Do you actually care about the environment?

[HamsterKebab]

I think a lot of people say they care, but do you really? Have you adjusted your life with wildlife or the climate in mind? Or does convenience come first?

Im genuinely interested in how much the general public truly cares about biodiversity loss, climate change, pollution. Does it bother you or do you just think ‘someone else will deal with it’. I’m not judging, I genuinely want to know how people honestly feel rather than what they say out loud.

His annual emissions are nearly 2,000 tonnes, and he's one of the better ones in that world!

Activists should glue themselves to private jets and superyachts. They'll actually have support from the public as well as making a real difference to emissions. I'd even buy the glue.

I care about the effects on wildlife, and what Man is doing to certain specious by grabbing their land, or the ice caps melting. But it is such a vast subject - all countries and individuals need to do their bit. And that just isn't happening and won't happen. People are greedy and selfish and just want stuff and to do what they like - they want the planet saved but other people to do it for them. People lecture about climate change and then hop on private jets like buses. Expecting families to feel guilty about their one plane trip a year isn't on.

Man is a destructive force and we are destroying our own planet. I am middle aged, no kids. I do feel sorry for those in future years who will see more and more effects of past bad behaviour by us. But individually there isn't a great deal I can do about it. So I don't think about it much. There is no point. I don't think about war either - me worrying about it won't change anything. So I don't.

Interesting thread OP.

For those of you saying you’re not, or just not interested, if you have DC how to you reconcile that? Do you just accept that you’ll do nothing now and they’ll almost certainly live in a very different world.

I care a lot.

My company is B-CORP certified.
Travel only when essential.
Recycle and reuse - actively participate in a Buy Nothing community group.
Buy local (food).
Low red meat diet.
Just spent a whole year without buying anything new (except food, toiletries and toilet paper).
If I did need to buy something new, I would shop consciously.
We do not use pesticides or commercial cleaning products.

Will it do much to help - probably not. I work on the premise that if we all take responsibility for ourselves then collectively we might have a chancem

We:

WFH most of the time
Have two cars, one of which is an old car, and basically knackered.
Walk where possible
Kids get packed lunches in Tupperwares
Eat at home mostly
Recycle
Buy local where possible

Honestly no - I don’t really care. I do believe in climate change, I’ve accepted it will probably wipe us out, but I don’t think there’s anything I can do about it, so I simply don’t think about it. Can’t be bothered with the headspace. Same goes for world war- what’s the point wasting my life worrying about it until it’s happening in front of me? Then I’ll be worrying!

Ironically I have an extremely low carbon footprint because I only walk and cycle. Cook everything from scratch - fresh foods. Have been on 1 foreign holiday in 6 years, stay very local every weekend, wfh, eat cheaper in season foods. I live in a small city in the U.K so I can live this life with ease.

I don’t live this way for environmental reasons, it doesn’t really come into it as a factor. I don’t think the way I live will make a jot of difference to the environment. I have never believed the individual has any power over climate change. I think poor people have the lowest carbon footprints, but they don’t shout about being green, so why do middle class folk go on about it?

I don’t buy takeout with plastic containers. We buy all second hand uniform for kids. I hardly ever buy new clothes- I’m wearing the same coat daily since 2014!

We have a large biodiverse garden which attracts lots of different types of bees, birds and other wildlife.

I’d struggle to be any more green if I tried!

Oh and I forgot we recycle everything religiously. Would never throw something in the black bin that could be turned into something else- that’s a waste of good resources

I do loads because it’s my lifestyle (see above) but don’t really think about the environment

I think your premise is wrong- lots of people live a low carbon lifestyle regardless of the environment. I think it’s very privileged of you not to realise a lot of people don’t have a choice or are just old fashioned resourceful types who like to live a simple life!

Yes I recycle, try to minimise waste. We are meat free 4 days a week. I try to walk where I can.

There's probably loads more I could do though

God why would he want to?! What’s the bloody point. Sounds miserable. I’d rather be dead.

Why do environmentalists never address the class issue? I think it’s strange that this is not acknowledged.

