Mastodawn

Dr. Katharine Hayhoe Jul 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.

Alexis (she/her)Jul 10, 2023

Dr. Katharine Hayhoe

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

Dr. Katharine Hayhoe Jul 9, 2023

Some people today are understandably overwhelmed by the avalanche of negative and depressing news on climate change we hear every day.

As a defense mechanism, they've convinced themselves that nothing they or anyone else can do will make a difference. We're doomed, they believe. As psychologist Susan Tanner says, "apocalyptic thinking can be very useful to people who need to feel a sense of control. Living with uncertainty...is the hardest thing to do for all human beings."

I understand and completely sympathise with where they are coming from. But if we decide we are doomed, then we truly will be. That's why, to them, I say:

If you are convinced that we are doomed and there’s nothing anyone can do to avoid the climate crisis and the collapse of the biosphere,

❌ stop doom scrolling and get off social media
😳 don’t attack or hinder others who are doing their best to make a difference
🐾 adopt a pet in need of a home
🌳 spend as much time as you can in nature
🤲 if you are able, find a local climate action group, and ask what you can do to help
❤️ focus on what you can do to make the world a better place for people around you

Dr. Katharine Hayhoe Jul 9, 2023

Others are convinced that the one specific personal action they take or one specific large-scale action will be enough to save the world if everyone did it, and they advocate for that single solution with the fervor of an evangelist.

To them, I say: there is no silver bullet, no, not even yours. But there is a lot of silver buckshot and that's even better news. We need to deploy as many solutions as we can, prioritizing what works best for a given person, place, or organization.

Project Drawdown has a great summary here: http://www.drawdown.org

Project Drawdown

Project Drawdown

Dr. Katharine Hayhoe Jul 9, 2023

And finally, some will say, "Talk?! You want us to TALK? The time for talking is past!"

To them, I say: how's it going? Are you seeing the action you need? If so, great! Keep it up!

But if not, then consider this:

Talking might not sound like much: but as environmental journalist Sara Peach wrote, “‘Talk’ is the fertile field in which cultural change begins; in its absence, it’s impossible for a group of people to solve a problem.” What’s more, surveys show most of us aren’t talking about climate change. That’s why having a conversation is the critical first step to catalyzing action—and it’s something we can all do.

For more, give my TED talk a watch, and check out this recent podcast and essay I did for Cottage Life (that's where the quote above comes from!) https://cottagelife.com/outdoors/scientist-katharine-heyhoe-on-the-effects-of-climate-change-at-the-cottage/

Scientist Katharine Hayhoe on the effects of climate change at the cottage

Katharine Hayhoe, scientist, takes the long view of climate change. Educator and cottager Katharine, wants us to start talking about it—now.

Cottage Life

Sara FL Kirk Jul 9, 2023

@kathhayhoe Thanks for all your wise words in this space. It's so important to talk about, act and vote on #ClimateAction!

All there is is here Jul 13, 2023

@kathhayhoe don’t talk about it, be about it. Culture doesn’t change through talking. That’s embarrassingly simplistic and reductive and not supported by any ethnographic research.

eyrea 🇨🇦Jul 9, 2023

@kathhayhoe I *love* the idea of "silver buckshot". That's going to be yet another talking point I learned from you 😊

Barbara J. King Jul 9, 2023

@kathhayhoe Thank you; I tend to be that way about plant-based eating and about flying (two things at least!!), and take your point. Signed up for Project Drawdown newsletter.

Lee 🌏Jul 9, 2023

@kathhayhoe
There is actually one single solution we can all take that would fix this.
Get people into power who will make it a priority.
But otherwise, I totally agree.

Carl B. Latro Jul 10, 2023

@kathhayhoe This is the closest I've seen to a silver bullet.
https://jpt.spe.org/microwave-drilling-sounds-like-science-fiction-but-so-does-drilling-down-to-the-hottest-rock
And even is it lives up to the hopes of its developers, there's still the need to convert fossil-burning machines to electric ones.

Microwave Drilling Sounds Like Science Fiction but So Does Drilling Down to the Hottest Rock

One of the problems with geothermal is that the rock that is hot enough to create the steam needed to run a power plant is also capable of destroying drilling hardware.

JPT

John Meadows Jul 10, 2023

@kathhayhoe I love the expression “Silver buckshot!” Nails it!

matthewsmith Jul 10, 2023

@kathhayhoe no silver bullets. But we need to lob every bullet we have—gold, silver, glass, stone—at the #climatecrisis

Lyle Solla-Yates Jul 9, 2023

@kathhayhoe maybe check in with a health care professional if it’s creating a problem in your life. You’re used to you but what you’re used to isn’t necessarily healthy #mentalhealth

Waine Jul 9, 2023

@kathhayhoe
Forgive me, this isn't me telling you how to feel, or even arguing against you. I'm just using this as a chance to get something off my chest.

For me it's so much worse than us being doomed with nothing we can do about it. We're doomed and there's plenty we can do about it. There has been for decades now, but we collectively keep failing to grasp the opportunities.

If I thought there was nothing we could do, I wouldn't feel so bad. Watching us willingly throw everything away hurts

Elizabeth Alcinoe Jul 10, 2023

@kathhayhoe I am really upset. I could barely walk the 1/2 mile to the grocery store when it was hot and muggy last week, and then I looked at my friend's baby and thought, oh, no, what kind of horrible life does she has in front of her when this gets worse?

cowvin Jul 10, 2023

@kathhayhoe Yes, we all need to focus on doing what we can. We are not all able to do much on our own but that does not mean our individual contributions add up to nothing either.

Nick Jul 10, 2023

@kathhayhoe I feel somewhat hopeful. I see solar panels throughout homes in my State, people are increasingly biking in my town. I see others commuting on electric bikes. I use an electric car that was affordable (finally). I subscribe to a solar farm. I buy more local veggies. And others are doing similar things. We will hit many unknown tipping points, but the world on the other side might be one we begin to cherish. That is my hope!

Rand Barthel Jul 11, 2023

@kathhayhoe it is never too late to make the future less awful than it would otherwise be.

ErgonWolf Jul 9, 2023

@kathhayhoe The most important thing for the climate would be for governments to start banning carbon energy like they did HFCs years and years ago. But they won't because capitalism won't allow the kind of disruption that is required to save the planet. As long as capitalism is driving the consumption of carbon energy, individual action won't make any difference. The level of drastic change is unappealing and unlikely in this world.

Evan Prodromou Jul 10, 2023

@kathhayhoe I love it!

@kathhayhoe @billmckibben this is so unscientific. congratulations for embracing the middle ages: "it doesn't matter what you do, but *why* you do it".

John Englart Jul 10, 2023

@kathhayhoe @billmckibben fully agree. Talking to anyone and everyone, but particularly engagement with politicians about the #climateCrisis problem and the solutions is one of the most important climate action we can and should undertake.

Murat Cem Mengüç Jul 10, 2023

@kathhayhoe this is really problematic. I don’t see why one should cancel the other. In fact, thinking and acting about personal carbon footprint is one of the best ways of becoming an outspoken activist for change. Why should I stop one to do the other? They are mutually inclusive.

Dr. Katharine Hayhoe Jul 10, 2023

@mcmenguc I'm not sure why you so misinterpreted what I said. Please do read the entire thread and articles again.

Manu Jul 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?

Manu Jul 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.

DanS Jul 10, 2023

@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

Threadbane Jul 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.

DanS Jul 10, 2023

@Yakkafo @kathhayhoe @Threadbane Yep. Truth.

Manu Jul 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 😀

DanS Jul 10, 2023

@kathhayhoe @Yakkafo Definitely!