Do older people need to have global warming explained to them?

It never is Callistemon, we just have to keep trying.
Meanwhile, it has just been announced that the wee island of Cumbrae is 'discussing' a solar energy installation. For anyone who has ever visited the lovely Millport, possibly a wind farm would work better?

Ah, if only people were better at maths...

Last year, 91 GW of power capacity was approved.

This year, in one quarter, 20 GW were approved. Pro rata, that means that less will be approved this year than last year.

Maremia

That's a very encouraging article about China. I thought they were still focussed only on fossil fuels, volver.
Yes, we could have learned back then, albertina. Hope enough of us can start to learn now.

It's not all good news: ☹

www.theguardian.com/world/2023/apr/24/china-ramps-up-coal-power-despite-carbon-neutral-pledges#:~:text=Local%20governments%20in%20China%20approved,2021%2C%20according%20to%20official%20documents

I believe Maremia that emissions are forecast to drop for the first time ever this year, because of the change in approach from China.

That would be good news.

That's a very encouraging article about China. I thought they were still focussed only on fossil fuels, volver.
Yes, we could have learned back then, albertina. Hope enough of us can start to learn now.

Discussion between the generations is a good thing. Yes? Okay so we have lived long enough to 'know it all', but if our Grandchildren take time to try to 'convert' us to green ways, then let them. That's how they learn things, isn't it, Teachers on this post? You listen, you memorise, and then you pass on what you have learned. You are helping their understanding by letting them explain to you how they see issues, and hey, you might actually get to hear something new to you and valuable to our survival as a species.

I don't because I remember Thor Heyerdahl on his raft encountering mountains of plastic in the oceans years and years ago. Why didn't we listen then ?

I think so, Norah. I’m amazed at the frequency with which change their furniture, buy and dispose of clothes and what they spend on holidays. It’s completely alien to me. Much of it, I suspect, involves credit. We live well, but quite simply. We’re neither wasteful nor extravagant.

Elegran You could be right, GSM We could only get a mortgage for two and a half times one salary (and paying up that mortgage when we soon were indeed living on only one salary as our children arrived proved that the lenders were quite right in not countenancing lending any more than they did

Indeed.

People were pleased with little. We were and still are.

It seems to me, sometime after we bought/quickly paid for our home - move house waste began, many times apart from necessary or work moves. Beginning of the 'get new and not reuse' mentality?

Gundy

You Go, Girls!
Let’s agree to disagree. This post won’t die anytime soon. Everyone dug in.

Glad we don’t have these kinds of discussions in the US.
Much…
😉🥺

Oh look. The man has spoken. That's us told.

Well I don't agree to disagree.

You Go, Girls!
Let’s agree to disagree. This post won’t die anytime soon. Everyone dug in.

Glad we don’t have these kinds of discussions in the US.
Much…
😉🥺

How about the young parents who buy their kids ( 8 years up) electric scooters to use illegally on roads and footpaths. No resources used on the batteries and plastics! Yes, us oldies need education on global warming

silvercollie

We are but a tiny country in physical size. How much different to the large ones - China, Russia, south America etc. Can someone point me in the direction of what these countries are doing to alleviate the challenge?
Anyway Nature will always do its own thing no matter what man might choose to alter it.

China?

Here's your starter for 10.

reasonstobecheerful.world/china-solar-power-green-transition/

We are but a tiny country in physical size. How much different to the large ones - China, Russia, south America etc. Can someone point me in the direction of what these countries are doing to alleviate the challenge?
Anyway Nature will always do its own thing no matter what man might choose to alter it.

Lol, I have been a member of green peace, since I was very young in the 70s since it started I am a member Earth Justice and other environmental groups too. I live a very sustainable life. I shop only on vinted, eBay, car boots sales, charity shops or clothes swaps. if I do buy new it’s always ethical and sustainable. I have never put anything into a dump, I have been upcycling since I was about 8 even though I didn’t know it was called that. I do not take long fights, I gave up driving for environmental reasons , walk or cycle I upcycle - recyle mend and reuse. I eat fresh, local and clean I don’t food waste and I use sites like too good to go. I belong to crafting and sustainability workshops. I save water and energy wherever I can.
So, the answer to that is no and I for one I find that very patronising.

