Is anyone else freaked out

[georgarina]

by how warm it is?

Passed someone in shorts this evening walking home.

It honestly gives me anxiety

How long have we got - are you saying ten years and then all over?

I don't know; I don't have a crystal ball (I'm not sure I would want one, either!). In ten years we will certainly be seeing catastrophic and life changing climate events though. I don't think humanity will be at the point of extinction for a long time yet but societal collapse will come a lot, lot sooner.

The speed of climate change is moving much faster than even the most pessimistic scientists predicted.

Global warming will make the UK colder, not hotter. It’s just normal climate change which happens over time. In the Victorian era we had a mini ice age which has now ended, so it feels warmer in winter than it used to.

It’s just normal climate change which happens over time

No it isn't.

@Dottydozet

Biggest thing that needs to happen at a societal level is use of fossil fuels needs to stop. Completely.

And the good news is that if we did manage to do this, CO2 levels will quickly return to pre-Industrial Rev levels. I think estimates are within ten years.

Scotland's power was 98% renewable last year.
www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-59837782

Stopping flying should be the next thing to tackle. Lots already have. It needs to go further. No cheap holiday flights. A frequent flyer tax.

We need to massively reduce our consumption overall, of course. Buy less stuff. Eat less meat. Wear more clothes and turn the heating down. etc.

Secondly people don't realise how bad it is going to get, in this country. They think it just means the weather is going to get hotter.

No one in my life is even thinking about climate change as far as I can tell - buying plastic toys and water bottles, driving everywhere, leaving heat and lights on, not recycling with lighthearted comments like "We're very environmentally unfriendly." Very educated people but no interest at all in what's going on. Almost a counterculture 'anti-woke' disinterest in it.

And if there is any acknowledgment then I'm sure it's only to the extent of temperatures going up - not water and food shortage, natural disasters, or anything like that.

@Alayalaya

Global warming will make the UK colder, not hotter. It’s just normal climate change which happens over time. In the Victorian era we had a mini ice age which has now ended, so it feels warmer in winter than it used to.

Re U.K. colder

Pp said London at Barcelona temp 2050

I had heard wetter and warmer elsewhere

Which is it does anyone know for sure? Prediction for U.K.

@georgarina

Secondly people don't realise how bad it is going to get, in this country. They think it just means the weather is going to get hotter.

No one in my life is even thinking about climate change as far as I can tell - buying plastic toys and water bottles, driving everywhere, leaving heat and lights on, not recycling with lighthearted comments like "We're very environmentally unfriendly." Very educated people but no interest at all in what's going on. Almost a counterculture 'anti-woke' disinterest in it.

And if there is any acknowledgment then I'm sure it's only to the extent of temperatures going up - not water and food shortage, natural disasters, or anything like that.

It must be quite nice to be as simple minded as that. All I can imagine is Africa drying out. When I see the weather reports on BBC it is staggering. Deep reds and oranges over much of it in terms of temperature. And there's us, yellow. It's frightening. Having my child is my biggest regret because the future is utterly terrifying.

@georgarina

Secondly people don't realise how bad it is going to get, in this country. They think it just means the weather is going to get hotter.

No one in my life is even thinking about climate change as far as I can tell - buying plastic toys and water bottles, driving everywhere, leaving heat and lights on, not recycling with lighthearted comments like "We're very environmentally unfriendly." Very educated people but no interest at all in what's going on. Almost a counterculture 'anti-woke' disinterest in it.

And if there is any acknowledgment then I'm sure it's only to the extent of temperatures going up - not water and food shortage, natural disasters, or anything like that.

The choices will become simpler as the next few years unfold.

Either we learn or we burn.

Unfortunately as long as governmental focus is economic growth I can't see the required actions being taken, not unless citizens mobilise and demand it.

If the Gulf Stream collapses then the UK and the rest of Western Europe will get colder.

I assume the other models are based on a climate where there is global heating but the Gulf Stream continues. In that scenario I suppose it would get warmer here. Most scientist seem to think the Gulf Stream will not survive if warming continues though, which will mean temperatures in the U.K will drop even as the earth as a whole gets warmer.

