To think most people are concerned about climate change... but

[hopewithoutpanic]

Don't know what they can personally do to make an impact?

We can see the fires, floods and impact climate change is having in both near and far places.

It has to be a concern, right? This is something that could make our planet dramatically different within our and our children's lifetimes.

Would I be correct in thinking the issue is that is individuals just don't know what (aside from recycling / trying to reduce meat etc) they can do to make a real difference?

It's too late. people were being told about this by scientists and environmentalist over 20 years ago.

People laughed.

Not the world is starting to burn.

But it's too late.

Just damage limitation now.

*Now

@whostolemycheeseagain

And that comment has significance because..................?

Preferable to being poor, the living standards in the developing world (particularly in China but also elsewhere) have improved a lot

It’s a choice.

We can do nothing and the world burns. We create a mass extinction and cause untold suffering. Or we try. Climate scientists have been telling us what’s happening and what to do about for over 40 years.

We can still lessen the impact and here’s how…

www.imperial.ac.uk/stories/climate-action/

If you look at the carbon footprint of flights, not taking unnecessary flights is a really quick win. No one needs a holiday abroad - if we had to kill a child ourselves to take a flight we wouldn’t. We just can’t see the immediate impact of our actions but choosing a carbon heavy lifestyle is killing people and will kill more.

If we all act, we can mitigate the worst effects.

Tbh I think it's more that people don't care enough to do anything that will negatively impact them (recycling and small token gestures are easy)

“Live Simply So Others May Simply Live,” Gandhi

To me the message is wrong. We should be talking about saving the human race not the planet, the planet will get on fine without us.

The current energy crisis is a taste of things to come, the era of cheap fossil fuels and the lifestyles it supports is coming to an end and that has to be adapted to, regardless of whether you give a shit about, or even believe in, climate change.

It is going to happen, so better to adapt now rather than wait until that lifestyle is forced upon us.

@Ginmonkeyagain

The human and the planet go together. Without one the other doesn't survive.

for example ecosystems sustain the planet. If the humble bee is lst then the human will not survive.

Can I suggest two documentaries that everyone should watch

1, The biggest little farm
2, The Serengeti rules

It'll give you some idea how eco system's are SO IMPORTANT to the planet, climate change and the interaction with humanity

We need the plant, the planet does not need us.

The planet doesn't need us at all. If we disappear tomorrow it will keep going, grow wild again, animals will find their own balance again. In the long term this is probably inevitable.

Mystic, are you saying that the planet won't survive without humanity? That ecosystems are somehow human devices?

Daft, really enjoying your contribution on this thread.

On threads like these, there are invariably posters who blithely make comments like: "...humanity is a scourge, and the planet will be so much better off without us." (I paraphrase). I wonder what happens in the 'gap' between where we currently find ourselves and the point at which humanity is eradicated, in these posters' minds? As Polly suggested midthread, this is likely to involve all the horsemen of the apocalypse -are the 'human extinctionists' really advocating this for their children? It seems so disingenuous.

Simply trying to say................

Healthy planet = healthy humans

I guess there will be plagues, famine, lack of water resources, wars for resources, drop in fertility, as examples. Will it be pretty? No. I think it's still a long way off and humans will be here for a long time yet. Then the rest of nature will take over fairly quickly (those garden weeds sure come on and take over fast!). A new balance will be found and life, in it's adapted form, will continue until the sun burns out in the far distant future.

That is if there is no single event that speeds things up or a gamma ray burst or something.

This planet isn't going to be healthy while we live the lifestyles we do - that includes pharmaceuticals being made and used, anything but basic medical care, much less physical comfort, giving up all our imports and living more locally, accepting we can't travel like we do, dying younger. I don't think humanity will ever accept that so we will use up the finite resources earth has.

The health of the planet—what does this mean to you?

Earth has gone through many periods where it is basically hostile to life, it doesn’t mean the Earth is unhealthy.

We are in an Ice Age now, at this moment, and it’s not really known if humans could survive when it really gets going after the current interglacial period tbh.

