What can I do that isn't on an individual level regarding climate change?

[7393827gsjsbdh]

I've done all I can on an individual level, I've joined a litter picking group and have a veg patch and made my small garden 'wild'...
But I feel I need to do more.
I have so much passion on the subject, always have even when it was called 'global warming' and ' the ozone layer ' and 'being a hippy' 😅

What else is there to do?
I don't mind spending time and money, I only work 25 hours a week so I have time to put into a project but I don't know what would be best to try and do?

I'm thinking maybe I could try to start a really zero waste business?
I always daydream about winning the lottery and buying loads of land and building a waste free city but I'm not going to win and what's the point in waiting?

I know this is a little bit of a ramble but I just want to be able to look my children and my grandchildren in the eye and assure them that I did all I could.
so does any one have any ideas? what can I do today or plan to do next week or next month that would make a change?
or just a bit of solidarity?

I've read it in lots of places including firms which supply and fit heat pumps as I was looking into getting one.
Can I ask why the ( I assume) insulting comment about the Daily Heil? I assume that's the Daily Mail?
Quite a tired and very well worn insult which justy makes you look silly.

@Mightymoog That would refer to regular heat pumps, not the cold climate ones. They operate at 100% efficiently down to between to around -20 to -30C depending on the product. After that the efficiency is reduced, but they still put out heat. Regular heat pumps are good to max about -10, so in a cold climate you would need additional heat. They're great for milder climates though.

Sorry, but I can't make out exactly what you're trying to say here. We'll probably just have to agree to disagree on this one.

We are but tiny individual leaves blowing in the wind.

Plastic plastic plastic! Ask your mp to lobby for the government to get rid of plastic food packaging. We need massive change on this. Start a petition, post a link to it here.

Hi OP. In terms of things that you could do I have a couple of ideas. Firstly I think it would be really useful to have a list of everyday items which are least damaging to the environment e.g. best alternative milk, best cereals, fruits/veg, coffee etc. I would definitely use such a list as I'm sure other mumsnetters would, however don't have the time to do the research myself. Similarily a list of the best trees/plants to put in the garden depending on where you live in the uk would be very useful. Secondly I think it would be great to write to the local MP's about the situation- if you were able to produce a template email I'm sure others would follow suit.

Don’t have children?

Personally I feel helpless when there are very rich people who are more interested in colonising mars. The billionaires could do so much to protect our planet but instead they are sending rocket ships into space, with all the emissions that entails.

There is a project called justdigit which is seeking to regreen parts of Africa to combat climate change.

They sell gifts, a bit like oxfam used to do, but without the goat, I.e. you can make a donation as a gift for someone. https://justdiggit.org/dig-in/give-a-green-gift/

I love that!
For those with any land, consider tree planting.

Another thing to help the land. I live in York which has a heavy clay soil and is prone to floods.

My garden would become a quagmire in winter, and we get heavy flooding in York.

I ordered 200 deep soil worms from wigglywigglers.co.uk last summer and went over the garden with a hand-held garden airator. The kind that pulls up plugs of soil an inch wide. The kids were very happy to put a worm in each hole.

It's not perfect yet but I have noticed a massive reduction in bogginess and I think I am doing my bit to reduce surface run-off.

Plant wildflowers for bees?

Go vegan.
Not the fake meat and cheese stuff, proper wholefoods.

If you're serious that you want to do everything you can this should be an easy choice. I'd be sceptical of your commitment if you refuse to make this step.

Things that reduce consumption on not an individual level:

Set up a tool library ( people can borrow tools rather than buy them).

Set up clothing exchanges ( or exchanges of any items that people would otherwise buy).

It is a drop in the ocean but I think you know that.

love the list of things.
I used to traipse the Internet looking for swaps but so many are just unaffordable!

I've seen a lot of this.
I suppose you could say I'm selfish as I have children but then again my children are growing up learning that second hand is normal, we grow what we can and pick fresh berries seasonally (no strawberries unless we 'feed' the patch over winter and wait until spring)
we don't drive or go abroad EVER.
cycle everywhere and walk everywhere else apart from work where me and dh each pay a set amount a week to a colleague for a lift share (not cheeky fuckers it's company backed)

My children are growing up so differently to how me and my husband grew up.
I feel like that balances it out.

I think more eco conscious people not having children to save the planet are actually leaving the planet in a worse state because the next generation is devoid of their input.

I think more eco conscious people not having children to save the planet are actually leaving the planet in a worse state because the next generation is devoid of their input.

This is the most clear-headed thing I've read in a very long time.

I have absolutely no time for people who dismissed climate change abd say things like "The climate has always been changing". Like the scientists haven't taken that into consideration 🙄.
However, I'm not sure what we can do apart from make changes to our lifestyles. My DH is a climate change professor who makes a difference with his scientific research. He advises the government on their policies too helping them to plan for the future.

what a great thing to do
what would he advise the government do if it were a perfect world and money were no issue?

This book has some ideas, not sure if its been mentioned
https://www.nottheendoftheworld.co.uk/

Are your children school age? Do they have an eco group you could help with there, or a gardening group?
Is there a local group you could join, maybe a wildlife one or a gardening one that does talks?

yes yes yes
Great idea!

Join the Green Party.

It is all re-arranging deckchairs on the Titanic. China is building two oil-fired factories a day and is constantly exporting tankers full of crap to the West. Plus their mushrooming standard of living means that people now wish to consume beef and drive cars. China is now the biggest market for disposable nappies, a product unheard of there a few years ago.

A campaign against Temu/Shein would be more active . Instead of Just Stop Oil splattering paintings (weak, weak, weak) they could blockade container ships from China coming into port.

Or, if that’s a bit too much, start a campaign to boycott ultra-cheap disposable clothes and other rubbish.

@7393827gsjsbdh hi, i commented about going vegan, did you have any thoughts on that?

It's honestly one of the biggest things you can do, if you're serious about this you wouldn't think twice!

As you're so passionate I'm going to assume you've already taken this step?

Certainly agree about rearranging the deck chairs on the titanic sometimes but then what else is there to do? Jump ship? There are no lifeboats.

I've seen small snowballs of changing opinion, and practice in my life.
My grandad born in the 1930s has seen an enormous change in everything in his life. I don't see how a child born in the 2030s can't say the same but in a different way.