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What can I do about climate change?

bbc.com

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Re: What can I do about climate change?

#221

Post by lolsal »

qnsi wrote: post #187
robotsquidward wrote: post #157

Vote. At the ballot box and with your dollar. Tell your friends.

This is the most important action you can take, especially if you live in America. USA should lead, together with Europe, but you chose climate denialist as a president. https://youtu.be/O34JM4Xdf3g

We don't actually need our president's permission before we take action to address climate change, believe it or not. The president is not actually a dictator. We have power in other ways.

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Climate_Alliance

Re: What can I do about climate change?

#222

Post by wortelefant »

pdimitar wrote: post #6

This article's quality is higher than many others on the same topic and that's a pleasant surprise. That being said, I can't help being reminded about German language lessons I had ~10 years ago where the teacher was preaching that we must all ditch electric kettles for the sake of the planet. I asked her how is this going to help -- even if 100_00 people do it today -- if corporations are happy to let toxic waste se…

these little actions count; changing consumption patterns creates a signal to the market and to politics. a community of practice concerned about the environment, once set in motion, makes it easier to estimate the political gains of passing new laws, like stricter waste disposal standards.

A dedicated minority that genuinely cares about an issues can shift the agenda, even when the majority is largely undecided. When I invite 3 vegans and 7 omnivores to a party, food will be vegan (similar point by N N Taleb). I hope this works out just as well with political parties..

Re: What can I do about climate change?

#223

Post by uxcolumbo »

Theodores wrote: post #162
TheSmiddy wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think individuals require deep change in order to solve climate change. Most sources of emissions when broken down by industry ultimately just point back to the energy generation. The only deep change that an individual can do that will make an actual impact is going vegan. Adding solar panels to your roof is not a drastic change, in fact in Australia it makes good economic sense. Driving an electric car is n…

I think it is also important to get an education on how we have ended up in a society where these meat products are considered normal. I was 'born vegetarian' and I struggled to eat meat. I tried my hardest and genuinely believed that if I did not eat meat like everyone else then I would end up physically weak, without a fully developed brain etc. I endured eating burgers in the belief that they were really good for…

This is great... Thanks. Do you know of any research or literature that goes deeper into this?

Re: What can I do about climate change?

#224

Post by uxcolumbo »

shoo wrote: post #38

i selfishly don't want to take the necessary individual action where my personal cost-benefit analysis comes out negative. for example, i could become a vegan. if i did so, the net benefit to humanity would be positive. but i don't want to, as i'd have to privately pay the cost (no more delicious chicken) while the benefits (in terms of reduced global cumulative greenhouse gas emissions) are spread across the billion…

FYI, Veganism isn't about reducing your carbon footprint or living healthily, those things are an added bonus.

Being vegan means saying no to cruelty towards other sentient and intelligent beings and enslaving them for our culinary pleasure purposes.

So having a friend who is vegan wouldn't really eliminate cruelty towards chickens for example, as your craving for delicious chicken would still require chickens to be slaughtered, i.e. Is cruelty ok, so you can continue to experience culinary pleasures?

Tough questions...

Edit: mainly referring to factory farming and large scale meat industry, where most of the meat we consume comes from.

Re: What can I do about climate change?

#225

Post by xapata »

refurb wrote: post #166
xapata wrote: post #113

Earlier quoted context omitted.

3 can be to travel by bus instead of airplane for domestic trips. And to take fewer flights. I used to travel for work, flying nearly every week. I quit, party because of the environmental concern.

But my understanding is airtravel is more fuel efficient than car. A fully loaded 747 gets about 100 miles per gallon per passanger and takes a more direct route. If you had a fuel inefficient van and four people for the same trip you’d like burn more fuel.

Bus, not car. Take a bicycle with you and you'll have decent transportation at your destination. Or rent when you arrive.

Re: What can I do about climate change?

#226

Post by pdimitar »

Scea91 wrote: post #148
pdimitar wrote: post #116

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If the alternative was just as comfortable and fast, I would be the first to throw away my car. I have zero ego attachments to such objects, I am after their comfort and practical value.

Do you hold similar stance to other things that require effort? For example: recycling?

I throw away stuff in designated trash cans but beyond that I don't see how I can help further.

