Climate change and our grandchildren’s future

undines

Climate change is a scam and a very sinister one that is destroying the future for our children - not because of what is happening to the planet but because of the depression, fear and despair induced. 'Climate change denier' has become an insulting label, and an excuse to reject all those (and there are many of them) genuine scientists who dispute the 'evidence' for human-caused climate change. Yes, there is always climate change, always has been, but global warming is in dispute and certainly the role of fossil fuels has been distorted. Why? As always, follow the money. The net zero nonsense is also a handy way to frighten and control people. We need carbon in the atmosphere, it makes things grow. What we do not need are greedy corporations and cynical governments who put forward a scary myth, silence debate and meanwhile ignore REAL environmental concerns, such as pollution. Check out 'Climate Change, the Cold Truth' on youtube

There is plenty of genuine scientific and empirical evidence to support the existence of climate change. Youtube is not always the best source of real, impartial news.

It is the gas carbon dioxide that is necessary for plant growth not carbon solids floating in the air from emissions.

As pollution (mainly caused by fossil fuels including oil) is seen as one of the major causes of global warming, I am sure that it is a very REAL concern of environmentalists and it is not being ignored.

Trump has made sure of that today- one his first priority.

And some here will rejoice, and revere his every word. And some are grandparents - who wish hell on their world and are proud of it.

It was almost too late then- it is now.

Our poor grandchildren and those coming after them.

rubysong

We had a very sobering talk at WI about the climate emergency. We now realise the government is doing nothing to educate us about why it is happening and what can be done. Keir Starmer said just this week he isn't going to tell people how to live their lives. That is exactly what he should be doing. Why are we still getting masses of adverts on TV for cruises and other holidays, when air travel and cruises are so bad for the environment? Money and jobs of course, but difficult decisions will need to be taken by all countries and so far there is no sign of that happening.

What we need for a start is a well funded programme to insulate everyone's house and a well funded programme to support heat pump installation by bringing the cost down to that of a new gas boiler. What we have at the moment is far too little.

I wonder if your daughter’s decision is more about her understandable fear of watching her child suffer in a terrifying future than reducing the population. Having only yourself to worry about would feel like a blessing in comparison to seeing little ones endure the unthinkable with little hope for their future.

A few thoughts from me. Yes, climate change is going to change the way we live and the lifestyle choices we make. But the planet will survive! It has done all these millions of years. It's humans and life forms that will suffer..but generally the natural world does adapt and we will too. There is so much potential technologically that can mitigate against global warming and it will be the bright young minds of gen Z and gen alpha and the yet unborn who will be part of those innovations. I also agree with others here who are cynical about the way masses of money is being made through peddling fear and pessimism. I honestly don't buy it. I too recall those terrifying nuclear war ads on tv in the 80s, what with all the bunkers we were supposed to have in our gardens. And her we are rerrifying our poor kids about another horror. Please let's speak hope and life to them.

Primrose
It’s the speed at which the climate is accelerating.
We aren’t talking about cold here, but heat.
They didn’t build all those wind farms off the Norfolk coast for people to look at 🤷‍♀️

Mollygo With fewer people, humankind would be producing far fewer emissions, industry would evolve, less new builds on green fiels sites, more re-developing and re-using existing buildings, the pressure off house prices making home ownership easier and cheaper.

the down sides is that people will have to retire much later and with smaller pensions as there will not be enough younger people to fund state pensions and older people will be needed in the work force.

Any situation has pros and cons.

The climate is continually changing and always has been. We had Ice Ages didn’t we?

When my Midlands born husband first visited Norfolk 50 years ago he could not believe how windy it was. He remarked the other day we seldom get winds here like we used to. It was always windy, often fiercely so.

We had baking hot summers where we all got sunburned and we had summers when it poured with rain and was dull nearly all the school holidays.

Actually, the benefits of people not having children might include fewer cars on the road, fewer houses needed, less fuel of any sort needed, less food needed.
The disadvantages would include fewer future scientists developing ways to save the Earth, fewer future medical staff to care for and cure the existing generations and fewer people available to care for us as we all inevitably get older.

I’m more hopeful and as M0nica says,
Giving up now, when we have so much science and knowledge we did not have before is ridiculous.

'Its too late' is what the pessimists in every generation say. Remember all those women who were not going to have children in the 1960s/70s because they expected nuclear warfae imminently. If they had had children they would now be in their 50s or 60s now.

Humankind has come through so many catastrophes over the 6 million or so years we have been around. Giving up now, when we have so much science and knowledge we did not have before is ridiculous.

I don't think it has to be too late. But I have lost a lot of faith in
(en masse) humanity recently. If all pulled together, starting from today, yes, tech & the progress we've made already in some areas should stabilise things. What I don't believe is that our current socio-political world set-up is capable of delivering this so I wouldn't bet on us saving our earth as it is.
Seem to have heard that there are a lot of positive feedback mechanisms with global warming (eg the more icecap melts, the less cooling comes from the icecaps in future) so the rate of warming accellerates as it gets warmer, maybe that's why there aren't billions of years till unlivable in the climate models as one poster hoped.

