Live data from Hacker News

Ask HN: What can I do to actively fight climate change?

news.ycombinator.com

11–20 of 160 posts

Re: Ask HN: What can I do to actively fight climate change?

#11

Ignore the crunchy comments saying don't eat meat, don't have kids, and don't drive. You have no impact as a consumer or influencer. What you can do is: * a) find someone working on climate change, and help write software for them part-time as a volunteer * b) brainstorm an idea for a site/app, and build it yourself (and of course post it to HN) * c) quit your job, join an organization focused on climate change, and…

Yeah, all of this but also — stop eating meat

Re: Ask HN: What can I do to actively fight climate change?

#12

You'll probably make the biggest impact by working at a hedge fund and use your excess disposable income to lobby for change

Or if you're more into the arts than math, you can become a famous actor and frequently host yacht parties with bikini-clad models to call attention to the cause, periodically breaking to fly (via private jet of course) to various events to give speeches about climate change.

Re: Ask HN: What can I do to actively fight climate change?

#14
Activists are long on ideas but short on technical know-how. Someone like you, willing to volunteer your skills even part-time, would be a God send.

I would suggest focusing on work that motivates and scales, just as people do in the for-profit sector. Activism that puts political and economic pressure on the large corporations who are the worst polluters provide the biggest bang for the buck. As just one example, there is a movement to divest from fossil fuel companies. Better software might help activists reach more people and mobilize them to pressure the boards of the universities they work for, etc.

Another issue we currently have in the country is that corporate interests collect huge amounts of data to sway elections, while activists without those same deep pockets are outmatched and outgunned. So any software that helps support voter turnout, voter equity, etc., would also indirectly help address climate change and other injustices.

Re: Ask HN: What can I do to actively fight climate change?

#16

Ignore the crunchy comments saying don't eat meat, don't have kids, and don't drive. You have no impact as a consumer or influencer. What you can do is: * a) find someone working on climate change, and help write software for them part-time as a volunteer * b) brainstorm an idea for a site/app, and build it yourself (and of course post it to HN) * c) quit your job, join an organization focused on climate change, and…

Not having kids would help a lot in reducing future emissions and pollution though. Would reduce consumption.

Bill Burr put it quite succinctly: “that’s not a family photo; it’s an environmental disaster and you’ve framed it!” [0]

---

[0]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wq_edHqpdA

Re: Ask HN: What can I do to actively fight climate change?

#18

Ignore the crunchy comments saying don't eat meat, don't have kids, and don't drive. You have no impact as a consumer or influencer. What you can do is: * a) find someone working on climate change, and help write software for them part-time as a volunteer * b) brainstorm an idea for a site/app, and build it yourself (and of course post it to HN) * c) quit your job, join an organization focused on climate change, and…

As consumer you have an impact, at least it sets an example and gives credibility. This reminds me of "climate activists" who fly around the world in private jets to preach!

Re: Ask HN: What can I do to actively fight climate change?

#19
post #8

Stop eating meat, eggs, and dairy. No ocean cruises. Limit flying. Look up "effective altruism" and find some recommended charities to donate to.

Eggs, really? How does a significant portion of my food coming from grazing backyard chickens, and not transported thousands of miles, contribute to greenhouse gas emissions?

Re: Ask HN: What can I do to actively fight climate change?

#20
To those who suggest "don't have kids": if everyone who cares about saving the planet followed your advice, what would the voting population look like a couple decades from now? I say instead, have children and raise them to be the kind of ethical, courageous, well-educated leaders our future so desperately needs.
Post reply on HN