Could you be with a partner who doesn't believe in climate change?

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DH doesn't really think it's all that bad. He thinks we should be recyling more and caring for the planet as makes sense and is just the right thing to do - but that climate change as a disaster is an exaggeration and not based in science. And that people are utilising it for their own agenda, woke brigade & so on.

We have young kids.

AIBU to find this position increasingly problematic?

People are going to say people are allowed different opinions but he seems geniunely unconcerned about future of planet for our kids - and I find that hard to swallow.

When I was in school it was the Ozone layer, it's all we heard about. Aerosols would kill us all. We don't hear that much anymore.

@Notimeforaname oh yes, I remember that! I still try to avoid using aerosols and has taught DD this.

Yes, I am aware, but it is steadily recovering so is, quite obviously, no longer the pressing concern that it was when it was continuing to deteriorate.

Yes, you don’t hear about the ozone layer anymore because world-wide action was taken (banning CFCs) meaning the damage to the ozone layer has slowed/ stopped!

The key difference between this issue and climate change in general is that the solution was fairly straightforward - it was clear what was causing the problem, and CFCs could be replaced with other, less damaging, chemicals, so the general public didn’t have to change anything about their lifestyles. Climate change is a lot more complex with no easy solution.

Most modern aerosols don’t contain any ozone depleting chemicals though, because an international treaty was agreed, in the 80s, phasing out the production of the vast majority of said chemicals.

I'm not a climate denier but I am cynical and think it's being exaggerated. I'm also a big recycling fan and try my best to minimise waste. Hubby is in the other camp.
We don't really discuss it and get along just fine 😉

If he was an absolute conspiracy theorist , imposing his views on others in an aggressive way then i would struggle to live with him, but I would feel the same about anyone being like this about any views. If he is a gentle soul who gets on with his life respecting others and the planet I can't say it would bother me too much and I'd probably avoid talking about it with him and roll my eyes . What he believes or you believe is not going to change what is happening, it really isn't worth making your life unhappy about unless he is generally an aggressive person and lost touch with reality so far he is completed deluded and can't function in life.

I wouldn’t choose to be with a climate change denier, no. The science is extremely clear and the predictions from 20 years ago about the impacts of 1.5 degree warming are all coming true exactly as predicted, but people still say ‘its overblown’ and ‘it’s not that bad’ , or ‘the climate always changes’. Not to this extent it doesn’t, or as rapidly. Until we all as a species accept what is happening then we have no chance of tackling it. And I really don’t buy the old chestnut of ‘what difference can I make? It’s the governments and big corporations who need to do something’ . Yes they do but they won’t do anything without public and voter pressure, it’s a symbiotic relationship. We all have a collective responsibility.

I tell you what though, people used to be really concerned about Germany invading Britain. You don’t hear much about that anymore.

@SingingNettles "When I was in school it was the Ozone layer, it's all we heard about. Aerosols would kill us all. We don't hear that much anymore"

That's because aerosols no longer contain ozone depleting chemicals. HTH

Question to all the deniers and doubters on here.

If climate change is not real or if it is being exaggerated, why are asset managers, central banks, venture capitalists, and hedge funds calculating the risks it poses before making investment decisions?

Seems odd that they're putting additional barriers in their way, giving themselves extra work, and limiting their investment opportunities for something that you claim isn't actually a factor.

I think you’re quoting the wrong person. I’m the one who made the point you’re repeating.

I laughed out loud at this.

We all have our own opinions, I see some things differently to DH, would be argue about it? No we wouldn’t. My friend and I have opposite views on certain issues, we know each other’s thoughts, but we never discuss, or try to push our opinions on each other, we just avoid those subjects completely.

I couldn't, in all honestly. I'd think they were dim.

That's because aerosols no longer contain ozone depleting chemicals. HTH

CFC's still being produced , albeit at much smaller levels but the world still uses them.

I tell you what though, people used to be really concerned about Germany invading Britain. You don’t hear much about that anymore
🤣🤣🖐

Is he actually a climate change denier or is he just not a climate change doomer?

There are a wide range of scentific and expert views on the extent of climate change and what is or isn't attributed to it or causing it or what the solutions are. There were extreme weather events throughout history. Any one weather event is not a direct effect of climate change. And as for solutions, am I really changing the planet by being handed a large plastic cup with a paper straw? So much is performative.

I have listed to snippets of various opinions and also read different views. I am not well read enough to have a fully formed opinion but I am not as gloom and doom as some. Climate change is happening but not in the way some headlines or bylines - designed to get attention - make it seem. There is profit in climate doom and that always means people will take advantage of fear to profit.

Do you and family go on holidays OP, do you drive a car/cars, do you eat imported food? And on it goes. Everyone should do something, but realistically while many try, many either forget or don't believe in it because maybe it upsets their lifestyles.

A big stick and carrot might work, but whatever Gov party shakes up our day to day life either by restrictions, taxes, surcharges, levies, increased costs etc. will not be voted for so they are reluctant to get out the big guns.

Therefore does anyone care?

So he is encouraging recycling and caring for the planet but he holds some cynical views about certain sectors pushing the climate change agenda for their own personal gain? Probably correct. And does change in lifestyle at a personal level make any difference without radical changes being made at a governmental/ major industry level? Probably not.

It doesn’t sound like he’s a denier - he sounds more of a realist. And if you believed wholeheartedly in making a real difference to climate change why did you have multiple children?

People are allowed express their views. Your husbands views are not in anyway offensive

I wouldn't break up with someone over it.

Is it just a matter of opinion or do you do practical things in response to climate change that he can't get on board with, e.g you don't have a car but he insists on keeping his?

Apart from using "woke brigade" which suggests he's on a slippery slope to becoming a miserable old git, none of what he has actually said is that disagreeable.

It may be exaggerated, the science is not entirely settled on this as it never is, some people are using it for thier own agenda as people always do, and he agrees with the small stuff that people can actually do. He's not denying it or deliberately buying and not recycling as much plastic as possible to "show them".

I couldn't be with someone that uneducated who is either not bothering to educate themselves or not able to do so...but then I studied atmospheric physics and worked in the field and with lots of very clever, very caring people.

If my DH still behaved in a responsible way towards the planet, as your DH seems to, simply because it's the moral thing to do, yes I would stay with him.

If he was someone who flew everywhere by private jet, took no care of the planet, objected to me using reusable nappies, ignored hosepipe bans etc, then our lives would be incompatible.

I doubt it to be honest. Not been in the OPs position.

No, I couldn't have a dickhead for a partner.