Why assume people need to change? Lots of people already live a climate friendly, low carbon lifestyle just by being low income.

I'm not expecting to have GC, so that helps.

Honestly, no. Partly because I feel helpless to do anything meaningful to the big picture, so it seems like a waste of energy to worry about something I can't change. I feel acceptance. I do care about wildlife though. I have my garden set up to help wildlife and am involved in animal welfare. I think all the small differences we can make add up. I consider myself kind to nature overall.

Yes! This is what I mean

Eco friendly types tend to be the more privileged middle class people - their carbon footprints are probably no lower than those living on council estates

Lets be honest- it’s about wealth and class and inequality

The idea of an individual 'carbon footprint' was originally pushed by BP, a major fossil fuel company. It was a very successful tactic of shifting the blame of climate change onto the average person. It's incredibly naiive to think that all these little things you're doing make the slightest bit of a difference. Yes, even if we all do it.

The vast majority of carbon emissions are out of our control. The majority of flights are taken by frequent flyers, so every single person deciding to forgo that one flight abroad a year (or even less regular) makes no difference. Industry uses plastic on a massive scale, and it's not like we have much of a choice how the food we buy is packaged, or how our electricity is produced.
A significant amount of 'recyclable' waste is just... not recycled, no matter how carefully we put it in the correct bin, make sure it's clean and all that.

It's out of our hands. As others have said, the UK is doing much better than many countries, but even that is a drop in the ocean compared the likes of China, India, and the USA. Nothing we can do as individuals, even collectively, will actually help. And we saw with COVID that we can't rely on the average person making 'the right choices' anyway.

I think I probably used to care much more and try a lot harder than I do now. For example I used to avoid bottled water whereas now I use it all the time as I wouldn’t risk drinking tap water. It feels as though people think more about the climate etc when they are feeling better off.

@Theonlylonely

Yes have to agree

I remember a couple of people involved in ER on rallies

Neither on them seemed to have a 9-5 job as their dhs had high paying jobs etc

@greengreengrass25 haha yes! I remember attending a measuring your carbon footprint meeting with environmentalists c 2006 when it was quite a new concept.

They did an audit and actually measured the carbon release from bike tyres and wondered about rubber shoes emissions while walking. I just thought wtf is this nonsense… these zealots were well travelled and privileged, probably had investments which were high carbon supporting.

It all just felt so ridiculous and petty, while I have always had a simple lifestyle (except travel when younger) it’s difficult to hear such patronising nonsense from environmentalists who always come from the same sort of background. I do wonder where is the diversity and why it’s such a middle class pursuit? Probably because everyone else is already low carbon by necessity!

Yes I know where you are coming from

I think we can all do what we can but we still have to get on with our lives.

Personally I think it’s consumerism and keeping up with the jones that’s the problem… if you live a slower more local life and stop buying stuff, put your efforts into developing connections with people/ animals/ nature, prioritise healthy eating and getting in the great outdoors and enjoying cultural experiences on your doorstep, you’ll probably be happier and your carbon footprint will be lower without having to think about it very much.

The idea of an individual 'carbon footprint' was originally pushed by BP, a major fossil fuel company. It was a very successful tactic of shifting the blame of climate change onto the average person.

Where do BP get their money from?

From people buying hydrocarbons from them. The less you buy, the less they pollute.

Although FF companies are shitty and have vested interest in diverting blame/undermining climate DH change efforts..

Carbon footprint is still very relevant. Some things aren't a choice.

Hearing home in freezing weather = not a choice.
Hearing home to 25C so you can wall around in shorts = choice.

Needing a may not be a choice.
Concreting over your front garden = a choice.

Needing stuff and clothes occasionally = not a choice
Choosing to buy plastic tat from Temu that you saw on a instagram reel is a choice.

Having children = a basic right, a life aspiration for many.
Having 6 of them instead of 1,2 or even 3 is = choice.

And so on. Both can be true.

Yes, I accept that. There's very little I can do as an individual. I don't even own a car. I could give up flying and eating meat, but I don't want to.