I do. I know how serious it is and I know our planet is basically toast. Anyone feel the same? How to cope?
It's not the talk because the current generation and the people in power do not get to fill their pockets by making the world a better place for future generations. When they don't care about making it better for the current generation, what makes people think they care about the future. It's all self-self-self for most of the people in power. That's how they get to the top in the first place. It's the sad truth.
Just yesterday I was with my flatmate at the supermarket and we looked at each other when the people in front of us bought a paprika in a packet, they bought 4 of these. Seriously, do we need this? What about peeled oranges in plastic bags. Fixing these small things is not going to solve the problem, but it does have an impact. I wish we could depend solely on the government, makes things so easy for us, but every one of us needs to pitch in. Having written a comment here, I know you do, but everyone needs to.
Shutting down the economy will result in much the same Dark Age scenario as climate change, only quicker.
Hence, no action.
We are a Virus. Viruses are life like any other, remember. The difference is they do what they do to survive, it isn't malice. What we do is a conscious choice to not care and often malicious.
Wouldn’t a parasite be a better analogy? An organism that lives off of a host at the cost of the host.
Copied from another topic discussing depression due to climate change about a week ago:
After reading up on the scary reality of climate change I felt the same hopelessness as you describe. The haunting feeling that I would have to do everything right now to prepare for the worst in the future was more than enough to keep me awake at night. It is still the reason why I doubt to have any children as the future does appear grim.
My mental relief was to actively start working towards the climate solutions myself. I'm employed as an assistant professor in biotechnology and have been using my network (both academic and industrial) to start getting traction on idea's that could be both financially interesting and significantly help us reach our goals to keep the climate stable. I'm a firm believer that when sustainable technology becomes profitable the transition will go automatically. Looking at how competitive science can be, it comforts me to know that all over the world clever scientists are doing the same thing!
Also, try to keep a healthy focus on the news that shows positive signs. Just this week, 10 European countries backed the 0-emissions goal for 2050 (http://www.climatechangenews.com/2018/11/20/ten-eu-ministers-back-net-zero-emissions-2050/). In the UK, the "Extinction rebellion" managed to amass a huge number of climate protesters last weekend (https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/extinction-rebellion-protest-civil-action-london-climate-change-a8638536.html). This week scientists published research demonstrating we can engineer "biological solar panels" by coupling yeast cells to nanoparticles, which has tremendous potential to directly transform CO2 and sunlight into fuels and chemicals (https://www.osa-opn.org/home/newsroom/2018/november/nano_solar_panels%E2%80%9D_turn_yeast_cells_into_biofactor/). And that is just naming a few from this week.
Last but definitely not least, keep in mind that the future challenges regarding climate seem impossible to solve from our current perspective. Advancements in science are accelerating almost exponentially as we keep building on acquired knowledge. Imagine telling people after the first flight by the wright brothers that we would have to land people on the moon within their lifetime. Or the people that built the first supercomputer that in 50 years, everyone needs a computer with over a million times the computing power in their pocket. Although I believe everyone should take whatever action they can right now, I do believe our advances in science will make our problems look much more manageable as time goes by.
When the situation does become dire you can always "check out". Until then, try to be part of the solution and keep enjoying the trip, use your sense of hopelessness to motivate yourself :-)!
Yes, it is depressing. However, we can do something about it. Everyone can try to reduce the energy they use, vote for politicians (of either party) who do not think that climate change is a hoax but are willing to do something about it (carbon tax, reduction in fossil fuels, etc.), and support carbon-free energy production.
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5.5y
I’ve thought about not having children too.
I've thought about it also. Hard. And also really debated not having a second one. Until I did some research and also gave myself some perspective. I hope my story helps you:
Firstly, if everyone in the world just has 2 kids the population would decline. The replacement rate is 2.2 (I think) due to some women not having children or passing away before they can. If everybody stops having kids today or just has one kid of course less people is better but not ubruptly. It would create huge demographic problems (look at china). When we are old, our smaller generations will need to support us. Not fair on them. Look how screwed we already are looking after baby boomers.
Most developed nations birth rate is below the replacement level anyway (Europe as an example). So basically education is what is important. Education and empowerment of women to be more specific. Studies find that educated working women usually don't want to have more than replacement rate of kids on average. Typically 0-2 kids makes sense, certainly does for us.
