Why is climate change not a bigger election issue?

[ChedderGorgeous]

Forget tax on private schools, it is going to be 43 degrees in Athens today, over 40 on Greek Islands in last week: huge risk of wildfires. The UK regularly floods due to unnaturally high rainfall , which gives water companies the excuse to pump raw rewage into rivers and beaches. Where is Starmer on this one ? Too busy smashing the gangs ?

If the parties all united on Green issues and issued a statement saying that democracy means nothing in this regard because we know what’s best for the world, the people will have no choice but to suck it up and stop crying about how unfair it is that they have to stop driving to Skegness every time it’s half term. Sacrifices have to be made to save the planet.

But they want to get elected. How would that help them? It's a competition!

That's not true. Green policies should mean cheaper electricity. More expensive petrol, but running an electric car is way cheaper than fossil fuel ever was. More expensive airfares, but cheaper trains and buses.

Like so many on this thread, you're regurgitating right wing talking points without engaging critical thinking.

I share your frustration OP. The cost of not dealing with climate warming will be far more than the cost of dealing with it now.

Improved air and water quality, less flooding and fewer fires, more efficient homes will help grow the economy. Improved health due to better air quality is good for the NHS and for productivity.

That's not true. Green policies should mean cheaper electricity. More expensive petrol, but running an electric car is way cheaper than fossil fuel ever was. More expensive airfares, but cheaper trains and buses.

Like so many on this thread, you're regurgitating right wing talking points without engaging critical thinking.

Then why aren't people flocking to the Greens?

It sounds like paradise!

I used to vote Green, and am the most planet-conscious person you'll meet but now I'm just hyper-cynical about how much most people care. There was a thread on here a year or so ago where people were happily declaring that they weren't going to cut down their air travel, whatever the damage it was causing. I could tell you many an anecdote about my struggles to get people to make an effort in this department, so now I just do all I can myself and try not to let it upset me too much. I've had a career of trying to get people to care and now I put my own mental health first!

The polls show its not a key concern for most voters.

A lot of people are really struggling and for them having enough money to support their families. housing issues and access to healthcare are the things that immediately affect their lives. So that's what they will vote on.

And the popularity of massive, fuck off SUVs and people carriers and the like also show that many just don't give a shit, or, if they do, not enough ( my super eco/ green acquaintance bought such a petrol driven massive fuck off car), and they also don't care about the greater injury that is caused to pedestrians when hit by one of these ridiculously big vehicles.

So when you add together the people whose imminent problems are so big those are their focus and those who just don't give enough of a shit, even though they say they do, to make any real ' sacrifices', such as a less ridiculously massive car, that's not many people left over to even think about whether the climate is a big enough concern to them to affect voting choices.

What?! India is the worlds largest democracy! They do have elections.

The Greens actually did pretty well in the local elections, and they're projected to double their seats in the GE (from one to two 😆), so although not "flocking", they are seeing a modest rise in support.

In the FPTP system we have, there are far more people who would vote for them if they thought they had a chance in their constituency. Me, for example. As it is, Labour have a good chance of winning ours, so I have to go with them. But I actively want Starmer's Labour to go further with green initiatives and will be interested to see what the manifesto says.

Green policies consistently poll well with the public.

Yes, this is very true. China, India and the USA are the main culprits, and they sure as heck don't care what Keir Starmer or Rishi Sunak think about their actions. I vaguely remember some British politician saying he was going to have a 'frank discussion' with the Chinese on emissions targets. It made me burst out laughing.

Not only can we do nothing about emissions, we can't do anything about overpopulation either. This is really driving so many of the problems we face, from deforestation and declining fish stocks to pollution and mass extinction. In 1900 there were a billion human beings. Today there are eight billion and we're heading for ten. Even if the green party got in with a huge majority it would make zero difference. By mid-century, global warming and overpopulation are going to combine to cause chaos, and there's nothing we can do about it. We're not even a major voice on the European stage, let alone the world stage.

What a depressing POV.

By the way, most people aren't cycling to work and using natural products because of climate change. It's to reduce waste and resource exploitation, lower air pollution, reduce congestion on roads, not add another dangerous vehicle that is a risk to pedestrians (and of course to save money and keep fit).

The idea that you shouldn't bother because it won't do anything is nonsense. And reinforcing attitudes like this is why others people's efforts are pointless!

Eh? I thought thread was about climate change, not how to reduce road traffic accidents.

You might find it depressing but it’s still true. You can keep indulging in this nonsense if it makes you feel better, but pretending it makes any difference to the climate is just deluded.

