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Up to one million species are on the verge of extinction, U.N. panel says

washingtonpost.com

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Re: Up to one million species are on the verge of extinction, U.N. panel says

#41

Post by [deleted] »

neuronic wrote: post #19
perfunctory wrote: post #11

We keep hearing that individual actions don't matter and that we need a system change instead. I used to hold the same opinion for the very long time. However, since recently I started to turn around. For the last 30 years governments and politicians have proven incapable to do anything about global heating. What makes us think it will be any different in the coming years. Scientists keep producing report after repor…

> Don't upgrade your phone. Seriously. The market makes this easy nowadays. Unless your phone is broken/severely outdated there is next to zero benefit to upgrading at this time. Prices for flagships become prohibitive as well. Upgrading phones every 1-2 years is a dead tradition outside of contract incentives, only relevant to hyper enthusiasts (r/android etc...). Even then I am not sure why aside from corporation b…

[deleted]

Re: Up to one million species are on the verge of extinction, U.N. panel says

#43

Post by bryanlarsen »

perfunctory wrote: post #11

We keep hearing that individual actions don't matter and that we need a system change instead. I used to hold the same opinion for the very long time. However, since recently I started to turn around. For the last 30 years governments and politicians have proven incapable to do anything about global heating. What makes us think it will be any different in the coming years. Scientists keep producing report after repor…

I believe this is an incredibly dangerous attitude. Kudos that you're doing your part, and leading by example is important.

However, systemic change is possible. We have numerous counter-examples: the UN, the Montreal protocol, free trade deals, et cetera.

So why don't we have systemic change for climate change, because people like you and I let our politicians get away with it! If it was obvious to politicians that doing something about climate change was required to get re-elected, they'd do it.

It's an incredibly difficult task, which means we need to try harder, not that we should just give up on the planet.

Re: Up to one million species are on the verge of extinction, U.N. panel says

#44

Post by SiempreViernes »

perfunctory wrote: post #11

We keep hearing that individual actions don't matter and that we need a system change instead. I used to hold the same opinion for the very long time. However, since recently I started to turn around. For the last 30 years governments and politicians have proven incapable to do anything about global heating. What makes us think it will be any different in the coming years. Scientists keep producing report after repor…

You leave out the most obvious way for individuals to alleviate the system level threats: accept that you need to get your hands dirty and go into politics.

Re: Up to one million species are on the verge of extinction, U.N. panel says

#45

Post by perfunctory »

Dumblydorr wrote: post #32
perfunctory wrote: post #11

We keep hearing that individual actions don't matter and that we need a system change instead. I used to hold the same opinion for the very long time. However, since recently I started to turn around. For the last 30 years governments and politicians have proven incapable to do anything about global heating. What makes us think it will be any different in the coming years. Scientists keep producing report after repor…

Individuals are absolutely on the hook for living high carbon footprint lifestyles, however governments have the power to incentivize low carbon, tax high carbon, and provide R and D and partnerships. It'll take govt, industry, and the people to lick our carbon addiction.

Nobody is against government action. It's thoroughly needed. But I don't believe it will come around unless people demand it. And by demanding I don't mean signing a petition or shouting slogans at a demonstration. I mean real actions to adjust your lifestyle. And I don't believe it's necessary to immediately become carbon neutral on individual level. To begin with, even a small reduction can send powerful ripples across the economy.

Re: Up to one million species are on the verge of extinction, U.N. panel says

#46

Post by [deleted] »

perfunctory wrote: post #11

We keep hearing that individual actions don't matter and that we need a system change instead. I used to hold the same opinion for the very long time. However, since recently I started to turn around. For the last 30 years governments and politicians have proven incapable to do anything about global heating. What makes us think it will be any different in the coming years. Scientists keep producing report after repor…

[deleted]

Re: Up to one million species are on the verge of extinction, U.N. panel says

#47

Post by Numberwang »

neuronic wrote: post #19
perfunctory wrote: post #11

We keep hearing that individual actions don't matter and that we need a system change instead. I used to hold the same opinion for the very long time. However, since recently I started to turn around. For the last 30 years governments and politicians have proven incapable to do anything about global heating. What makes us think it will be any different in the coming years. Scientists keep producing report after repor…

> Don't upgrade your phone. Seriously. The market makes this easy nowadays. Unless your phone is broken/severely outdated there is next to zero benefit to upgrading at this time. Prices for flagships become prohibitive as well. Upgrading phones every 1-2 years is a dead tradition outside of contract incentives, only relevant to hyper enthusiasts (r/android etc...). Even then I am not sure why aside from corporation b…

I just had my iPhone 7 stolen and had to buy a new one. I bought a RedMi7 for $140 or so. It is just as good as the iPhone, if not better in some aspects.

So I agree for almost all usecases, just hang on to your cheap phones as long as possible.

Re: Up to one million species are on the verge of extinction, U.N. panel says

#48

Post by Redoubts »

perfunctory wrote: post #30
save_ferris wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The problem with individual action is that it requires a collective effort to make such sacrifices worth it, and most people aren’t willing able to make all or any of those sacrifices. For example: one cannot simply replace air travel with trains in the US. Amtrak is wholly inadequate to act in an interstate commuter transport capacity in the vast majority of the US. Also, I’m not at a point in my career where I can…

That's kind of the point. Stop thinking about "most people". Do it for yourself. If you believe in the climate emergency that is. You might be pleasantly surprised to see your friends around you follow the suit.

I can’t even get my friends and coworkers to vote.

Re: Up to one million species are on the verge of extinction, U.N. panel says

#49

Post by neuronic »

glaurung_ wrote: post #36
neuronic wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Don't upgrade your phone. Seriously. The market makes this easy nowadays. Unless your phone is broken/severely outdated there is next to zero benefit to upgrading at this time. Prices for flagships become prohibitive as well. Upgrading phones every 1-2 years is a dead tradition outside of contract incentives, only relevant to hyper enthusiasts (r/android etc...). Even then I am not sure why aside from corporation b…

Two things I look for when replacing a phone: 1. Lineage OS support. (So you actually get security updates) 2. A decent repairability score on iFixit. (So you don't end up with a brick when your battery dies in a few years.) Right now I'm on a OnePlus 2. It will be 4 years old this summer and doesn't seem to have any issues with the newest Android (in the form of Lineage OS), or any apps I use!

Sounds like a good strategy.

It is utterly insane that consumers and the industry are fine with battery degradation coercing them into complete $600+ device replacements (further fueled by the "I got the newest phone!" social status incentive for some folks).

Batteries should be swappable and at replacement time be properly recycled. Manufacturers need to be legally required to provide this option at all times, if they refuse to do so (do any?).

Re: Up to one million species are on the verge of extinction, U.N. panel says

#50

Post by ckastner »

perfunctory wrote: post #11

We keep hearing that individual actions don't matter and that we need a system change instead. I used to hold the same opinion for the very long time. However, since recently I started to turn around. For the last 30 years governments and politicians have proven incapable to do anything about global heating. What makes us think it will be any different in the coming years. Scientists keep producing report after repor…

> For the last 30 years governments and politicians have proven incapable to do anything about global heating.

That's just disingenuous.

Climate change has been a major point for numerous governments, there have been huge pushes towards renewable energy sources through subsidies, legislation, international treaties, etc.

Yes, much more could be done, but claiming that nothing has been done is just polemics. It's disingenuous to claim that 2019 is basically 1989.

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