The Guardian asked hundreds of the world’s top climate scientists for their views on the most effective actions combating climate-ecological breakdown. The top 5 actions were:
1. Vote for representatives who pledge strong climate action.
2. Reduce flying and fossil fuel-powered transport in favour of electric and public transport.
3. Reduce meat consumption.
4. Reduce home heating or cooling emissions.
5. Join a campaign or protest group.
@nigel @GeofCox
That's an exceptionally uncharitable interpretation, because the top one by far is "vote for representatives that would take action", and that's likely the only action that would meaningfully control industrial emissions.
It's hardly like the 90s where apparently the top thing you could do was "switch devices off standby".
Personally, I was very pleased to see voting, campaigning and protesting 1 and 5 in the list - I think it shows that scientists are NOT looking at action mainly in terms of isolated, individual consumers.
There was a great interview with the pioneering climate scientist Michael Mann yesterday - warning precisely of dangers like seeing polluters and/or capitalism as so pervasive and powerful nothing can be done.
"Doomism and defeatism today pose as much of a threat to climate action as outright denial. As the impacts of climate change become ever more obvious, it’s very difficult to credibly deny the problem. So, polluters have instead turned to other tactics in their efforts to block action. And among them is fanning the flames of doomism, for if we truly come to believe there is nothing we can do, then why try? That’s why I focus, in my outreach efforts, on both urgency and agency – and the science supports this."
@nigel @GeofCox It's also why the whole article should be shared, as this provides context..
"Many of the experts were clear on the limits. “It can only go so far. Deep, rapid cuts in carbon emissions from oil and gas, as well as other sectors such as transport, are needed, which are outside the control of the average individual."
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/article/2024/may/09/what-are-the-most-powerful-climate-actions-you-can-take#:~:text=Individual%20action,-What%20do%20you&text=Everyone%20should%20%E2%80%9Ctalk%20about%20climate,also%20mentioned%20by%20multiple%20experts.
@GeofCox that feels wrong. Well, point 2 to 4 do.
Good to see the Guardian is falling still for the old BP trick: https://cz.boell.org/en/2023/07/26/individual-carbon-footprint-how-much-does-it-actually-matter designed to prevent meaningful change 👏
What we need is to force big changes in industry and energy infrastructure. And we need to start yesterday!
Corona and the war in Ukraine has shown how quickly industry can adapt when forced. Right now it feels little to no pressure of doing so about climate.
Students from Charles University in Prague who participated in the HBS study trip on “Feminist and Climate Foreign Policy” in Berlin write about why it is important not to blame the climate crisis on individuals and their consumer choices
@GeofCox pretty sad that these are the responses, when we can see what's killing our planet.
Not eating meat and not flying will make zero difference
"The two big sources of greenhouse gas emissions are energy and food production. It’s sometimes argued that we should focus on one or the other. This is a false dichotomy. We cannot address climate change without moving away from fossil fuels [or] without tackling global food production. Even if we stopped emissions from fossil fuels right now, emissions from food production alone would take us well beyond the carbon budget for 1.5°C."
“A vegan diet is probably the single biggest way to reduce your impact on planet Earth, not just greenhouse gases, but global acidification, eutrophication, land use and water use,” said Joseph Poore, at the University of Oxford
As points 2-5 seem to be unbearably for many, point 1 likely will not take place.
Hopefully science has some answers for "the days after".
@GeofCox Fine. But the top choice is an abdication of personal responsability.
Everyone has to look in the mirror.
And act.
@GeofCox Given that most of our emissions are generated by the few...
I am surprised that a revolution is not on that list.
I think at present that's covered by 5 in most places - Join a campaign or protest group. Anything that might deserve the description 'revolution' is I guess generally decades away, so perhaps, given the urgency they see, the scientists didn't think that qualified as 'effective action' !
Agreed.
I live in Australia where the right-wing opposition just wants to start building nuclear reactors and the Labor government confirms that we will have a gas industry for much longer than 2050. That's their contribution for the next decades.
I am with you with 5.
I believe my own private "climate savings" are nothing without politics implementing a climate-friendly society.
Yes - that's the thing - the '5 most effective actions' are not mutually exclusive - I'm trying to do them all...
@GeofCox thank you very much. I now realise it states that it was a survey on the image you shared, too!
Makes sense, but I wonder if we'd have seen more radical responses without that guiding framework.
Do you have a link to the Guardian article?
@GeofCox See also the pinned toot by @kathhayhoe as a great place to start.
🎙️ start a conversation about why climate change matters + what people can do
🤲 join a climate action group
💰 consider where you keep your money
💡spark ideas for change at work & school
🗳️ hold politicians accountable
🏡 reduce your personal footprint AND make your actions contagious by talking about them!
As Bill McKibben says , “the most important thing an individual can do right now is not be such an individual.”
@GeofCox "Reduce flying and fossil fuel-powered transport in favour of electric and public transport."
They left out active travel! 😮
@KimSJ @GeofCox The UK government still believes in "green aviation"...
Heidi Alexander gave evidence to the Transport Committee this week, defending airport expansions, because, well, "growth" 😩
Active travel was barely mentioned.
https://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/7026d22a-43e9-4e95-bbb8-7650a2abdcc8
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