I do believe the biggest impact would come from regulating large companies and billionaires, but it’s not one or the other.

69 points

Vote.

permalink
report
reply
23 points

Wisely.

permalink
report
parent
reply
9 points

Voting is broken in US IMHO…
Corporations lobby and drive policies…

We the people clearly don’t matter to the US of A … We’re just huminerals to them ; especially the “middle class”…

permalink
report
parent
reply
4 points

No disagreemnt, but at the same time, voting can still make the difference between “pretty fucked” and “totally fucked.” And that’s not nothing.

permalink
report
parent
reply
1 point

The middle class, during my lifetime, used to mean one income supported a family of four.

Now, even DINKs struggle.

permalink
report
parent
reply
9 points
*

This is the biggest one. Activism on the side would be good too, but that might not be simple depending on how far you go with it (a simple lawn sign does count!).

It’s for the simple reason that most people will not deliberately sacrifice to decrease carbon footprint themselves, and need it to be legislated.

permalink
report
parent
reply
7 points

I don’t think it’s fair to put the blame on individuals not reducing their carbon footprints. It’s big industries that are fucking the climate. (Oil being likely the biggest one.) And the solution isn’t to incentivise individuals to bicycle more. It’s to regulate industry to stop taking oil out of the ground.

The idea that the individual citizen is the problem and and the solution to climate change and other environmental issues is propaganda invented by industry to get the focus off of them. “We oil companies aren’t the problem. You need to drive less.” “We plastic manufacturers didn’t put tons of plastic in the oceans. You need to recycle more.”

“Voting with your dollars” is similarly a con.

The reason you vote (with your… you know… votes) is so that the administration that isn’t going to gut the EPA gets the next term. And maybe they’ll enforce regulations on special interests that actually make a positive difference in emissions.

permalink
report
parent
reply
6 points

Yeah, but don’t forget industry exists to sell things to consumers. I wouldn’t put the onus on an individual person, that is a scam, but everybody collectively I sure would.

The way to make everyone collectively do something is through legislation.

The reason you vote (with your… you know… votes) is so that the administration that isn’t going to gut the EPA gets the next term. And maybe they’ll enforce regulations on special interests that actually make a positive difference in emissions.

Friendly reminder that we’re not all Americans here.

permalink
report
parent
reply
2 points

This is the only suggestion that will make any difference

permalink
report
parent
reply
1 point

This and reducing flying is the best ‘bang for your buck’ in terms of individual actions imo. Even just starting by not eating beef is better than nothing.

permalink
report
parent
reply
69 points

Eat less or no meat probably. Enough people drive down meat demand would eventually lead to cattle reduction and less land for grazing.

permalink
report
reply
23 points
*

Don’t forget about diary.

Edit: *dairy

permalink
report
parent
reply
6 points

You’ll take cheese and 2% cow milk from my cold dead hands.

permalink
report
parent
reply
16 points

He said diary. He would like to take away your schedule

permalink
report
parent
reply
6 points
*

You: “you’ll take cheese and 2% cow milk from my cold dead hands.”

Nature: “hold my beer.”

I mean, this is the problem. We all will be cold and dead soon if we don’t fix this.

permalink
report
parent
reply
6 points

I only drink dear diary. 🦌

permalink
report
parent
reply
0 points

Almost forgot to write on my diary today

permalink
report
parent
reply
16 points
*

This. Since I gained access: I only buy local, hormone free, open pastured, humanly treated meat. It’s expensive as hell so I can only afford to eat smaller portions. It costs what it should cost.

permalink
report
parent
reply
7 points
*

It costs what it should cost.

Well said.

permalink
report
parent
reply
3 points

We’ve started doing this too. Tastes better and no leftovers that get thrown away.

permalink
report
parent
reply
2 points

Do you only mean beef or all meat?

permalink
report
parent
reply
5 points

Beef is the worst, but all meat really

permalink
report
parent
reply
0 points

Eating local meat is also a good option, especially with many cattle farms beginning to capture methane and become greener.

permalink
report
parent
reply
58 points

Eat your nearest billionaire.

permalink
report
reply
32 points

This is your only option. Managing your carbon footprint sounds like a great idea in concept, but the entire concept was created and promoted by oil companies to distract us from where the real damage comes from. Worrying about your own impact is noble but if you’re doing it to save the world you’re on the wrong track.

