AIBU not to buy in about all of this net zero/environmentalism?

[ShanCran]

Okay, so I understand the need to look after the planet and all that but just feel that the whole “net zero” agenda is being pushed too hard and too fast. Things like “clean air zones” in cities. Surely that’s just a money making exercise?

I recycle where I can, but not as religiously as most. I also travel about 20,000 miles per year in my (small) petrol car and in my 28 years on the planet have travelled approximately 175,000 air miles. Some will say that I am awful and totally unreasonable - but I suspect that many will agree that the whole concept of net zero is being pushed too hard and too fast.

After all, for all the environmentalist rhetoric that is preached by many politicians, the King, numerous celebrities and the likes - I don’t see any of them being principled enough to reduce their airmiles (often travelling by air for trivial things) or travel less generally. I doubt that the personal carbon emissions of many of such “celebrities” is far from net zero themselves.

Well, I learned about net zero 20 years ago on my MSc on climate change solutions, so no, it's far, far too slow – too late, in fact.

Come on Kemi you're not 28

I'm with @Mulberryblackbird It's too little, too late.

It's bullshit. If we totally fuck our economy with sky high net zero energy prices, global CO2 will not fall by a single gram. Meanwhile the entire European car industry is about to sacrificed in favour of Chinese EVs.......manufactured using cheap electricity from coal and gas power stations. Nuts.

Far too little and far too late. ⏰

Yup, might as well do what you want, the point of no return has been and gone.
I'm just hoping the descent into a Mad Max movie is after my lifetime!😁

I'm fairly sure Chris witty said something last week about air pollution being one of the biggest causes of premature death

Its not about buying into it... climate change is a fact supported by the overwhelming majority of scientists. No one person can change it though it takes a collective effort.

I share your frustration with spokespeople who dont practice what they preach but the answer can't be to do nothing.

We have to do what we can, but when we live in an environment where our jobs and existence rely on monetary growth we're all fucked.

YABVU

Yes and no. I know it’s my responsibility what I do but surely the government could clamp down on stupid things? My council doesn’t recycle 1/2 the things that are recyclable, tetra packs, plastic bags. If black plastic is hard to recycle how hard is it to abolish it? Junk mail and the postman coming daily is a waste of time and money. Disposable fashion (although hard to clamp down on). Goods imported from a million miles away. Milk from Poland? Happy to do my bit. I just wish that they would make it a bit easier.

Let’s see how long it takes to get the full bingo card of stupid answers

I'm with the people who say it's much too slow.
YABU to think that what the King (or whoever) does that seems hypocritical somehow absolves citizens from responsibility.
I certainly don't think you're awful. Your lifestyle doesn't sound particularly carbon heavy. Don't worry about recycling religiously. Much of it is just fobbed off to the third world, not recycled. Recycling is the one part of environmentalism that even I would say is kind of bullshit, and I'm a longtime greenie. Remember that reducing and re-using always come before recycling.
The greatest impact comes from reducing consumption and reducing the energy use for your home and vehicle. You have a small car and your annual mileage isn't that high, but what about your home? Is it energy efficient? Do you buy a lot of stuff you don't really need? Those are the areas to look at.
I voted YABU because no, it's certainly not being implemented too quickly.

Let's see how long it takes for you to make a reasoned argument. Net zero is a surefire way to grind our economy into the ground.

Climate change is a fact OP not a theory 🙄.

I don’t give a monkeys for all this net zero cult . I have zero interest. We can’t afford it and even if we got there the UK’s saving would be negligible.

The bots targeting MN are getting tiresome.

Net zero ok, so what do you do when you have reached it?

Why is net zero going to crash the economy? UK doesn't have masses of fossil fuel resources (we gave away all our N sea oil money in tax breaks to the wealthy) so not in our interest to build a world which relies on that. We are good at R&D and tech so developing green tech, bio tech, alternative fuel sources ought to be good for economy.

I do however think recycling is bullshit. Reduce, reuse, repair, repurpose all better 're's.

I have seen many faux-naive windups on MN, but well done OP raising the bar slightly.

If you fancy a rationale for ditching net zero take a look at Matt Ridley on Triggernometry. It is interesting to watch.

Agree with this. We have got too used to having fruit and vegetables imported all year round. At one time people would eat whatever was in season but not anymore. We have got used to eating fruit and veg that have no taste and don't get me started on companies like Temu and Shein.

We have ruined this planet. It's the wildlife I feel sorry for.

Yeah I mean who needs clean air anyway? Stupid people wanting to be able to breath easily.

Air pollution is a big cause of dementia, too.

Without stopping people using air travel recreationally, and convincing China and India to stop their production lines, you recycling and giving up on non seasonal veg has the same effect on climate change as you blowing on a speeding train in the hope it stops, while China, India and the aviation industry throw coal into the engine.