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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

315 replies

hopewithoutpanic · 10/02/2023 06:43

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?

OP posts:
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13
MasterBeth · 30/07/2023 13:24

HandyLady · 14/02/2023 17:50

There's no such thing as manmade climate change. It's a ruse thought up by the richest people on the planet to be used as an excuse to usher in their 'Great Reset' Agenda 2030 project. They say we will 'own nothing and be happy'. They, of course, will still live as they have always lived, gallivanting around the world in gas-guzzling vehicles, island hopping from one party to another and gorging on lots of iron-rich meat. We will be banned from leaving our 15 minute neighbourhoods and we will eat food made on insects.

All that hasn't stopped you recycling your tinfoil to use as a hat.

MotherOfCatBoy · 30/07/2023 13:47

Thank you @Daftasabroom for all the insightful posts here.

I think it’s easy to feel that nothing can be done. But it’s not a binary choice - there is a whole range of actions between something and nothing.

I prefer to think of it as doing what I can. I can’t control anyone else, beyond contributing with my vote when I have the chance , or explaining my actions if anyone asks why I do or do not do certain things. All I can control is what I do, and it helps me feel better that I am not complicit in some things that we know are damaging, whilst also not trying to be perfect, because no one can be, and yes, governments and corporations should do more.

So these are the things that I / my family do -
gave up meat about five years ago (still have dairy, but gave up fish about three years ago)
Stopped flying since 2019
we have an electric car which we fuel from solar panels
the solar panels also power the house in summer and help in winter
walk and bike as much as possible
avoid plastic as much as possible

But we still drive a diesel van - we want to switch it when there’s more choice in the electric market - we still travel, overland - we still order things online (but don’t use Amazon and try to avoid China, and avoid fast fashion) - we still buy a lot of things in plastic, because it can be unavoidable.

You get the picture - decide what you can do, and do it.

Daftasabroom · 30/07/2023 14:01

CurrentHun · 29/07/2023 22:15

Mistymountain nobody seems to know what the current trajectory might be though. The sea heatwave and massively melting icecaps etc are happening in a much more extreme way than predicted aren’t they? And are expected to have very unpredictable knock on effects. So I think no environmentally protective step is wasted for the near and far future since we only have one planet and it’s better to avoid devastation than try to rebuild (how would we even do that?) after it.

The IPCC propose many climate change trajectories.

Daftasabroom · 30/07/2023 14:10

@MotherOfCatBoy I've just checked the sea temps and it's up to over 18C. We haven't had a particularly warm summer locally, and we have at least two months of warming yet to come.

Alexandra2001 · 30/07/2023 20:06

Daftasabroom · 30/07/2023 10:22

Actually it's really tricky to assign emissions from aviation and shipping. Do you assign them to the country the vessel is registered in? The port of departure or arrival? What do you do if a ship or plane makes multiple stops? Do you assign emissions from sheep farming to country of origin or the country of consumption?

(There's no right or wrong answer BTW)

Show quote history

Of course there is, countries picking n choosing what will count towards net zero or not ... is precisely why the world is fucked.

e.g the USA and the UK are not including domestic flights, for the USA, thats huge, so China does the same... same with shipping? easy... imports and exports... what we ship in or out, should count toward.
NZ ignoring Agri, why? because thats a huge part of their economy.

My own view is we will all only start to really care when its far too late.... i doubt few of us really appreciate what's coming to us.

hollyblueivy · 30/07/2023 21:02

I don't know how to measure what I do against the impact of climate change.

Is there a simple traffic light system like with the calorie etc on food items that could be applied to all things in life that relate to climate?

Daftasabroom · 30/07/2023 23:11

Alexandra2001 · 30/07/2023 20:06

Of course there is, countries picking n choosing what will count towards net zero or not ... is precisely why the world is fucked.

e.g the USA and the UK are not including domestic flights, for the USA, thats huge, so China does the same... same with shipping? easy... imports and exports... what we ship in or out, should count toward.
NZ ignoring Agri, why? because thats a huge part of their economy.

My own view is we will all only start to really care when its far too late.... i doubt few of us really appreciate what's coming to us.

Show quote history

So, should emissions be assigned to the point of departure or arrival?

SingingNettles · 31/07/2023 19:41

I’m going to park this /somewhat/ optimistic video here. Some nice relief from the doom (without denying the science).

We WILL Fix Climate Change!

Getting something from the kurzgesagt shop is the best way to support us and to keep our videos free for everyone. ►► https://kgs.link/shop-159 (Worldwid...

https://youtu.be/LxgMdjyw8uw

hollyblueivy · 31/07/2023 19:47

Thanks @MotherOfCatBoy

Very interesting

climatezero · 30/08/2023 14:19

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

MotherOfCatBoy · 30/08/2023 15:59

Done. My kid is older now but this might work for younger ones. You’ll be hard pressed to compete with YouTube tbh - maybe use multiple media?

Daftasabroom · 30/08/2023 16:47

Hi @climatezero I've completed the survey but most of the fields are blank I'm afraid.

Writing surveys is really (really really) hard, and I think you might want to reflect on the questions you are asking. Id also suggest a little bit of an "about you" section. A five year old suburban kid might have a totally different outlook to a 15 yo surf rat.

You might also like to look at free answer type questions. Talk to your tutor.

And don't give up!

Alexandra2001 · 30/08/2023 21:55

Daftasabroom · 30/07/2023 23:11

So, should emissions be assigned to the point of departure or arrival?

Show quote history

Why does it matter? they all go up into the air regardless.

If you re going to start an argument over what counts toward carbon emissions or not.. than that is an excellent example of why we are all fucked.

This is what countries/companies are doing the world over to ensure they avoid the tough decisions

Daftasabroom · 30/08/2023 22:13

@Alexandra2001 actually it's really important. If we can't measure something it's incredibly difficult control it.

There are very well recognized and very well regarded ghg accounting principles and programs.

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