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Climate change - I think I want to die

156 replies

HelpMeICantCope · 18/07/2022 09:45

I don’t know what to do or how to cope. All I can think about is climate change and how nobody is doing anything to stop it. This has happened every summer for the last couple of years, the fear of what is coming and the grief for the damage we are doing is unescapable. I’m supposed to be on holiday with DP (well, I am on holiday) and it’s taking all my mental strength not to fall apart. I’m shaking, I can’t eat, I can barely sleep. He’s fine and thinks we’ll solve it and life will go on. I can only see the apocalypse. In another life I’d want to have children, but how can I bring them into this? I just want a simple life, why is this happening to us?

OP posts:
onlywhenidream · 19/07/2022 09:43

Climate change is real
Hardly any change -?! which is why the hottest days are all recent years

Get a grip it's real , we need to accept that to fix it and stop things getting so bad that human life is seriously affected

Daftasabroom · 19/07/2022 09:56

@HelpMeICantCope How do people working in the sector/industry cope? Or do you get to see enough of the positive steps too to give you hope (e.g. the 500% increase in wind power in the next 10 years)?

Exactly this, I spend most of my time working on collaborative research and development sustainability projects largely funded by the likes of@Iamanunsafebuilding at Innovate UK and big corporations so I get to see first hand the huge strides being taken on a daily basis. It does mean however I get really irritated when people suggest there is little point taking any personal steps because Government and big corporations are doing nothing. Equally the ridiculous demands of the likes of extinction rebellion and both deniers and doom mongers in the media. Yes it's a big deal, but it is totally doable. I feel hugely privileged to have the opportunity to make a difference.

One of the biggest challenges we face is education, both in the general population, professionals not specifically trained in sustainability and among the next generation of graduates and apprentices. If IUK asked me to spend £1 million on sustainability before the end of the year I'd struggle to find the people to undertake the work. As a sector we are working with various colleges and businesses to develop training courses and apprenticeships - a 500% increase in offshore wind will also need a 500% increase in highly skilled technicians. It's factors like these that goes completely under the radar for both the general public and the mainstream media. If you would like to really make a difference I'd urge you to consider undertaking some training, there are some great, free, online courses available such as this one at Eastleigh College, then perhaps you might be able to become a sustainability champion at the organisation you work for, or, for a local club or other not for profit.

BeethovenNinth · 19/07/2022 09:56

The thing is that we are looking at catastrophic damage to the planet and people who hugely worry about it are told to medicate

I would argue we are the normal ones!!!

HelpMeICantCope · 19/07/2022 09:59

Daftasabroom · 19/07/2022 09:56

@HelpMeICantCope How do people working in the sector/industry cope? Or do you get to see enough of the positive steps too to give you hope (e.g. the 500% increase in wind power in the next 10 years)?

Exactly this, I spend most of my time working on collaborative research and development sustainability projects largely funded by the likes of@Iamanunsafebuilding at Innovate UK and big corporations so I get to see first hand the huge strides being taken on a daily basis. It does mean however I get really irritated when people suggest there is little point taking any personal steps because Government and big corporations are doing nothing. Equally the ridiculous demands of the likes of extinction rebellion and both deniers and doom mongers in the media. Yes it's a big deal, but it is totally doable. I feel hugely privileged to have the opportunity to make a difference.

One of the biggest challenges we face is education, both in the general population, professionals not specifically trained in sustainability and among the next generation of graduates and apprentices. If IUK asked me to spend £1 million on sustainability before the end of the year I'd struggle to find the people to undertake the work. As a sector we are working with various colleges and businesses to develop training courses and apprenticeships - a 500% increase in offshore wind will also need a 500% increase in highly skilled technicians. It's factors like these that goes completely under the radar for both the general public and the mainstream media. If you would like to really make a difference I'd urge you to consider undertaking some training, there are some great, free, online courses available such as this one at Eastleigh College, then perhaps you might be able to become a sustainability champion at the organisation you work for, or, for a local club or other not for profit.

@Daftasabroom you’re amazing, thank you. Absolutely going to look into that course.

OP posts:
DoingJustFine · 19/07/2022 10:01

Op, read "The Power of Now" by Elkhart Tolle. It might help you a lot. It explains how to stop thinking about the past (which makes you regretful or sad) or the future (which makes you anxious).

I listened to it on Audible over lockdown and it changed my life.

ALL stress comes from thinking about the future and predicting what's going to happen. If you start looking out for it, you'll notice that.

Try to stay in the Now. You're on holiday. You're with your DP. You're young, in love and happy. Those are the only things you can be certain of, so fixate on those.

TheTerfTavern · 19/07/2022 10:03

I’m sorry you’re suffering OP. It’s a frightening time and I am scared of the challenges my children and potential grandchildren will end up facing.

If everybody felt like you, OP, we might actually find the will to sort this out.

Throwing a few bottles in the recycling does nothing. We could all sort out much of this mess by going vegetarian. My husband works in this sector and he says that’s what matters the most - not flights etc.