Your attitude is 'don't bother' hence my response. Your attitude is depressing and not 'true'. It's only 'true' because people take your view.

Do the math. These are facts. Not sure which part of carbon emissions share you are struggling with.

You know transport is a massive part of emissions right?

Clearly someone as passionate as you has experience in this field. I definitely trust your opinion.

This!

You will care more when there isn’t enough food to eat. Global crop yields are dropping overall.

Olive groves and orchards destroyed by wildfires take years to be replaced and reach full productivity once again. Fertile lowland growing areas reclaimed by the sea will never be replaced.

According to the Green party's manifesto, one of their policies is phasing out nuclear power. So much for The Science and prioritizing aiming for a carbon free society. They're not a serious party, they're a bunch of cranks with a dubious grasp on reality.

DGAF.

All the people I know (myself included) run ragged every day, working like dogs just to keep themselves afloat. Stressed to the max about forever rising rents/mortgages, council tax going up and up (and nothing to show for it, and councils always moaning how broke they are), food prices through the roof, electricity/heating expensive like hell, all the pleasant little treats/outings scrapped as prices rocketed (like trips to the zoo/cinema/similar), etc.

And then after a long hard day's slog we come home, and Sir Keir/Obamas/Di Crapio et all come on tv, whizzing around with their private jets hectoring plebs about 'doing their part'. Do your own part, you absolute fuckers. Or 'prince' William, with 4 kids yammering about overpopulation and recycling. Do you even know where the bins are in your various palaces, you useless overprivileged dunce?

Sure, no meat for us plebs, instead lets be happy with daily gruel because 'Greece', no activities/traveling, let's all engage in yogurt pot rinsing for fun instead, because 'global warming'/climate change or whatever the fuck.

Nah, thanks.

I won’t be told what to do by hypocrites.
I do walk, I walk far more than people a lot younger than I am.
I drive a small, economical car when I have to.
I buy second hand and I recycle. I pass clothes on and sell my really good stuff at low cost.
I try and avoid plastic packaging.
I don’t eat a lot of meat.
I grow (or try to) my own veg.
However, I will not be preached at by any politician.
I do not respect politicians who drive around in huge cars. Or fly instead of using the train.

Because it will cost us all money. Because the difference we can make, either individually or collectively, is hard to quantify and demonstrate. Because people are selfish. Because we think short-term rather than long-term. Because to make a real difference would require either a sudden jump in technology or a massive drop in living standards and leisure (rationing holidays, pets, cars etc.) Because we are hoping that China and India and the USA will curb their emissions and save us having to bother.

Our bird table is my benchmark. From the time the weather chills and conditions for small birds deteriorate, we stock our bird table twice daily with food, lots of suet, meal worms and peanuts, so high calorie. And we enjoy watching them visit. But we turn it off (we just did this week) when there is enough insect life around for the chicks to flourish and fledge, and then, importantly, to learn how to feed themselves naturally from the environment. Otherwise they are not learning survival skills; they are dependent on the bird table. There's always a few that tap on our kitchen window to remind us that we owe them a living. Yes, this is a bit of a parable.

I agree. All these people going "I'm too busy thinking about the cost of living to think about climate change!" Why the hell do you think the price of food is going up?!

Olive oil has just doubled in price due to a catastrophic drought in Spain. Wheat prices are forecast to rise due to this awful wet winter we had- the incidence of these wet winters is forecast to rise steeply, again due to climate change.

Buying olive oil for cooking may be a marker for privilege, but the price has leaped. Lidl's (very decent) entry level olive oil has gone from 2.80 to near £6 for 750 ml in six months.

However, try shopping in a European Lidl. A friend, who is a maths teacher, so a reliable source of data, posted that a plain white cabbage cost 5 euros in Brittany, instead of 95p in Devon,

Climate change is the biggest con going right now before our eyes. Climate has been changing for literally centuries.

To be fair to Labour they have said they'll reverse the ban on onshore wind, so that's a very important policy change because onshore is way cheaper than offshore for obvious reasons and also a lot better suited to small scale "prosumer" generation. That is important and long overdue.

GB Energy- I think the problem is that it's not what people think it is which is a publicly owned generator. It's an investment vehicle which will seek private funding in a 3:1 ratio vs public funding. Unless all that funding is debt rather than equity, GB Energy is not publicly owned. Also the Labour Party has no-one with any business acumen so I'm not that excited about them running an energy start up.