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Climate Change
Original poster

What are you NOT giving up for climate change?

280 replies

TheBeesKnee · 02/08/2023 22:43

As in, something you know would be beneficial and you actively refuse to do it.

I refuse to take 4 minute showers. My showers last 15-20 minutes, 30 if I've had a really bad day. A nice hot shower relaxes me and I can't abide the thought of feeling stressed in there trying to wash before the clock runs out.

To balance this out so that you don't all think I'm a terrible person, I was vegan for 10 years 🙈

Just wondering what others are clinging on to?

OP posts:
Maggiesgirl · 03/08/2023 09:33

My car, I'm disabled and live on Salisbury Plain. No good public transport means, and to use it I would have to get up a very steep hill. I would be stuck in the house without my car.

WhatALightbulbMoment · 03/08/2023 09:34

Deloresadores · 03/08/2023 03:55

I’m vegan 5 days a week and vegetarian for 2. I don’t fly, I recycle and cook from scratch as much as possible to avoid too much plastic waste. I have an electric car but I use public transport and walk as much as I can. In the next feel years I’m moving to solar and heat pumps. My house is well insulated but I will improve that.

There are parts of the world now which are a lot further along with dealing with climate change and who are suffering horribly. Where women, children and the vulnerable are fighting to simply exist.

I don’t believe it’s too late and I loathe the idea that “I’m alright Jack” to hell with everyone else and to hell with the future.
No one is perfect but everyone can do something and everyone can put pressure on leaders and industries to do their part.

If you can’t afford to change your car or if you can’t use public transport then just do what you can.

But glorifying your efforts to contribute to climate collapse and the destruction of the future seems pathetic.
I think the people who moan about not having plastic straws are some of the most pathetic! Get a grip!

I wish you all had a little more empathy and could for one second imagine the life of someone in the Horn of Africa fighting to exist. Or someone in Pakistan who lost everything in the flooding. You’ll probably say that people have always been poor but if you look at the statistics then climate change is making them a whole lot poorer.

But at least they don’t have to deal with the trauma of plastic straws.

Great post!

This thread makes for really depressing reading.

elderflowerandpomelo · 03/08/2023 09:39

Past decisions - third child and dog.

we wouldn’t have had a third child if it was a question now, but it’s a done deal.

no car. Low bills (ie low water and energy use). Grow some stuff. We don’t buy much stuff.

we do fly once a year or so - sometimes both ways, sometimes train one way and plane tjr other. And we do drink milk/eat cheese etc

i want a carbon cap, so we all have to live within the same limits - self-regulating on behalf of the rest of the family is very difficult, when they see others rushing about the world and not making compromises…

SoRad · 03/08/2023 09:42

Runnersandtoms · 03/08/2023 08:18

They really aren't. I haven't bought any form of disposable wipes for ten years. I have felt no hardship.

Show quote history

Same here!… Just use a cloth 🙄

Shedknowitwasmr · 03/08/2023 10:01

Augustus40 · 03/08/2023 06:08

Cleaning wipes. They are indispensable.

Seriously? Indispensable? I've literally never used them in my life and my house is perfectly clean. Posts like this make me want to bang my head against a wall 🧱

AccidentallyWesAnderson · 03/08/2023 10:21

Have we really had a 'why are child free people on Mumsnet' comment? Fuck me.

JorisBonson · 03/08/2023 10:23

Baths and my cats.

Aside from that I eat almost exclusively plant based. I don't drive, DH owns an electric car. We don't use anything with palm oil and avoid single use plastic where possible. Everything is recycled or composted. My clothes are all from vinted / charity shops. No children and no plans to have them.

We're headed into very, very scary times. Why people wouldn't want to at least try to help the situation is beyond me.

JorisBonson · 03/08/2023 10:23

AccidentallyWesAnderson · 03/08/2023 10:21

Have we really had a 'why are child free people on Mumsnet' comment? Fuck me.

A frothy one as well!

loislovesstewie · 03/08/2023 10:26

I tried to get solar panels and was told I had the wrong sort of roof[ dormers], can't have a heat pump as I can't insulate [ Victorian terrace] and back yard would be taken up with a pump. Also cost!!!
We need other solutions for people like me, and more government funding.