It’s not ‘denial’ to point out that very mild spells in January have hardly been unknown in the past. From some of the posts here, anyone would think they’re unheard of.
But saying that does not make me a climate change denier.

@ElftonWednesday

Yes the bottom line seems to be that most people are too greedy to support positive change

Depends what you mean by greedy. No-one has ever successfully painted a picture of what a zero carbon economy looks like in terms of every day life. If it means going back to pre-industrial society that can fuck off. What seems to be going on now is that nearly anything green or sustainable just means more effort and cost, a lot of it is just green washing, and there is a lot of taking more money out of people's pockets for things like energy bills to fund some Russian oligarch's lifestyle.

Oh where to begin...

First of all, sustainability is not confined to environmental issues. It is a way of thinking and behaving. Maybe start by reading up on the pillars of sustainability, it will help you understand why the environment is in rapid decline.

@JaffavsCookie

Can I suggest for those who paid no attention at all in their GCSE science courses that you watch the David Attenborough programme on colours ( 2nd episode)

What's the name of this series Jaffs ?

No actually someone, Probably a few people, has painted a picture of a low carbon sustainable life

From memory it included

Low carbon electricity ( government and industry responsible)

Low carbon transport -less than 5000 miles per year , one flight every 2 or 3 years

Food -meat a couple of times a month ( ditch beef )
Milk and cheese ( yikes ) were also reduced
Eat local

Home heating -heat pumps or green hydrogen coupled with better insulation- this is incredibly expensive to retro fit and our government really is totally missing this strand , it will need much more government support ( tax the rich)

Ditch cryptocurrency

That's not a prehistoric lifestyle, it's not a preindustrial lifestyle - we get the benefit of modern medicine & entertainment for starters

We will need ( my opinion) wealth redistribution to help everyone get there

@Alayalaya

Global warming will make the UK colder, not hotter. It’s just normal climate change which happens over time. In the Victorian era we had a mini ice age which has now ended, so it feels warmer in winter than it used to.

No it won't. For the UK it will be wetter. Which means floods and failed crops.

Is there a map which shows hotter / wetter / colder etc predictions for world?

Wetter an issue but drier and low water would be hard

And yes I know not fixed but interested in general takes..

This is for the UK

www.theweek.co.uk/news/environment/953735/what-is-the-gulf-stream-and-what-would-happen-if-it-collapsed?amp

Article from August about the potential impact of Gulf Stream collapse.

Flood levels 2050
coastal.climatecentral.org

Forgive a really ignorant question, but looking at that map of impact on the UK, we have lots of flooding due to wetter weather (some is sea rises) but also big areas of UK drought. Can we not off-set one against the other?

@JohnStonesMissus

I don't think it's that unusual to be honest, I can remember topsy turvy weather going back years...MIL said it was snowing just after DH was born in June back in the early seventies, I've seen the photos of a newborn DH and MIL leaving the hospital and it is snowing so she's not making it up, it's going to get cold again pretty soon so make the most of it..

I remember this! I was at secondary school and we were outside during a break and it suddenly started snowing! It wasn't just a few flakes but proper snow. I think it only happened for that one day but it's something that has always stayed with me as it was so weird.

@MerryChristmas21

Why on Earth are people 'freaking out'?

We live on a living planet, temperatures change. Nothing to feel 'weird' or 'freaked out' by.

Yes and it's cooling right down on Tuesday where I live so back to normal. Even with global warming, planets go through cycles. Always have.

The 'eccentricity' cycle period is around 100,000 years.
The 'obliquity' cycle is around 41,000 years.
The 'precession' cycle occurs about every 26,000

But it will all be fine by Tuesday?

Climate is different to weather

Weather , yes it's cooler later in the week
Climate -but the last year is much warmer than expected

Climate change has always occurred, and the human race had been lucky to survive some episodes - you want that for your children ?

Climate change has always occurred , but this is the first time humans have created climate change , and to our detriment