And I don't mind effort, at all. I go the extra mile at home to use less kitchen paper. I use less chemicals to clean around the house. I reuse phone and tablet chargers, and headphones. I don't buy new computers often (current PC is 8 years old now).

I try and be disciplined. But I am no sewage treatment plant, or a plastic/metal melting foundry so I do what I can but not sure I am helping at all.

I think many people misunderstand me in my bigger comment in this post: I try and help but (1) there's a line beyond which you are slaving yourself to supposed improvements you cannot see and so it becomes not worth it, and (2) I am asked to trust other organizations that if I throw away stuff in special areas then I am helping the planet. I don't mind #2 -- it's better than nothing. But I can and do mind #1 here and there.

It's not such an unreasonable stance as many make it look.

Re: What can I do about climate change?

#227

Post by pdimitar »

DoreenMichele wrote: post #124
pdimitar wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Buy less stuff. This is becoming harder and harder with time. Believe me, I would love to buy my kitchen stove, washing machine, refrigerator, aspirator, air conditioner and vacuum cleaner from a local manufacturer. But there are none. How many household brands do really exist and how many are actually known and bought by almost everyone? Additionally, even if you are an idealist who wants to be the change they wan…

Believe me, I would love to buy my kitchen stove, washing machine, refrigerator, aspirator, air conditioner and vacuum cleaner from a local manufacturer. I gave up my car more than a decade ago. I haven't owned a vacuum cleaner in years. I live in a cheap rental with a wood floor. We strictly enforce taking shoes off just inside the front door to prevent dirt from being tracked in so we don't have to clean as much. I…

More power to you.

I do part of these things already but (1) it's a gradual process, (2) I have a ton of other issues to deal with first so I cannot religiously purse lesser CO2 footprint (like personal health; it takes precedence over other venues), and (3) I am asked to trust other organizations -- f.ex. that throwing away stuff in certain trash cans helps the planet (which I don't mind at all; surely it makes some difference).

I agree that owning less things equals more peace of mind. But I am not quite there yet, I am still in a very active and hectic phase of my life where I am gradually correcting a ton of past mistakes. I do aim to have less in time. I came to feel the increased stress from more possessions.

What I am saying is -- thanks for the insight. I am on the same road but not quite so far ahead as yourself.

Re: What can I do about climate change?

#228

Post by pdimitar »

troyvit wrote: post #185
pdimitar wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Buy less stuff. This is becoming harder and harder with time. Believe me, I would love to buy my kitchen stove, washing machine, refrigerator, aspirator, air conditioner and vacuum cleaner from a local manufacturer. But there are none. How many household brands do really exist and how many are actually known and bought by almost everyone? Additionally, even if you are an idealist who wants to be the change they wan…

> This is becoming harder and harder with time. Believe me, I would love to buy my kitchen stove, washing machine, refrigerator, aspirator, air conditioner and vacuum cleaner from a local manufacturer. But there are none. How many household brands do really exist and how many are actually known and bought by almost everyone? Buy used, it's totally worth it! > Never in my life, not once, have I seen citizens voting ac…

"Start local" is... actually a very solid and sensible advice. I've heard no small amount of people saying that they did make a difference in their city -- which indeed gives me hope.

Thank you.

Re: What can I do about climate change?

#229

Post by pdimitar »

yread wrote: post #106
pdimitar wrote: post #90

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not where I live, but I am aware that's not representative for the entire world. I am happy for the places where it works. Not sarcastic.

Uh, you live in a place without weekends, women's voting rights or laws against child labour?

I live in Eastern Europe, where drastic social changes only happen if the politicians see a crowd with pitchworks and torches at the town hall. Literally.

People around here are just realists because no significant changes ever comes before people get that fed up. Civil discourse and constructive discussion has so far netted us nothing but dossiers and people landing on dissident lists. This happens to this day.

No need to be snarky.

Re: What can I do about climate change?

#230

Post by pdimitar »

rezeroed wrote: post #156
joelthelion wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As the article mentions, individuals can do something about corporate pollution: - Buy less stuff. Corporations produce waste because we buy their stuff . Get the stuff you still buy from more environmentally-friendly companies, if possible. - Political action. Corporations need to be regulated and that can only happen through political action. Lobbies may have a lot of power, but in the end, it's the citizens who vo…

Stop travelling to work.

I work remotely for almost 8 years now. ;)
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