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Under_Over_Thinker t1_j8jln8a wrote

Reply to comment by Aardark235 in New study shows Acceleration of global sea level rise imminent past 1.8℃ planetary warming by 9273629397759992

If it was up to redditors. Only governments and their coordinated action can make impact. My wife picks up garbage on the road sides, we recycle and drive 1-2 times a week. So what? Unless producers change how they manufacture goods, ranchers feed cows those seaweed supplements, carbon capture facilities are built, energy production is green — there will be no impact.

Do you seriously think that a small fraction of the population who posts on reddit can make that change?

Climate change is like a war. Individuals can’t win it. You need governments (plural) to regulate the industry and rebuild the economy. No private company, like Tesla or Bill Gates’ initiatives will do the job.

Reddit audience is unfortunately not representative of the US population.

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xlllxJackxlllx t1_j8jnqt4 wrote

I heard the the war analogy on a podcast once. The speaker said that we would have to mobilize like we did in WWII, but x10.

IMO, anything less and our global society is going to collapse.

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paceminterris t1_j8jnzw6 wrote

When we talk about individual action, we aren't talking about recycling.

Corporations can't magically find a "green" way to manufacture all the creature comforts we demand to consume, because the very products themselves are carbon-intensive. The only way to realistically make a difference is to curtail most industrial manufacturing, which DOES imply that ordinary people are going to have to make cutbacks and change their lives.

Here is a list of things that BOTH corporations AND individuals need to eliminate in order to have a shot at fighting climate change:

Personal vehicles, air travel, air conditioning, meat and animal products, single family homes, and electronics. Does it sound extreme? Sure, but these are extreme times. We ignored the warnings for decades.

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Under_Over_Thinker t1_j8jx199 wrote

You are right about what and by whom it needs to be done.

My point is that neither individuals nor the companies will do that unless the government creates programs and laws that would enforce and facilitate the process. And it’s not just about writing the law. It’s about finding the way all the undertakings can really be implemented.

Also, when I mentioned recycling, I meant exactly what you are saying. That recycling does almost nothing to prevent the climate change.

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GapingFartBoxes t1_j8k5ir1 wrote

Laws are easily circumvented.

The only possible solution is through collective consumer action, especially first world consumers.

I always found it amusing how people scream " individual actions are meaningless compared to corporations!" But in the same breath they'll tell you voting is important.

You can't have both. Either collective action (voting and consumer choices) can be effective, or they can't. You can't have one without the other. It's called supply and demand. Consumers demand from companies. If everyone stopped buying stuff on Amazon, Amazon would go out of business.

Most first worlders are aware of this, but they're so entitled and fat that they think everyone else should have to change while they don't.

That's human nature for ya.

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Telemere125 t1_j8ku3sy wrote

What you’re suggesting is that I change my lifestyle while also relying on my neighbor to voluntarily their habits; if it’s not a government regulation, it’s not going to happen in meaningful enough numbers. The burden isn’t on individuals; it’s on governments and corporations.

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