more veg.

2. Buy no more than three new items of clothing per year. (Unlimited second-hand clothing allowed.)

Hate clothes shopping, buy the bare minimum anyway

3. Keep electrical products for at least seven years

Absolutely yes. Kitchen radio is 40 years old. Freezer is 25 years old (though actually new might well be more efficient). I hate changing phones anyway.

4. Take no more than one short haul flight every three years and one long haul flight every eight years

Don't like flying longhaul. Hard to take just 1 flight though as you have to come back! Favourite location is just a ferry ride away anyway.

5. Get rid of personal motor vehicles

No way. Happy to drive economic ones (if only they would decide what is best)

6. Make at least one life shift to nudge the system, like moving to a green energy, insulating your home or changing pension supplier

Have green energy supplier, home insulated. We reduce, reuse, recycle. We buy things to last.

@ClariceQuiff

One person leading a smugly perfect life doesn't help, everyone doing stuff imperfectly creates change.

Yes, I agree with this. There must be small changes that most people can make (not necessarily on the quoted list) and that's more likely to be achievable than the suggestion that everyone must fill minimum - quite draconian - criteria for it to be worthwhile bothering at all.

so true link to the campaign suggesting this if you look at this, you will see that there is research to say these changes by individuals would be effective they acknowledge that for some people some of these changes may not be possible, eg people with disabilities need a car it's not all or nothing- you can use a car with more care, plan your journeys etc its better to do something than nothing at all life can actually be better if you are not tied into a system of constant consumption- if you are as old as me you can remember a life when consumption was much lesser, international travel was a real luxury etc...but we weren't miserable!

I really despair for the planet when I read someone (with electricity and wifi) point blank refuses to take any responsibility AT ALL. Or make pathetic excuses. How do you think that looks if you live in the global South, making virtually no carbon emmissions, yet suffering the brunt of climate change ?
Yes we need change at a national and international level but no government will risk that unless they can see people will support them.

@FrodoAteMyRing

NO to all of them

90% of pollution comes from about 3 huge companies. Then they are guilt tripping us small ppl into this BS, they must be laughing their heads off at us!

Is that correct? Which 3 companies?

I don't have a car. I don't buy new electricals, but no to the rest.

Meat manufactured in factories from cell culture is taking off

No it's not. It will never be possible to manufacture it on a scale that will make it affordable. You can only have the vats so large before the risk of having to destroy an entire batch because of contamination becomes too big.

25 minute walk to a train station.

Is that all? It would take five minutes on a bike.

[quote Daftasabroom]@daimbarsatemydogsbone the majority of emissions from a combustion engined vehicle come during its in-use phase. EVs have a higher impact during manufacture because they have low or no in use emissions. EVs have lower lifecycle emissions the internal combustion engines.[/quote]
@Daftasabroom I'm not denying that BEVs have lower lifetime emissions than ICEs. But it's only around a third less. BEVs are not going to save the planet, only public transport and walking/cycling will put a dent into emissions.

@FrodoAteMyRing

NO to all of them

90% of pollution comes from about 3 huge companies. Then they are guilt tripping us small ppl into this BS, they must be laughing their heads off at us!

Your figures are well out. The worst 100 companies create 71% of emissions.

But that isn't really relevant. They are almost entirely oil giants. They wouldn't be creating this pollution if you weren't buying their oil. Consumers must bear responsibility for where their money goes when they purchase something.

anyway plant-based diets are actually just as bad for the planet as meat-based ones

and the earth is flat…