To resent the cognitive dissonance that exists around climate change

[JacquesHarlow]

Let’s be real - will anything get better when folk’s priorities are usually about themselves?

Let me explain my rather emotional opening point.

There’s been lots of news this week unsurprisingly about how we had the hottest year on record last year. The last 10 years have been the hottest on record. Wildfires, floods, you name it - the earth is changing.

Yet here in the temperate, largely rainy UK, many people I see around me are very happy to have their head in the sand, while also bizarrely choosing just one or two lines of attack on the climate crisis to shame others.

One of the parents i know has an electric car. It’s nice, I’m happy for them. They also take at least five flight a year. They have three children.

Yet if you hear them talk about diesel cars… it’s as if the owners are personally killing everyone around them.

Now don’t get me wrong. Emissions locally are important, the air our kids breathe is important. that might be a focus.

However you see it in the choice of car journeys over trains, of large SUVs over a normal family car like a Golf.

The latter particularly grates. We have a huge climate crisis. Yet Joanna or Nicola has to have a Discovery Sport for her three kids because she needs to sit high up, it’s easier to load them in, and she worries about crash worthiness.

The history books will show that rather than looking up and out for each other, we’re actually turning more inwards. Our own personal economy will always triumph over needing to protect others. If I’m able to pay £400 a month PCP on a Dispcvery Sport, then “I’ll protect my family over anything”, even though the entire thought process is irrational.

We need to take fewer flights and more rail journeys. working from home should mean more walking to school as the commute has gone. instead we’re seeing more car journeys. More flights. More large purchases; throwaway electronics; fast fashion.

AIBU to think there’s a lot of cognitive dissonance and head in the sand about climate change in the UK, and spending power (and the choices it unlocks) is king?

Er ok strange response but then I think that about parents happy to see dc wiped out prioritising lack of existence

Decades?

If climate changes as it is now appearing too, we haven't got decades.

Chinese emissions will raise, its economy has reached a point where its own consumerism will ensure that, it wont need the UK for that

There was plenty we did which caused this. We are clearly capable of changing our climate through our activities. It will be the end of the world (as we know it) because many places will become uninhabitable, agriculture will no longer be viable in many parts of the world, and the risks posed by natural disasters will eliminate stability. Stability and a stable, temperate climate is what brings economic success. Think about which parts of the world were able to enjoy generally reliable harvests for centuries, which parts of the world were able to industrialise first, and which parts thereby became the richest ? The clue is places with a stable, reliable, predictable climate with a low risk of natural disasters.

We are also capable of fixing it. Climate action isn’t a hair shirt, it’s mainly about stopping the use of fossil fuels. Anything we can do to move off them is a step in the right direction.

It's because there is no world government. What a shame God doesn't exit, be really handy, he could say no more flights, no more cruise ships, be gone with your Sheins and Temus etc. There's no global overlord to do the right thing. Yes it's worse than any of us can imagine but we're on a high speed track about to hurtle into the abyss. If Valencia and LA don't make this terrifyingly obvious then heaven knows what will.

In an earlier post you wanted to use a different measurement for consumption, now it’s the U.K. won’t change much

Chinese emissions will raise, its economy has reached a point where its own consumerism will ensure that, it wont need the UK for that

Labour have convinced you it’s a good way to go, but people can’t have it both ways. Either rely on China and their emissions or don’t

I don't know why you don't read my post before commentating on it?

Would make for a better discussion.

You said Labour have convinced you it’s a good way to go, but people can’t have it both ways. Either rely on China and their emissions or don’t

what i actually wrote I personally, have reservations about this but if Trump makes trade harder with the US, then who do we trade with?

Again, its not either or, we have to rely on china for so much, we don't have the skills, man power, the equipment to on shore.

What are you arguing for? its not clear.

You're missing the bigger picture. That's alright.

The only thing that would save the planet ultimately is the removal of the human race. This is a fact. It doesnt make me some sort of baby killer. If the ones who have any control over what happens to the planet took steps and prioritised it then we would probably be saved. But the rich and elite don't give a stuff.

