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

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

#131

Post by giantg2 »

andrewljohnson wrote: post #130
giantg2 wrote: post #128

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How can a "no impact" activity like not eating meat scale to be impactful? An individual's actions does have an impact, albeit a small one. It is measurable (CO2 savings from not eating that meat). Discouraging individuals from participating in individual efforts will prevent the group from achieving scale.

I'm not discouraging an individual from eating meat... I'm encouraging an individual to not buy into the idea that not eating meat will achieve their stated goal.

Isn't the stated goal to reduce their contribution to climate change through eliminating meat related CO2 emissions? Seems like it works.

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

#132

Post by RickJWagner »

andrewljohnson wrote: post #9

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…

I don't like this tactic. It might well be more effective, but it just doesn't seem right.

Al Gore has arguably done more than anyone else (at the upper levels) but his ownership of multiple houses (with heated pools) goes against the message he preached.

Bernie Sanders owns multiple houses, too.

John Kerry famously flies a private jet all over the place and parties on yachts (which he parks in places to minimize taxes).

I actually dislike people who don't take the personal action, yet work to make others sacrifice for the cause.

On the other hand, I have respect for people like Ralph Nader and Jimmy Carter, who actually lead humble lives and lead by example.

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

#133

Post by QuarterReptile »

Have/raise multiple kids. High-income, high-education parents generally have similar children, which makes them disproportionately likely to live low-consumption lifestyles and to do work that is important to future societal problems like climate problems (future in that obviously the ramp for this is decades long.)

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

#134

Post by foundron »

anm89 wrote: post #118
foundron wrote: post #71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is not punishing to stop eating animals. It may seem that way if you're not used to it, but it is a fulfilling and healthy way to live with compassion for our planet and fellow living beings; who have consciousness, personality, love for their families and desire to live just like us. Yes it is not effective if you're the only one in the world doing it, but it has always been about convincing others to drastically…

I respect people who choose not to eat meat. It doesn't affect me at all. To me it would certainly be punishing myself though. But you aren't going to convince me that it's fixing any problem.

If you don't want to be convinced then you won't be convinced regardless of any ethical arguments or data-backed evidence. That's fine, not everyone can be rational and open-minded, but please don't discourage others from making compassionate choices.

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

#135

Post by a_square_peg »

I run a climate/weather data site (https://oikolab.com) and if you'd like to give feedback on the API design and the service, it would be much appreciated.

Happy to relax restrictions for you to access data if you'd like to poke around and interested in understanding how climate has changed in various locations around the world.

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

#136

Post by birksherty »

bluedevil2k wrote: post #100
birksherty wrote: post #91

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> in comparison to the masses that don't hear and/or don't care about these By that logic anything you do is useless. But personally not having own kid is the single most effective thing anyone can do. People can just adopt instead.

This is SUCH a stupid comment, man. Not having a kid will do absolutely NOTHING to change long term climate change. You’re falling for the PR and lies of the big carbon producing industries that make you believe that you, as an individual, have any impact on climate change at all. You don’t. Sorry if that hurts your “I can change the world” attitude. Adopting a child is totally different than having your own kid(s) a…

Amount of carbon 1 person uses is more than what you can minimise, so it not NOTHING.

> totally different than having your own kid

Why? Why does one need one's genes to care for a child and to be a parent. Your comment is just complete character attack "stupid". If it's so big issue, than may be don't kid yourself about doing anything that will reduce actual climate crisis.

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

#137

Post by birksherty »

bluedevil2k wrote: post #112
throwacherry wrote: post #107

Earlier quoted context omitted.

1800: 1 billion people 2021: 8 billion 2050: 10 billion Resources are finite. The world is not only ours, what about the animals and plants? Are we giving them enough space to thrive? Killing them will kill us, and our children too. What PR and lies have you fallen for, to say individual actions don't matter? Actions have consequences. Each action is a vote. One vote doesn't matter, a lot of votes do. What are you vo…

Dow Jones in 1906: 14 Dow Jones in 2022: 34,000 Maybe the Dow Jones is causing climate change! Countries participating in the Olympics in 1896: 27 Countries participating in the Olympic in 2021: 197 No wait, the Olympics are what’s causing climate change!

"Stupid" comment (taking from your comment up).

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

#138

Post by AzzieElbab »

giantg2 wrote: post #131
andrewljohnson wrote: post #130

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not discouraging an individual from eating meat... I'm encouraging an individual to not buy into the idea that not eating meat will achieve their stated goal.

Isn't the stated goal to reduce their contribution to climate change through eliminating meat related CO2 emissions? Seems like it works.

Doesn’t sound measurable. The whole “don’t eat meat, save the environment” debate should be centred around corn fed beef to begin with

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

#139

Post by bluedevil2k »

birksherty wrote: post #93
andrewljohnson wrote: post #9

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 sure why not having kid is such controversial. I guess people just can't be not selfish, they will find any excuse. People will do anything that does not change their lifestyle, basically all of which are useless compared to what is going on in climate crisis. Not having kid is the most effective thing anyone can do. You can just adopt instead, raise them to be ethical. It should not be so controversial. You can…

> People will do anything that does not change their lifestyle

Clearly you don’t have children if you think having a child doesn’t change your lifestyle.

> Also bringing a kid without their consent to this dying planet and then make them fix it…looks like a punishment by parents, pretty selfish

Here’s a tip, don’t use this line on a first date.

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

#140

Post by giantg2 »

AzzieElbab wrote: post #138
giantg2 wrote: post #131

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Isn't the stated goal to reduce their contribution to climate change through eliminating meat related CO2 emissions? Seems like it works.

Doesn’t sound measurable. The whole “don’t eat meat, save the environment” debate should be centred around corn fed beef to begin with

How is it not measurable?
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