That's a great article clarifying the things you can do in order of importance"

"Use your voice,
Use your vote,
Use your choice."

The misleadingly named new US "Inflation Reduction Act" is a huge example of what politicians can do with the will. In theory it should be the equivalent of turning off France and Germany's carbon emissions. Everyone should do their share - China's not ignoring the problem either, despite the coal power: their renewable power growth has been extraordinary. And thank god Bolsanaro's been voted out.

A healthy planet would be a complete ecosystem without the interference of humans. Letting nature do what it does!!

There are movements around that attempting to redress the situation.. Agrarian renaissance for one. Even the petrol head Clarkson has stumbled upon this in his naivety.

Ecology should be on the curriculum from year 1 - year 11

Thousands of mums this week wondering what to do in half term with the kid's, then buy some wildflower seeds go out into the countryside or woods or anywhere and spread them about away from the evil mowers and strimmer's. Great game for the kids.
And beneficial for the wildlife.

Seriously watch those documentaries I mentioned up thread.

A healthy planet would be a complete ecosystem without the interference of humans. Letting nature do what it does

Humans cannot really live in balance with nature though, it does its best to kill us lol

nothing wrong with planting wildflowers or whatnot.

But I can’t stand this meme of ‘living in balance with nature’ because humans generally cannot thrive in natural environments.

@FunnyItWorkedLastTime That's a great article clarifying the things you can do in order of importance

It's a good list but they're not in order of importance. I would also add:

1. Get educated - there are some great free courses, you can get a UK recognised qualification here. The Green House Gas Protocol is a great foundation for actually measuring environmental sustainability, their training is here but there are huge resources on the site generally. The OU has free LCA training here . More here and here Knowledge is power!
2. Go beyond the headlines - be sceptical - some of the spin and misinformation on sustainability is scary, from all sides. If something looks or sounds improbable, it probably is. Dig down into the original research papers if possible (and motivated!)
3. Get involved - I don't mean just write to MP or join Greenpeace or glue yourself to the LibDem electric bus. I mean join local groups actually effecting change, whether that's the local Religious buildings, sports clubs, schools, health centres, etc. there are many grants available but they all take time and effort to apply for. Become a sustainability champion at work. Get involved in citizen science.

@Mysticguru Please do not take wildflower seed and scatter it anywhere without the landowners permission. Even with the best will in the world you have probably have no idea of the ecology or the current maintenance plan for that piece of land. A project local citizen science project on verge maintenance was completely shafted by people doing just that.

I read this, and it really did make me think differently. If all people thought this way, I think the world would be a different place today "We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors we borrow it from our children"

@Daftasabroom

I don't know of any landowner who would object. After all they set aside land for this specific purpose. Farmers recognise the need for flora and the bee population.

I've been involved with landowners and organic farming set ups.

But I forgot we live in the land of no.

What amazes me is that people who visit Scotland come back and muse about the wonderful landscape. Yet a few centuries ago those hills and mountains where covered by indigenous forest with wild boar, wolves, deer, beaver and such like. All destroyed and now we pay people to cull the deer because they are over populating the region. Just imagine if those forests had remained ho much they would be benefitting the planet.

There's an area in Scotland called Alladale wilderness centre that has been reinvigorated as Scotland used to be (Sans Wolf) and the difference in the landscape is phenomenal. Check it out.

Don't know what they personally can do to make an impact ? Of course they do.

Fewer/zero jet holidays.
Smaller fuel efficient cars. Not SUVs
Keep your heating turned down where possible.
Use less energy where possible eg clothes line drying.
Eat less meat.
Have fewer kids.
Recycle where possible and buy less new stuff.

Everyone knows what makes the difference. No one actually wants to do anything other than virtue signal by putting yogurt pots in the trash and thinking they are actually making a contribution.

@Mysticguru if you have the permission of the landowner, fab. If not don't do it. If you don't have the landowners permission it's little more than environmental vandalism.

Take a look at the Aral sea @Daftasabroom or the indigenous forests of Eastern Europe, or the Mississippi delt or Baku or other environmental vandalism before throwing accusations at folk.