As it stands, the planet is changing faster than we can evolve to keep up. You can navel gaze all you want but the inevitable will happen anyway.

This planet supports complex life. You don't actually think it's going to allow itself to die do you?

You are as you said in you other post hopeful it will happen

The only thing that will save the planet is the removal of the human race. Hopefully the planet will suss out a way to do that at some point.

Including those in your family presumably. I find that odd yes

And again, bless you.

We could do this circle all day if you want.

‘Bless you’ is a bit silly but yeh I didn’t get much from that the first time other than not much argument to be made there

Whilst i agree a terminal or huge fall in the worlds population would assist the planet, i don't believe that would automatically ensure its existence.

Those things could go hand in glove with wars, inc Nuclear & then what would be left after the likely "Nuclear Winter" and huge damage to the ozone layer.

There's no point picking on individuals. The society we live in requires us to spend more and consume more to keep the economy growing. Spending more inevitably means more environmental damage whatever you spend it on. Thus policy is aimed at getting increased growth. e.g. Electric cars which are terrible for the environment.
The best lifestyle for the environment is also the cheapest and it doesn't have to be joyless unless you measure joy in material things - unfortunately most people do think they need more material goods to be happier. It's just the way it is. Human nature, capitalism. It will never change. Just live your life the way you want and leave others to it.
(I am one of the ones with a 20 year old diesel car and walk and cycle almost everywhere. I draw the line at using public transport though. It's impossible as it's so terrible)

Heh you got it.

So you admit you have little argument? fine

‘I think this I hope we all get wiped out including my dc’ you see on these threads is just internet bumpf

Push came to shove and they’d be bricking it as much as any

Wars like that are a human thing. If the planet were to wage war on us it wouldn't be in the form of nuclear weapons really would it?

There are large chunks of ice on this planet which is melting. We don't know what will be defrosted with it that could affect us. There's shit at the bottom of the ocean that we don't know about. There are areas of our planet that aren't accessible to us at the minute. We don't know what's in those areas. The human race being what it is will have a look though.

We don't know what will happen as the planet heats up and other organic life forms evolve along with it that could turn on us.

There's a load of theories on how the planet could turn on us and probably a few that can't be imagined. But we won't be allowed to just carry on, everything has a fail safe meant to protect it installed somewhere

The planet would recover eventually though, even from a nuclear winter. It's existed for 4.6 billion years. A lot will have happened in that time frame, we are a mere blip and we'll be gone in the blink of an eye too

I don't care about what you're saying.

If course I'd be bricking it, I'm a human. That's an odd thing to say.

First line, so what.

Second contradicts your hope that it will happen.

I do hope the planet acts in time to save itself yes. The only way the planet will survive is if the human race is removed.

I'm not sure why it's offended you so much. Im not wishing your family dead. Don't take shit so personally and see the bugger picture.

All it takes is one decent volcano firing up for a few weeks or a decent sized meteorite to hit us and the population will soon reduce.

I haven’t related this to my family or taken it personally I’ve said I find statements like yours about hoping for destruction as odd

Especially since as a parent it would include your family

You’ve now said you would brick it as you’re only human. That was my point, typing stuff like I hope we get wiped out isn’t typical for human behaviour it’s internet bumpf on all these threads. Self survival is more typical.

Not many people have experienced survival instinct now you've touched on it. It's very strong and overrides pretty much everything. I've never experienced it.

I wonder what the planets survival instinct is like.

Dude for the last time, I don't give a shit if you find anything I'm saying is odd.

You are reacting quite strongly in that last line. I can’t say I care that you do or don’t tbf

Yes survival instinct, I’d say most humans have it even those who type they want to be wiped out alongside their dc on these threads.

Ah bless you man.

Moving on from the bless you response as a bit silly

That view of being team planet survival instinct crops up on all these threads, but in reality if the planet were to take out a house I don’t think it would be offered up by same posters