Notagranyet24
You’re perfectly correct. It’s too late 😥
I can’t begin to imagine the migration problem climate change is going to cause.

chrissy08

Couldn’t agree more! We need more carbon not less, how do you think plants grow. It’s a scam, follow the money trail & think for yourselves instead of swallowing the propaganda machine.

It’s not as simple as you think.
Every living thing operates at a balance. Too much or not enough puts it all off kilter.
We all know that we need water to survive, but drink too much of it and you’re in trouble. The same with carbon.

If I was newly married I don’t think I’d choose to have children, I’m so worried about what is to happen in my grandsons’ future. Let alone what things might be like in 100 years

Are you watching Panorama?

DiddyNan

EEJit

Climate change is a reality, it has been since the day the earth was born. As much as we'd like to, we can't stop it.

I remember not all that long ago the "experts" telling us we were about to enter an ice age, and then mother nature changed her mind and decided she didn't like the cold.

What is a scam, is all these schemes and ideas to stop it, they won't, it WILL happen but after we are all dead and gone.

Sorry to be a doom merchant, but remember your natural history!

Im

Agree.

Disagree

Whatever the cause of the current global warming, if you like the 'natural' explanation that is fine.

But whether the cause is manmade or natural, our high consumption of fossil fuels that adds to the warming is still not a good thing.

When you have a fire, you do not use petrol to try to extinguish it. - and this is what we are doing at present.

So the debateable cause of global arming does not in any way mean that our efforts to reduce the rate of warming by cutting out human made sources is unnecessary, on the contrary, if global warming is natural then we need to be even more persistent in cutting our own contribution to the natural problem.

EEJit

Climate change is a reality, it has been since the day the earth was born. As much as we'd like to, we can't stop it.

I remember not all that long ago the "experts" telling us we were about to enter an ice age, and then mother nature changed her mind and decided she didn't like the cold.

What is a scam, is all these schemes and ideas to stop it, they won't, it WILL happen but after we are all dead and gone.

Sorry to be a doom merchant, but remember your natural history!

Im

Agree.

My parents were born just before and during World War 1. I was born during WorldWar 2 and grew up under the mushroom cloudof the Cold War.

It is difficult to think of any generation since time began that were not born under what to them was an existential threat.

Come to that, how about being Jewish in Germany in the 1903s/40s. or living in Gaza now?

In fact, where climate control is involved, a lot has had and a lot is happening. Between 1990 and 2022 the UK has reduced its production of greenhouse gases by 50% www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=How+much+has+Britain+reduced+greenhouse+emissions+since+1990

Much of the technology we use now to reduce emissions didn't even exist in 1990. This will continue.

I am sure mankind will run it to the wire, but with birth rates falling and technology booming. I am sure with effort we will survive.

I can remember the Great London Smogs of the 1950s, that killed thousands of people and contrubted to my grandmother's death.

I do have concerns for the future generations. Even though I am being denied contact with my grandchildren I still worry about what the world will be like for them and any of their offspring. I do what I can but me alone cannot save the world. I get so frustrated that there's so many selfish people today. For example, my next-door neighbours grandchildren have off road motorbikes. Obviously, the children are growing. The older child was telling us he was getting new protective clothing as he had grown out of his. We turned to the younger one and said wasn't it great, he could have big brothers old gear. You should have heard grandma. "My (younger) Grandson isn't wearing second hand, I will buy him new". You should have seen his face drop. He actually wanted big brothers cast offs. This is the woman who, in the 8 years she has been our neighbour, has had 5 brand new sets of dining table and chairs. Buys all new clothes, right down to the underwear, when she jets off on her holidays, only recycles what she has to, but most goes into the rubbish bin. Won't give any of her cast offs to charity shops; she would rather put it in the bin to go to the tip. Her opinion is that she won't be here to see the world fall apart so why should she do anything to save it. I don't talk to her much now as she has an entirely selfish attitude. P. S. When we go on holiday we go UK. We camp, mainly, and never buy new clothes for our holidays. I repurpose old clothes, most of which are from charity shops, grow as much fruit and veg as our garden allows. I know everyone is different, but I will continue to do my bit.

Wyllow3

David Attenborough - 4 minutes on climate change

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p076w7g5

and that was 5 years ago!!

Someone in my family said this a few years ago. He is a holier than thou climate change advocate but now has two children who he obviously adores.

He travels regularly by plane, and drives a car. He seems to have no scruples about using fossil fuels and plastics when it suits him to do so, but still bangs on about not buying balloons or other plastic items for his children.

David Attenborough - 4 minutes on climate change

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p076w7g5

chrissy08

Couldn’t agree more! We need more carbon not less, how do you think plants grow. It’s a scam, follow the money trail & think for yourselves instead of swallowing the propaganda machine.

I get very tired of being told by people to think for myself just because I hold views that are different to them.

Just why some people think they know better than anyone else and no one else is able to research and think is beyond me. People who go around calling everyone else 'sheeple' are usually just sheeple themselves, who will listen to anyone so long as they are not establishment.

I believe the Chinese are working harder to make their country carbon neutral than most other countries.

By sending their plastic tat to the rest of the world.
I just wish we weren't so addicted to cheap plastic imports.