The thing I find the most stressful is facing the face that most people won’t change much about their lives.

I include myself in that although we are non flying vegetarians.

Daftasabroom · 19/07/2022 10:38

@onlywhenidream many of the technologies we use today are the result of research and development we started 5, 10 and 20 years ago. The research we do today will be what's enables net zero. Research is action.

Daftasabroom · 19/07/2022 10:46

@TheTerfTavern why is vegetarianism so important when the whole of the agricultural sector is only responsible for 18.4% and livestock and manure for 5.8%?

Energy use (burning fossil fuels) accounts for 73.2% of emissions - aviation is 1.9%.

There's so much misinformation about it's incredible.

Petulathethird · 19/07/2022 10:51

FigTreeInEurope · 18/07/2022 10:49

Species come and go. Civilisations rise and fall. You'll almost certainly be compost one day, as will I, and my kids, and the dog. It's just a big rock flying through space, and we're on it, with fuck all control, for a blink in the eye. It's ridiculously unlikely that you got to be born in the first place, try to enjoy it.

This is correct. Human life is a speck of dust. You have consciousness, which is a gift.
If you want children then have them. No-one can predict the future.
Do you think you are anxious because of the current hot weather? If you are in the UK (sorry, I haven't read the whole thread) then it's only for a short time.

HelpMeICantCope · 19/07/2022 11:18

Petulathethird · 19/07/2022 10:51

This is correct. Human life is a speck of dust. You have consciousness, which is a gift.
If you want children then have them. No-one can predict the future.
Do you think you are anxious because of the current hot weather? If you are in the UK (sorry, I haven't read the whole thread) then it's only for a short time.

Yes, I think the crazy weather in the UK is setting this off for me big time. I’m in a relatively cool part, but colleagues have 38C heat today. They’re looking forward to the forecast thunder storms tomorrow.

So grateful to you all for helping reframe this. Thank you.

OP posts:
TheFridayRabbit · 19/07/2022 12:31

BeethovenNinth · 19/07/2022 09:56

The thing is that we are looking at catastrophic damage to the planet and people who hugely worry about it are told to medicate

I would argue we are the normal ones!!!

Worrying is pointless. Action will benefit both the planet and mental health. Please don’t paint yourself as morally superior for worrying.

Iamanunsafebuilding · 19/07/2022 13:05

Daftasabroom · 19/07/2022 10:38

@onlywhenidream many of the technologies we use today are the result of research and development we started 5, 10 and 20 years ago. The research we do today will be what's enables net zero. Research is action.

When I see the projects that are being funded through Innovate UK (government funding, tax payers money) it blows me away. IUK don't just find theoretical research, they fund businesses who plan to implement their solution. There are so many innovators out there who are changing the world, and as you say research is action.

Daftasabroom · 19/07/2022 13:24

@Iamanunsafebuilding I work for one of the Catapult Centres and we really aren't very good at PR, I guess good news doesn't make for good news stories very often. It's been 30 years since I graduated and the pace of change in last 3 to 5 years is breathtaking. I've got a sustainability report from 2016 that mentions hydrogen almost as an afterthought, there now billions being invested.

onlywhenidream · 19/07/2022 13:42

I ( will need to name change again!h work with some of the catapult teams and it's too slow , too long term, Over ambitious

We need basic simple actions now not fancy new tech in 5 years ( realistic 10)

Think pay someone to Turn the lights off manually not design. A system to do it for you

Daftasabroom · 19/07/2022 14:13

Such as what @onlywhenidream XR goal 2 - net zero by 2025? Turn of all the power stations? Take all the ICE vehicles off the road? Shut the hospitals and schools? Just what do you think would happen?

collieresponder88 · 19/07/2022 14:28

I don't think this is normal what you are feeling especially when you are in holiday with your husband. Some people worry about it now and then bit to be this upset by it and not eating is way over the top. Go to the gp and try soMe tablets for anxiety. Do it for you other half too. He is also on holiday and can't be much fun being with you like this. I don't mean to be horrible I really don't. You should t worry about things you have very little control over. It's a total waste of time and a waste of your happiness. If you don't want to bring children into the world then don't ! There's a lot worse things that could happen.

onlywhenidream · 19/07/2022 14:36

Insulate every home
Reduce speed limits on roads
Make public transport free or perhaps just a £10 a month pass ( hasn't Germany just done that for the summer ?)
Ration dairy and beef
Cancel all short haul flights ( less than 2 hours )
Slap high import taxes on any goods that are made with dirty fuel
I might even go so far as to ration electricity and gas usage per person
Massive tree planting especially in urban area
We also need to
Build massive off shore wind and hydrogen

Much of harshness this would not have been be needed 5 years ago but I think we have passed the point where we can fanny about trying to make it cost effective and harm no onea special interests in the short term

And yes there is a magic money tree - it's the same as the one used to fund covid and wars - because money is an artificial human concept and can be whatever we choose it to he

RoseWindow · 19/07/2022 14:41

I’ll vote for all of that, onlywhenidream
bloody excellent. I already emailed our local council about the speed limits having suggested it years ago and been basically told to shut up. What Wales has done is excellent.

