Dr. Katharine HayhoeJul 9, 2023

If you are worried about climate change and want to make a difference,

🎙️ start a conversation about why climate change matters and what people can do
🤲 join a climate action group and lend a hand
💰 consider where you keep your money (bank, credit card, retirement + more)
💡spark ideas for change at work & school
🗳️ hold politicians accountable
🏡 reduce your personal footprint AND make your actions contagious by talking about them

Here's a great list of how individuals can spark change, based on solid social science. Keep reading down the thread for more! https://dontlookup.count-us-in.com/

Take a step with Don't Look Up & Count Us In

Don't Look Up is part of Count Us In, a movement building the world’s largest community of people and organizations taking effective action on climate change. When you take a step with us, you’ll send a signal to global leaders and reduce your own carbon emissions too.

Show threadDr. Katharine HayhoeJul 9, 2023

We live in such an individualized society that we often focus more on our personal carbon footprint (the emissions associated with what we eat, how we travel, where we live) than on our climate shadow: how we interact with and influence those around us.

Yet, how does any system change? It changes when people within that system advocate and call for change.

That's why long-time climate activist @billmckibben says, "the most important thing an individual can do right now is not be such an individual."

And that is why I'm convinced our voices are the most powerful tool we have in the fight against climate change!
https://www.mic.com/impact/forget-your-carbon-footprint-lets-talk-about-your-climate-shadow

Forget your carbon footprint. Let's talk about your climate shadow.

To truly evaluate your impact on the environment, you have to go way beyond recycle bins and energy bills.

Mic
Show threadManuJul 10, 2023

@kathhayhoe Thank you for the thread, tips and resources 🙏

I must admit that the "Carbon footprint/climate shadow" article is a nonsense to me. Of course, individual actions should be done the right way. But they are more than little steps to save climate. They are the beta test of a better world.

The example of a climate scientist taking plane asks the following question: so can't we imagine a world where science still exists while plane travels are banned?

Show threadManuJul 10, 2023

@kathhayhoe Greta Thumberg is used as an example as someone with a great climate shadow. And that's true 👍

But how many climate activists cross the Atlantic Ocean by sail to give a speech about global warming, like she does? Her "climate shadow" works also because she pays attention to her carbon footprint, so her message becomes listenable. It's not like Hollywood actors giving lessons before taking their yacht and private jet.

Show threadDanS

@Yakkafo @kathhayhoe The climate shadow idea makes sense to me! This is an excellent point from the piece:
By promoting the carbon footprint as the single most important thing for concerned citizens to focus on, the fossil fuel industry ensured that we wouldn’t put our energy toward what truly matters: collective action and activism.

BP and their corporate comrades want to shape the conversation and the rest of us to keep quiet. Changing human culture regarding how we treat the Earth will require words and actions large and small. If you walk to work or plant a garden, it matters that you talk about it, even if you still are feeling guilty about how you heat your house. #climatechange #earth #science

Jul 10, 2023 at 12:02pmWeb
Show threadThreadbaneJul 10, 2023

@DanS @Yakkafo @kathhayhoe
Here in Central New York my 2006 Focus has been given a death sentence so I checked around for a new sedan. At one Ford dealership they had 600+ SUVs, 300+ trucks, and 3 sedans on order. Sedans are becoming rare around the Rome/Utica area, maybe 25% of the cars on the road and in the parking lots. So much for caring about carbon footprints.

I'd bet that half of Texas keeps their indoor thermostats at 68 degrees or cooler.

Show threadDanSJul 10, 2023
@Yakkafo @kathhayhoe @Threadbane Yep. Truth.
Show threadManuJul 10, 2023

@DanS @kathhayhoe I completely agree with you! Do the actions at your own level scale, and organize/talk to scale up ✊

What you say about the history of individual carbon footprint is very true. This is exactly what I like with this story: how a tool created to protect the fossil fuel industry now turns against its creators. Because, yes, once you start computing your carbon footprint and understand what gesture is worth the efforts, you just stop consuming fuel 😀

Show threadDanSJul 10, 2023
@kathhayhoe @Yakkafo Definitely!