Twoshoesnewshoes · 03/08/2023 10:28

My tumble dryer
it’s been on this week as it hasn’t stopped raining!
we are veggie and have plant milk, about to switch to electric cars cos the prices have recently dropped considerably.
I am going to limit to one flight to Europe per year.
but my young adult DCs fly lots. They think it’s too late/ no point cos massive poluting countries etc

AdoraBell · 03/08/2023 10:42

There isn’t really anything I would refuse to give up, but I’m not keen on cutting out coffee, chocolate and wines from other countries. We don’t eat meat at every meal. Also don’t use the car every day but live rural and the bus service is dire, so we drive on average four days per week. Work from home, but DH also needs to travel for work.

We do what we can in terms of changing habits/reducing water and power use/recycling and reusing.

Original poster
TheBeesKnee · 03/08/2023 12:20

lljkk · 03/08/2023 09:17

MN used to have light-hearted threads. <muse>

Those were the days ☹️

OP posts:
MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 03/08/2023 12:25

Deloresadores · 03/08/2023 08:30

Anything to do with climate change and various childless people arrive to crow about how they don’t care.
Obviously they will manage totally alone not rely on anyone else’s children to help them as they grow old.
Why these people are on MUMSnet is beyond me.

I haven't posted but as far as I can see there isn't a disclaimer at the top that childfree people shouldn't post.

As for why we're on MN - there are numerous threads about that, if you'd care to look.

RememberWhy · 03/08/2023 13:32

VaccineSticker · 03/08/2023 07:47

Talk about deflection. You CHOSE to buy a diesel SUV, one of the most polluting cars out there instead of a smaller eco friendly car. Own it. 🙄 You force your dirty diesel poisonous exhumes on everyone because of your selfishness and the fact you’re celebrating it on here says it all.

Show quote history

Not one for attention to detail, are you? I'm not the person with the diesel SUV. It was another poster. I was just making a point. And talk about deflection? You avoided answering my question. Funny that...

fullbloom87 · 03/08/2023 13:48

Maggiesgirl · 03/08/2023 09:33

My car, I'm disabled and live on Salisbury Plain. No good public transport means, and to use it I would have to get up a very steep hill. I would be stuck in the house without my car.

But that's the only way. Stay in your house chop wood and rub stones together. Wear sheep skin coats and cook on a fire. Literally people have such unrealistic ideas about this. We would literally have to go back to the stone ages to achieve what they want but they probably wouldn't handle having to live off grass and give up their avocado on toast.
If you buy anything that isn't within walkable distance or atleast horse riding distance and picked from the ground then you're contributing. In fact if you're on mumsnet you're contributing simply for using electricity to charge your device to come on.

Leftinlimbo · 03/08/2023 14:08

I am fairly low impact with all my electricity coming from solar power (no other forms of heating etc), planting vegetables, orchards and other trees on my land, not mowing the grass as so many do, etc. I try to re-use and recycle stuff and don't buy much at all.

I don't fly anymore but I do keep my old diesel car that I use on average once a week. There is no public transport within a 5 mile radius and nowhere to walk to other than the local pub. I also think it is better to keep using my old car than buy a new one as the process of manufacture is not very green. Hopefully my old car will out-live me!

VinEtFromage · 03/08/2023 14:15

Starlightstarbright2 · 02/08/2023 23:43

Literally nothing unless enforced by law . I miss plastic straws to the point I don’t buy McDonald’s milkshake - don’t have a dishwasher so reusable straws aren’t really an option .
I do recycle .. even take empty meds packets to Superdrug .
I don’t believe I make that much of a difference compared to businesseses

@Starlightstarbright2 I bought a McDonalds milkshake the other day. I haven't had one since pre covid, the straw was absolutely disgusting within a very short time it went all soggy & manky. I think if I regularly bought them I'd have to buy a fat reusable straw. I have a couple of skinny rubber ones, but they wouldn't work on a McD's milkshake.

bleurgh to the disintegrating McD's ones.

VinEtFromage · 03/08/2023 14:21

SirSmellyJohn · 03/08/2023 03:12

My guinea pigs.

eating meat.

I don't drive, or fly. Public transport only. I don't take baths. My biggest climate sin, as it were, is single use plastic. I've been trying to cut down. One thing for me has been giving up those takeaway plastic drinks cup that hold my frappucino.

@SirSmellyJohn will they make them in your own reusable cup?

rainbowstardrops · 03/08/2023 14:27

*This. This is a bloody depressing thread. It's understandable that people can't do everything eco friendly and can't give up everything, but the smug glibness on this thread is thoroughly distressing to read.

