“It’s accepted fact in wide swathes of the population” who still mostly didn’t do anything to change their behavior in response. What’s the difference between a climate change denier who refuses to reduce driving and a climate change acknowledger who refuses to reduce driving? Practically speaking, not much!
I am in the same position as OP. This summer has made me fear global warming even more than before.
That doesn’t mean I’ve done nothing. Don’t project onto other people, some people actually do make sacrifices.
I, for example, do my daily commute on public transport. Which takes me 40 minutes each way. While I could easily drive to work, which would be 15 minutes instead. That’s 50 minutes I lose every working day. I also work from home as much as my boss lets me. Of course, that’s not really a sacrifice, but there’s actually people that go to the office when they could easily WfH.
I also avoid using the elevator as much as I can. Less than 3 floors means I’m taking the stairs every time. For a year or 2 I had to go up to the 8th floor once per week. Not once did I take the elevator.
I avoid LLMs as much as humanly possible. And I actively try to convince as much people I can that LLMs are a huge waste of resources.
I wear my clothes until they’re actually broken. If they no longer fit me, I store them, in case they fit me in the future. I own 2 pairs of shoes. One of daily use, the other in case the main ones break or are otherwise temporarily unusable (drying or whatever). It’s not a money issue, I could easily buy new clothes.
I use my electronics until they break or become otherwise unusable. Until ~3 years ago my second monitor was a 4:3 screen with less than 720p resolution. ~3 years ago that screen stopped working.
When I do buy new electronics, the EU energy rating is one of the most important features I consider.
I don’t order food delivery. I just walk to the restaurant and bring the food home myself. Either walking or on non-electric bike.
Before buying online, I first search for a physical local shop that would sell the item.
There’s plenty of things you can do as a normal citizen that can help slow global warming.
I do many of the things you do, other than public transport becuase we have none, but still, it almost feels you are wasting your time/life for people who dont care. You take public transport, 10 people drive a ford f teen thousand getting 7 mpg to carry 1 human 5 miles.
Unless you enjoy being martyr I guess. Ive kind of come to the conclusion that we are fucked, so I will live life as I want, don’t have kids to suffer the future, and thats that. Sure I can be somewhat responsible but I’m not going to quit traveling or using AC on the basis of saving the planet. Its just not worth it. I’m not saying purposely be wasteful, but I have 1 limited life, I’m not going to restrict myself for the sake of a million dumbasses who couldn’t care less.
I’m not saying give up entirely (i also take the stairs, why not, keeps you healthy), but I’m saying its not worth being a martyr, going into a cave and yelling at clouds that everyone else is wrong for having a car and AC.
I won’t be buying a new vehicle ever, I won’t be using amazon to purchase stuff i can easily get used, I won’t be using llms etc. But will I give up meat completely and never travel? No, sorry.
I’m also not going to convince my neighbor with 5 kids , a camper, a boat, and a mcmansion (theyre also bankrupt) that theyre destroying the planet. They dont care and won’t change.
I disagree with the implication that unilateral sacrifices are going to make any significant difference. Reduce driving sure, but we need large scale systemic change, not a handful of exhausted altruists.
Ok, that’s not what they said though. Having said thait… how do you know what actions they did or did not take in this case?
Do you think it is more productive to criticise someone who took insufficient action and who is now taking more action, or to praise them/react positively/keep quiet?
“It’s accepted fact in wide swathes of the population” who still mostly didn’t do anything to change their behavior in response. What’s the difference between a climate change denier who refuses to reduce driving and a climate change acknowledger who refuses to reduce driving? Practically speaking, not much!
I am in the same position as OP. This summer has made me fear global warming even more than before.
That doesn’t mean I’ve done nothing. Don’t project onto other people, some people actually do make sacrifices.
I, for example, do my daily commute on public transport. Which takes me 40 minutes each way. While I could easily drive to work, which would be 15 minutes instead. That’s 50 minutes I lose every working day. I also work from home as much as my boss lets me. Of course, that’s not really a sacrifice, but there’s actually people that go to the office when they could easily WfH.
I also avoid using the elevator as much as I can. Less than 3 floors means I’m taking the stairs every time. For a year or 2 I had to go up to the 8th floor once per week. Not once did I take the elevator.
I avoid LLMs as much as humanly possible. And I actively try to convince as much people I can that LLMs are a huge waste of resources.
I wear my clothes until they’re actually broken. If they no longer fit me, I store them, in case they fit me in the future. I own 2 pairs of shoes. One of daily use, the other in case the main ones break or are otherwise temporarily unusable (drying or whatever). It’s not a money issue, I could easily buy new clothes.
I use my electronics until they break or become otherwise unusable. Until ~3 years ago my second monitor was a 4:3 screen with less than 720p resolution. ~3 years ago that screen stopped working.
When I do buy new electronics, the EU energy rating is one of the most important features I consider.
I don’t order food delivery. I just walk to the restaurant and bring the food home myself. Either walking or on non-electric bike.
Before buying online, I first search for a physical local shop that would sell the item.
There’s plenty of things you can do as a normal citizen that can help slow global warming.
I do many of the things you do, other than public transport becuase we have none, but still, it almost feels you are wasting your time/life for people who dont care. You take public transport, 10 people drive a ford f teen thousand getting 7 mpg to carry 1 human 5 miles.
Unless you enjoy being martyr I guess. Ive kind of come to the conclusion that we are fucked, so I will live life as I want, don’t have kids to suffer the future, and thats that. Sure I can be somewhat responsible but I’m not going to quit traveling or using AC on the basis of saving the planet. Its just not worth it. I’m not saying purposely be wasteful, but I have 1 limited life, I’m not going to restrict myself for the sake of a million dumbasses who couldn’t care less.
Thus becoming one more of the million dumbasses.
That exact mentality is what got us here.
You don’t want to put in the effort? Cool, you do you. I don’t care. I’m not following you though, the stairs are way healthier as a bonus.
I’m not saying give up entirely (i also take the stairs, why not, keeps you healthy), but I’m saying its not worth being a martyr, going into a cave and yelling at clouds that everyone else is wrong for having a car and AC.
I won’t be buying a new vehicle ever, I won’t be using amazon to purchase stuff i can easily get used, I won’t be using llms etc. But will I give up meat completely and never travel? No, sorry.
I’m also not going to convince my neighbor with 5 kids , a camper, a boat, and a mcmansion (theyre also bankrupt) that theyre destroying the planet. They dont care and won’t change.
I disagree with the implication that unilateral sacrifices are going to make any significant difference. Reduce driving sure, but we need large scale systemic change, not a handful of exhausted altruists.
Ok, that’s not what they said though. Having said thait… how do you know what actions they did or did not take in this case?
Do you think it is more productive to criticise someone who took insufficient action and who is now taking more action, or to praise them/react positively/keep quiet?