This leads me to my next point: the vast majority of the world is still not educated on climate change and sustainability. YOU are. YOU care. So you having 2 kids that will be well educated and caring about the climate will not have a negative impact.
They will have problems to deal with yes. But never underestimate the power of human will to survive. They will see sea level rise but also huge scientific advancement in medicine and peoples way of thinking.
I hope you can make the right choice for you. Good luck!
I really like the tone of your post, but I have to say, it really leaves some major points of concern unaddressed. Having a child is the single highest carbon generating act almost any person could ever commit. Having multiple is, of course, puts that damage on a multiplier. While there is something to be said for teaching children about the importance of taking care of the environment, any child born in a first world country, regardless of how mindful they are, will produce a large mass of carbon every year. Adoption is an excellent option if a person feels they absolutely cannot find fulfillment without children. Noble sacrifices are not easy, but they're the most concrete way to show you really care about others and the planet.
You're right of course. But I'm a realist. Poor uneducated people are having 5 kids while we debate no kids or adoption online. Absolutely, adopting a child must be the greatest gift you could give in many ways.
If you do that, you're a better person than I am. I just wanted to tell OP that he/she shouldn't beat themselves for having a kid.
In the same way my militant vegan buddy creates more carnivores than helping with change, most people don't have the time or money or inclination to turn their lives 180 deg. In this current world of black or white, I argue for the gray areas. Change the way you think. Make small changes. Eat less meat, stop using disposible plastic, shop smart.
In my opinion, and that's all it is, getting your foot in the door of people's value system or habits is already a huge win. Same goes for kids. These days in the West it is pretty unpopular to have 3 kids. If the whole world took on this attitude overnight- it would mean population has peaked today and will slowly go down. Amazing. Try tell that to a Nigerian farmer. It will take a few generations to of socio-economic change and you first need to get them to listen to you and believe your message. Then increase efforts.
My wife and I adopted our first two children, then planned on having one of our own and ended up with twins. Our twins are literal geniuses, and I am raising them to be fluent in science (they understand phase change at 3 years old) so that they can help save our planet. I think I'm doing the right thing, despite bringing new people into the world.
Don't wonder about "what ifs"... just try to make the best of everything, always!
Jesus.
That movie was really depressing and spoke to basically everything I feel about climate change.
That's honestly why I will not be having one even though I would love to be a father. I will not burden my children with the arrogance and self destructive behaviors of their forefathers
Of course it's frightening but hman beings have always faced tough stuff. How do you think people felt in the 1340's when a third of the world died from Bubonic Plague? They carried on, one way or another.
This is a serious problem but WE CAN FIX IT. We just need to get policymakers, investors, corporations, and governments on the same page and MOVE. Give the engineers a challenge and they'll fix it. This can be done. The only thing that will wreck us is if we act like Trump and ignore the problem.
Don't feel bad about having kids. Kids are life. The kid you raise with love may be the one who comes up with the battery that makes an electric car with a 500 mile range for under 20 grand, or a solar cell that powers a whole house for 50 bucks, or a strain of algae that can be grown in saltwater lagoons that fixes carbon in the form of pellets and pulls carbon out of the water and the air.
Don't give up. Find something to do that helps, no matter how small, and do it. Fight. This is the work we have been given to do in this world, right now. Do your job.
Well said.
life finds a way, but we dont need to make it so hard for us.
Your plague analogy is a good point. Everybody was dying around you, there was very little hope, but somehow enough people survived and got through it. It is possible we could turn it round. We are in for a fight but it’s a fight we can still win. Time is running out but with a combination of adaptation and action to limit emissions and even possibly reverse some of the damage we do have a future. Keep talking, keep acting, keep believing. We can do it.
I tell my self that you are less capable of doing good when in a depressed mindset so it’s actually more productive to stay positive
Yes. What I would say is to accept how far we are into this mess is, and it is indeed very very far - the best case is that our planet won't even be as biologically diverse as it is now by 2050 - but to choose to live your own life according to your own values. Reduce what you use personally and try to influence the people around you. Admittedly, for me, even this approach often leaves me feeling hopelessly ineffective when I see other people dumping plastic into bins or driving everywhere they go. But you have to accept that outside of influencing the people around you by your own actions, you are only one person. This is an issue many many people have created - you can't undo it. You can choose to not be as much a part of the problem though. And choose your vote very carefully - that's a little bit of power you do have.