permalink
report
parent
reply
21 points

BP Oil telling people how to be more environmentally friendly has got to be the most hypocritical bullshit I’ve ever heard of.

permalink
report
parent
reply
5 points

Tacking onto this, I recall a Climate Town episode where he discussed which bank you decide to use matters. Oil companies’ biggest donors are banks that get to loan out your money.

permalink
report
parent
reply
4 points

Calm down there actual cannibal Shia LaBeouf.

permalink
report
parent
reply
1 point

Ooh, ooh, I get their toes and lips!!

permalink
report
parent
reply
1 point
Deleted by creator
permalink
report
parent
reply
0 points

Just don’t brag about it after; or else…

permalink
report
parent
reply
4 points

No, do brag about it. Be the change you want to see in the world.

permalink
report
parent
reply
1 point

Ok , go and brag about Your canabalising the wealthy… See how far that gets…

permalink
report
parent
reply
-7 points

Way to take some responsibility for your own impact.

permalink
report
parent
reply
7 points

The average billionaire lifestyle of extravagance creates about as much pollution as a business of reasonable size. Their year exceeds a hundred average lifetime carbon footprints. Thousands of lifetimes if you include construction’s environmental impact.

permalink
report
parent
reply
1 point

Agreed. What people don’t realize is that if they were to actually follow those recommendations, then oil companies wouldn’t be responsible for as much pollution. We can say it’s the corporations that are doing it, but it’s all of us that are keeping these corporations in business and buying the products that pollute. If we all took personal responsibility, the corporations 'level of output would decline. This is ALL about personal responsibility and it is infuriating to watch people say “well it’s the corporations” all the time.

permalink
report
parent
reply
41 points
*

Wear a condom.

There is nothing you can do to reduce your carbon footprint that comes even close to having no or fewer children.

You can get rid of your car, stop eating meat, recycle as much as you can and so on, but the impact of that together is a fraction of the reduction you can achieve by simply not creampieing your gf/wife.

You’ll also save a ton of money and you don’t have to deal with any annoying kids so it’s a win/win all around.

permalink
report
reply
1 point

Hmmm yes I will make sure to stop having sex with my great abundance of girlfriends

permalink
report
parent
reply
1 point

Yup, this is a fantastic side benifit to my absolutely not ever having kids.

permalink
report
parent
reply
29 points

Anytime you have a chance to vote, take it, and vote for whatever option will be most likely to reduce the overall emissions. In most cases, this will probably mean voting for programs/parties etc that oppose conservatism.

permalink
report
reply
4 points
*

Oh imagine a majority of people consistently doing that. We could go somewhere with our efforts.

permalink
report
parent
reply
1 point

In the US, neither party is serious about stopping climate change. They are both controlled by big oil, big car, etc.

permalink
report
parent
reply
2 points

I agree the the democrats are not nearly serious enough about stopping climate change, but the republican party is actively hindering efforts and definitely worse for the plant in the long run.
Neither party being serious does not mean one isn’t way worse than the other

permalink
report
parent
reply
1 point

You still need to hold the Dems feet to the fire. Just handing them your vote as the least worst option just means you’ll never be offered any good options. Make them work for it.

permalink
report
parent
reply
2 points

There is ideological diversity within the democratic party, especially at the local level. As part of a representative democracy, the electorate needs to be engaged with their representatives. You should start looking closely at your most local representatives.

permalink
report
parent
reply

Asklemmy

!asklemmy@lemmy.ml

Create post

A loosely moderated place to ask open-ended questions

Search asklemmy 🔍

If your post meets the following criteria, it’s welcome here!

  1. Open-ended question
  2. Not offensive: at this point, we do not have the bandwidth to moderate overtly political discussions. Assume best intent and be excellent to each other.
  3. Not regarding using or support for Lemmy: context, see the list of support communities and tools for finding communities below
  4. Not ad nauseam inducing: please make sure it is a question that would be new to most members
  5. An actual topic of discussion

Looking for support?

Looking for a community?

Icon by @Double_A@discuss.tchncs.de

Community stats

  • 10K

    Monthly active users

  • 5.9K

    Posts

  • 319K

    Comments