I've just completed a course in climate change and left feeling so hopeful that people really do care. This thread is really challenging that hope in me.*

So depressing. I'm definitely no eco angel by any stretch but some people are practically bragging about what they do/have. Surely if we all tried a little, it might make some kind of a difference? Because if we all had the attitude of 'sod you Jack, I'm alright', then we have no chance. Depressing

VinEtFromage · 03/08/2023 14:31

Deloresadores · 03/08/2023 03:55

I’m vegan 5 days a week and vegetarian for 2. I don’t fly, I recycle and cook from scratch as much as possible to avoid too much plastic waste. I have an electric car but I use public transport and walk as much as I can. In the next feel years I’m moving to solar and heat pumps. My house is well insulated but I will improve that.

There are parts of the world now which are a lot further along with dealing with climate change and who are suffering horribly. Where women, children and the vulnerable are fighting to simply exist.

I don’t believe it’s too late and I loathe the idea that “I’m alright Jack” to hell with everyone else and to hell with the future.
No one is perfect but everyone can do something and everyone can put pressure on leaders and industries to do their part.

If you can’t afford to change your car or if you can’t use public transport then just do what you can.

But glorifying your efforts to contribute to climate collapse and the destruction of the future seems pathetic.
I think the people who moan about not having plastic straws are some of the most pathetic! Get a grip!

I wish you all had a little more empathy and could for one second imagine the life of someone in the Horn of Africa fighting to exist. Or someone in Pakistan who lost everything in the flooding. You’ll probably say that people have always been poor but if you look at the statistics then climate change is making them a whole lot poorer.

But at least they don’t have to deal with the trauma of plastic straws.

@Deloresadores

you cant BE vegan 5 days a week & not 2 days a week, that's as daft as saying you're pregnant 5 days a week, but 2 not. You can EAT vegan 5 days a week, 2 not.

EATING vegan is not BEING vegan.

weirdly enough I can understand how much worse other people are suffering whilst thinking mcDonalds cardboard straws are disgusting! NEITHER the other poster nor I were asking for them to reinstate plastic straws.

Get your own grip!!

VinEtFromage · 03/08/2023 14:36

merrymelodies · 03/08/2023 05:45

Driving. I can't imagine trying to lug my family's food shopping home on a bus.

@merrymelodies

I get Grocery Deliveries for the regular heavy stuff & just pop in to an actual shop when I want to. I prefer to choose my own fruit & veg. 💁🏻‍♀️ Though make do with Tesco pickers choices when I can't be bothered going (and all through covid).

VinEtFromage · 03/08/2023 14:39

Oblomov23 · 03/08/2023 05:48

I don't worry about it, because my frustration lies with higher authorities. Government does little, climate change conference in Scotland? last year apparently achieved practically nothing.

Did you see the BBC programme on Heat pumps, 2 days ago, and nuclear power stations being built. Was all quite saddening that they are no obvious solutions to these issues.

@Oblomov23

what was their take on heat pumps?

all the ones I've used have been bloody hopeless, I'm happy to embrace change, but only to things that actually work). I couldn't have one here as I don't have suitable outside space for the actual unit, as won't many in the U.K.)

loislovesstewie · 03/08/2023 14:40

But in the 21st century people in developed countries lead very complicated lives. We don't have the time to do lots of things, i couldn't spend my whole day washing,putting the stuff on the line hoping it would dry, bringing it in, drying it in front of an Aga the way mum did. She had wash day on Monday and that was her day. Our main meal was leftovers from Sunday.
We had a smallholding; we fattened a pig slaughtered it and ate it, we kept chickens for eggs and ate them when they stopped laying, the same with ducks.We had fruit trees and dad grew all our fruit and veg. It was very hard work, it wasn't a hobby, it was survival.
Now we are on the go from morning till night, but we work outside the home mostly. We aren't subsistence farmers. When I worked I still had to run the home, and now due to getting on and other factors I couldn't live without a tumble dryer, sorry but it would make my life much harder.

If you think you can provide sensible solutions then please do, but most don't want to return to the 1950s lifestyle I had.

loislovesstewie · 03/08/2023 14:42

Re heat pumps, the programme said too expensive, often don't heat the home well, you need super insulation , there aren't enough qualified installers. In other words it's a cock up.

VinEtFromage · 03/08/2023 14:42

MrsMorrisey · 03/08/2023 06:09

Do you not have to pay for water usage in UK?

@MrsMorrisey yes, both IN to the house & for the same amount (assumed) as waste.

if you're talking about showers, it's more about the energy to heat the water.

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