What can we do about climate change?

[georgarina]

I mean who to vote for, who to speak to??

I really feel the need to do all I can.

Relatives in California are on rationed water allowances and that will be coming here soon. Meanwhile everyone I know just avoids the issue or says "the only thing that will happen is some nicer weather."

It's so scary.

We need to reverse economic & population growth.

how do you stop people living longer?

One thing is (and I can't remember what the expression for it is) is things manufactured or designed to last a finite amount of time, and then need upgrading or replacing

Fizbosshoes - built-in obsolescence?

I thought there was a push - or a forthcoming law even - that machines like hoovers, dishwashers etc had to be mendable rather than their owners told they are beyond repair and a new one is needed.
It would be great if that happens.

What we really need is an immediate ban on imports, flying, cars, out of season food, processed food, fashion, 'things', travel, and more than one child per couple - AND wordwide.

How is this equal? A family in the west with one child will use far more resources than a family in a developing country with more dc. Global birth rates are declining & in most of the West we have the issue of too many old people. We will need those young people from other countries to come here. There will be huge shifts in global power

I said this the other day but apparently it’s our and other countries’ fault that China has high omissions as so many countries including UK have outsourced manufacturing there.
I thought air conditioning was supposed to be bad for the environment, but in hot countries or those with hot summers, everyone who can have it has it and I can’t see that changing.
in fact I guess there will have been a surge in demand for air con in this country over the past few days. I have to admit, if we had it it would have been in use over the last few days.

All of those saying what's the point China blah blah blah

We need to boycott Chinese goods and all other countries that deny change
Stop being so obsessed with cheap cheap cheap

Otherwise the Ukrainian refugee situation will look like a minor thing compared to what's coming.
Mass migration Crop failure ( already happening). Biodiversity failure. No bees no crops no water

I'm guilty of this too btw but we need to ramp up pressure hugely a yearly photo op of world leaders promoting change means absolutely nothing if they don't deliver

Pressure
Pressure
Pressure

Re air con a guy on the news said that air con/cooling is now responsible for more energy usage across the globe than heating is.

I said this the other day but apparently it’s our and other countries’ fault that China has high omissions as so many countries including UK have outsourced manufacturing there.

Exactly how many people will be saying China needs to do more whilst sitting in front of their fan on their phone watching tv!

I think while it’s hard to see hope sometimes, and especially in this heat, it is vital. I have been campaigning on the issue for decades now and the change in perception since 2016 is very hopeful, as are the technological developments. As to things we can do as individuals, one that hasn’t been mentioned particularly is changing who one banks with, most high street banks invest in fossil fuels, Barclays is particularly bad (if memory serves me it is the biggest public funder of fossil fuels in the EU) so moving your money away (nationwide doesn’t invest in fossil fuels, im not sure about the others) is valuable.

Otherwise I agree with what other people on this thread have said: reduce meat consumption, vote according to climate policy, get involved with local groups, consume and fly less are all valuable.

with regard to climate change despair, I have found that action is always the best remedy, especially action with others wether that is a local conservation or lobbying group, pressuring organisations you are a stakeholder in (student protests have led to more than half of uk universities stopping investing in fossil fuels), or even going on a good old fashioned march

this is an awful thing to face, but, as with all the great progress in history, collective action can prevail yet, we must just act

all my best

China isn't denying climate change at all. It says it's planning to peak its carbon emissions by 2030, which isn't enough, but certainly isn't nothing. And it's piling into solar energy at an eye watering speed.

No, not “fly less”. Don’t fly at all! We’re long past the “do a little bit” stage and need drastic action.

Air con would be fine if the energy usage for it was derived from renewables, so if you’re putting in air con, put in solar panels too.

The biggest one is MONEY. Look at your pension: is it invested sustainably? Who do you bank with? Who’s your insurance company? Fossil fuels are being insured and financed and shored up with your money. Move it somewhere else.

@stuntbubbles oh I agree. Dont fly at all would absolutely be best. But some change always better than none

My guess, we need big technology industries to develop and improve technology to help the climate, and improve earths weather systems etc.

I genuinely think extinction rebellion have done so much harm on the whole issue, completely switched off whole swathes of people who would have been nudged into action.