RoseWindow · 19/07/2022 14:44

Sorry I meant this

Speed limit to be lowered to 20mph in Wales
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-62020427.amp
Scotland will be doing it too.

Notanotherwindow · 19/07/2022 16:15

I had to decide to stop worrying about it to be honest. I don't have children, don't fly, run my cars until they're no longer viable to run. I do all I can but it's not down to us to make the big changes and honestly I think its too late anyway and that it is partly natural. We are just accelerating what would eventually happen anyway.

Some scientists have been theorising for many years that the Earth is following a similar path to Venus with regards to its runaway greenhouse effect and Venus was never inhabited that we know of so no humans to blame. I think its a cycle that would happen one way or the other.

Daftasabroom · 19/07/2022 16:58

The vast majority of homes that are easily insulated have been and there are grants available for cavity fill and loft insulation. Landlords are also required to upgrade rental properties. Many of the single skin remainder are in conservation areas or are listed, these would require specialist solutions and we don't have trained installers. Personally I can't believe building regs haven't been updated to make new builds and extensions more efficient. Air source heat pumps are actually the solution here.

Insulating commercial buildings is potentially a much easier win.

A 10 mph haircut across all speed limits makes huge sense. I'd add stop-start technology for every vehicle sold in the UK within 3 years - this technology has been around for well over fifteen years and could have saved at least some of the 40,000 deaths caused by particulate emissions in the UK each year.

Rationing is daft, good luck winning an election on that one. Allowing imports of hormone treated meat is stupid - one of our Brexit benefits though. We already have the option of choosing high welfare UK produced food - look for red tractor.

Less than two hours is regional rather than short haul but the whole aviation sector - short haul, long haul, passenger, freight only make up less than 2%. Airbus recently ran an A380 test flight on 100% sustainable aircraft fuel. Most aircraft fuel is now partly SAF. Domestic flights produce less emissions per passenger mile than a car with one passenger/driver.

How do we know which products have been produced with dirty energy? Without a international legally binding LCA, independently audited process such as the ISO 14xxx series, it is impossible to tell the carbon footprint of any product. The construction industry is well ahead and many products have published EPDs. Even if the law was passed tomorrow it would take five to ten years to train the analysts and auditors. In reality Scope 1 emissions are easier and less subjective and the UK Government have indeed proposed legislation requiring UK Companies to declare their emissions and importantly to deliver roadmaps to net zero.

I'm not sure where you'd put all the trees? Tree planting isn't the panacea many seem to think, bio diversity is key and this includes grasslands, bogs, scrub etc. Indecently cotoneaster is great at absorbing emissions.

Public transport - absolutely, particularly the final mile and urban mobility and many cities are experimenting with this but again there are infrastructure and skills gaps. Look at some of the issues with e-scooters.

Massive offshore wind and hydrogen is happening. But there is still a huge amount of research and development required - you don't just pop to the shops to buy a 200 m diameter turbine. And much like insulation the skills and materials supply chain cannot be switched on over night.

Any proposal needs to be realistic and meet public approval - unfortunately while intentioned many of the proposals put by some of the campaign groups would do enough to meet net zero targets without massive damage to the economy and peoples lives. And while we borrowed our way out of COVID there is no way we could borrow our way out over a short period time while simultaneously trashing the economy.

Net zero by 2050 is challenging but doable, it would be impossible if we all as you suggest.

Daftasabroom · 19/07/2022 17:02

@Notanotherwindow there is nothing natural about climate change - the sun is in a relatively cool phase, so any natural tendency would be cooling rather than heating. And volcanoes also tend to have cooling effect.

Daftasabroom · 19/07/2022 17:06

Correction:

Any proposal needs to be realistic and meet with public approval - unfortunately while well intentioned many of the proposals put forward by some of the campaign groups would simply not do enough to meet net zero targets without massive damage to the economy and peoples lives.

HelpMeICantCope · 19/07/2022 17:24

@Daftasabroom thanks so much for your knowledgeable posts. They feel like a dose of much needed realism with the optimism of real-life work and research in there too. FWIW @onlywhenidream, I would vote for all of those things too, but we might be in a minority on some of the points.

Can I ask what you think of geo-engineering concepts like the ‘space bubbles’ linked yesterday? In combination with all of these other measures for net zero - my worry would be, even if it is doable, there are those who would treat it as a free pass to carry on doing environmental harm.

OP posts:
HelpMeICantCope · 19/07/2022 17:33

What worries/terrifes me is things like XR talking about the collapse of civilisation in the next few decades, or the (admittedly opinion) piece in the Guardian yesterday by Bill McGuire saying that essentially there’s nothing we can do. I feel paralysed by these sorts of things and they’re everywhere.

OP posts: