To think that no one will give a shit about climate change when they're freezing this winter?

[Turnandfacethestrangechanges]

Just that really. When we have a choice of spanking out £650+ in January for gas and electric or slowly freezing, will people will be less sympathetic to 'green' measures?

Will net zero go out the window when we realise how bloody miserable it is to live without modern comforts and there is civil unrest as a result?

YABU - Don't be ridiculous, climate change is the most important issue
YANBU - How true, I predict a riot

It is possible to do both.

Turn your heating down, not off. Wear wool sweaters and warm socks/boots. Use heavy duvets or more blankets. Use a throw over your knees when watching tv. Buy curtains with thermal linings. Add an extra layer of insulation in the loft.

I have a log burner and, this year, a lot of waste (dry) wood, so we'll use that for our primary heat source until it runs out.

It's about sensible compromise, not going back to the stone age.

Given up?

Haven’t RTWT but one likely effect of climate change in the UK is colder winters, this is because the Gulf Stream will slow or even stop, this will result in hotter summer and colder winters, climate will become more similar to Canada.

The recent heat wave was linked to reduced Gulf Stream activity.

Binning off net zero won’t help your energy bills.

People don't care about the planet. Even when petrol prices were at their highest, people were still sitting in stationery cars with the engines running (cos aircon). Clearly, fuel wasn't expensive enough.

If businesses don't at least switch their lights off overnight, clearly energy prices won't be high enough either,

The current prices should actually aid a reset and a rethink of thoughtless consumption of energy and fuel - but I see little evidence of it so far.

No. That heatwave really shook people up. They aren’t going to forget 40 degrees in a hurry. When it’s so hot in London that people are advised to stay indoors, well, you know something is wrong.

Will people change their way of life? I doubt it. People know that what we do in this island makes little difference. Even if every Brit switched to an electric car, stopped flying, planted a tree, etc, it wouldn’t affect the global climate. China, India and the USA are the biggest polluters, and Africa has the highest birth rate.

I think there are many misconceptions about climate change because people don’t necessarily see it happening with their own eyes or it doesn’t immediately affect them. It’s impact is in many ways too distant for people to take real note of and it’s complex. People are not as informed as they should me.
I think also, rightly so, regular people are frustrated when they are being asked to make changes that equate to showing up after an earthquake with a little dustpan and brush while the very wealthy are essentially holding back their JCBs which could make the clean up a lot more manageable.
The average person is expected to make significant changes to be more environmentally friendly, while big companies with big factories create unfathomable amounts of waste and Co2 and wealthy people keep their massive homes alight and pools heated and travel on multiple holidays using private jets - or as we’ve recently discovered, several celebrities make 18 minute journeys in private jets instead of getting in a luxurious low emissions car which they could easily afford.
Everyone needs to be pitching in. The people who could make the biggest difference are not being asked to though.

Surely “green energy” should be becoming more comparable in price until it actually becomes cheaper? But these people bills are going up too.
Climate change will be taking a back seat this winter as I turn to using our fireplace as the main source of heating rather than electricity and gas. I can’t afford it

The recent heat wave was linked to reduced Gulf Stream activity.

I thought it was the Jetstream. There is a link to the Gulf Stream, but it is more effect than cause. I have always understood La Nina is more relevant than El Nino, but a high La Nina series affects the Jetstream which when pushed down to the South of the UK keeps the continental and north African weather systems in check. This did not happen this year when the Jetstream sat over northern Scotland, but which broke into two quite quickly between 0300 and 0600 on the morning of 20 July, with one aspect dissipating over Norway and the other strengthening across mid France. Since then it has moved more northwards and is currently sat directly across the UK.

You would have to pretty thick not to "give a shit" about climate change unless you are childless and don't expect to live much longer. Most of the UK will disappear under water.

You clearly have a better understanding than me! But am I right that Gulf Stream is at risk and would lead to more extreme summers and winters?

Yes the Gulf Stream is at risk, but my understanding is that is an effect of other extreme weather patterns (in turn an effect of climate change). Another poster with more knowledge than me could say I am wrong of course....

Thank you for posting. So based on what you learned, you think it's too late to change this? As in, we're passed the scientific tipping point threshold so there's no feasible return possible? Or is it rather just that because of global politics you don't believe the necessary changes will be made (I agree) but if they were it's not too late quite yet?

I agree that people don’t give shit.
But you list is ants piss drop.
What is needed is less population.
So less baby making, please.

If the Gulf Stream stops we are screwed.

All energy prices in the UK are linked to the cost of gas, changing that is one thing being considered.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-62208232.amp

As a few PP have said, I've never been of the belief that humans have to exist forever. Shit happens, if we all died off then the planet would recover and another form of life would find a way.

Also, you are the second poster to mention that you feel that people who hold different opinions to you must be stupid. It's an ineffective method of changing opinions.

Yes people will turn up their heating this winter. I thought the heatwave might make people think twice about jumping in their car - it's had that effect on me. However, looking at the roads and hearing about what people are up to, I don't think it's changed driving habits at all.

Like PPs I'd like the government to do more to reduce energy consumption to kill several birds with one stone. We are keen to insulate our house at our own expense, but it's really hard to find an installer. The stop-start nature of the government grants has meant there aren't many installers around. Anyway we have finally got a quote so hopefully our house will soon be insulated.

Looking to Europe we can get a few ideas of how to reduce energy consumption - reduced price public transport in Germany and turning off hot water and various other measures in public buildings in Hanover.OK maybe these are more about conserving fuel than saving the planet, but they seem more useful measures than borrowing more money or investing in oilfields as our government seems intent on.

Does that judgemental attitude also extend to people like me? I drive a large car, and never walk journeys under a mile.

That would be because I need a car that carries my mobility equipment, and is high enough to easily get in and out of. And I'd bloody love to be able to walk 100 yards, never mind a mile. Without my large car and my equipment I wouldn't be able to work, and then you'd be paying my bills instead of me.

This is such a wonderfully middle class thread. Let's congratulate ourselves on the fact that we have no passports, drive electric cars (or don't drive), holiday locally etc., etc. Aren't we all super? Without a shred of understanding that it's nice that you all have those choices - many people don't have any choices, and they will be more worried about how they stay warm AND put food on the table seven days a week. Global warming isn't on their agenda because the planet possibly dying in several centuries really doesn't figure when you can't afford to live next week. Caring about the future is a luxury you can't afford when you are on or below the breadline. Today and tomorrow is a bigger concern.

So honestly, yes, actually I do care about global warming and try to do my bit. But I care more about the unequal society that we live in, because people are dying of that right now. A global economy that puts profits above people doesn't care about any of those things.

NASA - evidence

What does being on social media have to do with climate change worries?

Given the competitive panic some like to whip up about it I'd have thought that was obvious

Looking on the bright side though, at least we won't have ER and the like enjoying disruptive demos when it's cold and wintry ...

@Getmoveon14

Yes people will turn up their heating this winter.

I don't think most will. We can't afford to.

Why do you think I'm trying to change your opinion? It doesn't really matter what you think with regard to climate change. Also, I didn't say that every different opinion to mine was thick. If you have children, you would have to be a bit thick or maybe a sociopath to really not care about climate change though.

@dianthus101 Realistic maybe? But because you disagree, sociopathic and/or 'thick'.

Fair enough, you don't want to change my opinion and I agree that it doesn't matter what I think about climate change. Calling people stupid just seems a lazy and pointless way of expressing your opinions.

What does being realistic have to do with whether or not you should “give a shit” about climate change?

I think Global Weirding is the more accurate term these days.

People are dreadfully thick and dreadfully selfish - the pandemic showed that in spades.