I think its also important to talk about these things and let people know what you are doing and why. You don't have to go out and preach to everyone you see but the next time an electrical appliance breaks and youre having a moan to a friend drop in that you will prefer to have it repaired rather than repalced because its better for the environment. The next time you're talkimg about buying a new outfit for a special occasion drop in that you'll be buying second hand.

Talking about these changes is what is going to normalise it and encourage others to do it too.

Who do we pressure and how? I live in a labour borough with great eco policies already. Green party? In my political lifetime it feels like demonstrating has done nothing.
And how do we talk about it? With friends and kids? It's so huge.

@SaschaHendrick I agree. I am very open about buying things secondhand/using hand me downs etc. I think it is important to normalise it.

I just don't understand why our public transport systems are so expensive.

I work 15 miles away. Even taking into account annual service costs, MOT (don't pay car tax) and fuel, it's still approximately twice as much for me to walk to a bus stop, pay for bus, walk to train station, pay for train then walk to work. I mean why would I do this when I can drive literally door to door for half the price??

Public transport just isn't as convenient as driving. And I'd be totally prepared to deal with that if it wasn't so unreliable, over crowded and expensive.

It actually gets me so cross. We all know cars are terrible for the planet so why make electric cars and hybrids so expensive? They're way out of my price range. And why give us a crap bus and rail network that nobody chooses to use??

Read about doughnut economics, vote in some green or independent candidates to parliament that are climate -focussed, consume less of everything, reduce or stop consumption of animal products, drive and fly less, support businesses that are working for the planet - seek out small retailers selling local organic food, grow your own food, re-wild your garden, look for community initiatives to support that are climate positive like 'libraries of things', zero waste shops, gardening and growing groups, plastic free groups. We need political change but we can always vote with our feet and should do whatever we're able whenever we're able to.

Dont fly at all would absolutely be best

You are absolutely right but I don’t know how that can be done. As soon as lockdown was over everyone (or rather, lots of people) booked holidays abroad and the understaffed airports and airlines couldn’t cope.
It would be a brave government that banned flying - but then what about people with family abroad?

Otherwise I agree with what other people on this thread have said: reduce meat consumption, vote according to climate policy, get involved with local groups, consume and fly less are all valuable

Jojosholt what about air conditioning? Someone on the news said it uses more energy than heating? I think it will be hard to persuade those in hot countries to do without it.

And why give us a crap bus and rail network that nobody chooses to use??

Many use pt in London, but as a service it needs to be reliable or people will find other ways (wfh). We have a strike coming up and each time people will find alternatives:

It would be a brave government that banned flying - but then what about people with family abroad?

I can’t see any government banning flying and maintaining a mandate tbh. It has to come from us not just imposed. People would protest or vote them out.

Aus has seen a mild change in direction but it comes from mandate / votes not just imposed.

if you take a family with high income what can you do bar EV maybe, to stop buying, flying, consuming on whatever level they wish?

It’s a tough one but I think we are the major part of it not just government- we vote or buy or not

Step 1 is stop being a hypocrite. Cut your own emissions tomorrow. I have no car, haven't flown for 20+ years and make various other choices. This enables me to look my kids in the eye and say it is not me causing the problem.

Step 2 is get involved in politics. Top priority is to get the Tories out of government. Do your research - in your seat is there a realistic chance fo getting rid of a Tory? If so - which party is best placed? Go and get involved. Tell everyone that your number one issue is the climate. If you can not oust a Tory in your own area - go to the neighbouring seat.

On a personal level you can do little things plus write to your mp.

Stop flying or ration it. (No you don't need to take 20 x £8 Ryanair flights just because its cheap)
Eat and cook seasonally - reduce food waste.
Eat less meat.
Reduce plastic waste (toiletries for instance add up and actual fruit is better for you than juice...shampoo bars etc

Plant trees (reduces flooding as well ' I live in one of those areas).
Reduce consumption generally ...buy better long lasting clothes. Learn how to repair and mend.
Use public transport more (we went down to one car and we live in a rural area).
Plant appropriately for your conditions- e.g. things that don't need water. Accept your grass will go brown. It soon recovers.

I'm sure there's lots more...

With all due respect, if everyone did this, it would only make a marginal gain at best, that's not to say people shouldn't try to be more environmental friendly,

There are only two types of power we have, really - as consumers and as voters.

What else drives the world but our (national) purchases and our policy decisions?

These things could make a huge difference, if enough people gave a shit and actually did them.

What do people think is being made in China other than things that consumers are buying?