How do you suggest that people improve their transport and food without the kind of practical help that environmentalists are asking for? I am a 73 year old active member of XR. Over the recent 4 day action there were plenty of oldies but it was overwhelmingly younger folk giving up their time and energy and money to highlight the issue. I have been vegetarian for about 44 years and vegan in the last 2 of those. I have always bought in charity shops, recycled etc. and I have a diesel van because we were once told by the government and motor industry that this was the greenest option at the time. I would change to an electric vehicle in a heartbeat if there was a suitable one available that I could afford! In the meantime I use it sparingly and willingly pay the ULEZ charge. Please don't let the Daily Mail influence you.

At work, I'm the one who recycles & reuses - despite the company's initiative on zero waste.
The younger ones here just don't seem bothered!

So little tolerance on this site today, it's getting worse. Why can't people express their views, controversial or otherwise, in a calm and polite manner? No need for sniping at all.

I need to dig out the headbanging emoji again.

Elegran

Only if the explanation is combined with an intensive course in sucking eggs.

It should also include the old person explaining to the explainer all about -
-1) - how to avoid waste by not throwing out foods which don't actually go "off" because they are preserves, pickles, fresh vegetables or fruit which look, smell and taste absolutely perfect, or leftovers due to over-estimating quantities for the meal.
-2) - the benefits of wearing old clothes for messy occupations instead of new ones.
-3) - why they don't need to throw every single item worn today into the washing machine and wear a completely new set tomorrow.
-4) - how to clean a home without pouring bleach and other strong chemicals over everything.
-5) - how interesting it can be to take holidays/vacations nearer to home, somewhere that doesn't involve a long-haul flight.

You forgot the how to go shopping without using umpteen single use carrier bags and/or carrying a plastic cup of coffee/bottle of water with you constantly.

I personally don't need anyone, young or old, to explain climate change and the damage we are doing to the environment.

However, I know many people of all ages who simply cannot be bothered reading or hearing anything about it, and who have plenty of good excuses for not doing what they could to change things.

So, yes, we do need people who are willing and able to fight that particular fight, and I am very thankful to Greta Thunberg for taking the stand she did, and influencing as many people as she did.

Had I been her age, I would have been out there beside her, even although I in my youth chose other fights than the environmental one - equality between men and women and between different ethnic groups has always been my thing.

My concern for the planet consists mainly of not using things that cause the greatest polution, saving on electricity and water etc.

Why does the BBC think that older people are all global warming unaware and do not know or understand that we how to change our lives to meet future challenges?

I don't think the point of the article is "old people are global warming unaware..." I find it fascinating to talk with any and all of our children, grandchildren, great grandchildren. If they learn and tell me true facts - who am I to object, regardless the truth tellers age? So, what is the real issue?

Perhaps not believing oneself the smartest in the room on all topics? Obviously nothing to do with ages of posters, their children, grandchildren impacts ability to be good listeners who want the best.

I fear the hot air this thread has generated must have made its own contribution to global warming . 🎈

volver you ability to twist people's words to mean what you want them to mean is world class.

I try assiduously to avoid personal point scoring and the sort of tit for tats between two people which are currently plaguing GN.

I started this thread but I will not be taking any further part in it in order to avoid just such an event.

This is quite old but it’s the most up to date I could find.

There’s been quite a bit of discussion on this thread about how people do their bit by recycling their waste and how governments need to ban private planes.

I’ve said a few times, that’s all well and good, but it’s a drop in the ocean. Blaming other people for being profligate, while saying that we already know what we have to do, is burying our heads in the sand.

Half of our emissions come from electricity and heat generation and from agriculture, forestry or land use. Only 14% is from transportation, and private jets will be a small fraction of that. So banning private jets is just another drop in the ocean. All the yogurt pots and t-shirts that we are cutting down on are part of the 21% included in Industry, so even if we were to do away with that sector all together, it leaves 80% of emissions to deal with. And we will never do that by recycling our yogurt pots and making our clothes last longer.

If we really want to make a difference, it’s the electricity and heat generation we have to deal with, plus land use. And the only people who can make a big enough difference in those areas are the governments. Everything else is very good and worthwhile, but its tinkering.

Renewable energy and sustainable land use is what we need.
I realise that the figures will have changed in the last decade but it’s the relevant size of the slices which is important.