You'll probably still feel extremely depressed at times - that's normal when we're facing a catastrophe that no one cares about.
Nah, we're smart monkeys. We can fix any problems whatsoever if there's a need and a will.
I know how you feel. I have a 4 year old and I am terrified for him and feel guilty for bringing him into this world. It's consuming my life.
Don't feel guilty, the future will need to be "repopulated", no matter what.
The world will be different and the struggle might be different, but yes, people will still be needed.
The civilization still has other pressing challenges as well, as the persistent nuclear-war threat. Nations still has enough nuclear warheads to kill everyone several times over.
Should we stop having kids because of that? No.
If people gives up having kids we will certainly have no future at all.
I’ve been studying climate change at uni and I have to come the conclusion that it’s all good. The planet will be absolutely fine but it will become inhospitable for human life sooner or later. But we’re all gonna die sooner or later anyway so why worry...? It’s just evolution, everything dies out eventually and another mass extinction is no big deal. It’s just the way it goes. Our earth will be just fine without us:)
interesting view lol im just wondering how soon is sooner or later
Well if you look back over the past couple thousand years the world was meant to end hundreds of times and it still hasn’t. We’ve survived things like y2k and the last ice age plus countless of thousands of other diseases, meteors, wars and natural disasters so we’ll be right:) Climate change is just the new doomsday obsession that humans seem to need. All civilisations die out eventually, it ain’t no biggie 😉 (and beside the point, humans and animals alike are more likely to die from a car accident than climate change)
e? They carried on, one way or another.
This is a serious problem but WE CAN FIX IT. We just need to get policymakers, investors, corporations, and governments on the same page and MOVE. Give the engineers a challenge and they'll fix it. This can be done. The only thing that will wreck us is if we act like Trump and ignore the problem.
Don't feel bad about having kids. Kids are life. The kid you raise with love may be t
Going down the Nihilist/Anti natalist route eh
thank you for taking the time to reply i love hearing peoples opinions
I am starting to practice meditation and more positive thinking to keep myself functional. I am studying environmental science and chemistry and I know that I will be of great service to communities and the planet when I practice self-care and good mental health practices. In reading Bill McKibben's piece on what is the most effective climate advocacy action to take, I know that the best thing I can do is continue to raise awareness about climate change in my community and inform community members know about how their local political candidates feel about this issue.
I think that people who are skeptical of the claims of climate disaster simply do not beleive it will happen so they are not concerned about something they do not believe will happen. This is not to say some of them are not depressed but this would be from other issues.
Personally l used to suffer from depression and l understand now that there was no particular issue that caused it.
On the other hand the only people who claim they are depressed about consequences of climate change, and there are regular contributers here claiming this, are the ones who say they believe in climate change disaster in the near future.
This, and the other parts of science denial, have gotten me really depressed. People all over I see keep saying science is all fake or it's all part of a globalist money making scheme. It's so disheartening that I just want to give up. To quit and just not care about anything anymore. I hate it.
Well, where are you getting your information that we are doomed? I certainly believe there is a chance, but there's also a chance we will make it out.
I mean I felt really sad like you did a few days ago but I guess now I feel better. No sense in being depressed about something that you can't even control anyway..
I feel you a lot, AND the thing Is that we can do our little work wich Is reduce our consuming impact, but that Is all..... The real Hard work Is for huge companies AND their continuing waste of resources Like water (for clothes for example ) I am begining to think that there Is More than enough clothes for every single human being don't you think ? AND the big impact really big impact Will be seeing if the industries just STOP making things that explotes the earth ..... AND there Is nothing wey can do about It they won't listen they think are some kind of immortal humans.... Don't know I just feel powerless :(
Please see the previous climate angst discussions here ...
https://www.reddit.com/r/climatechange/comments/9z06z8/hopelessness/
here ...
https://www.reddit.com/r/climatechange/comments/9xwwcp/the_catastrophe_narrative/
here ...
https://www.reddit.com/r/climatechange/comments/9wslqg/is_there_any_good_news/
here ...
here ...
https://www.reddit.com/r/climatechange/comments/9n4s5k/how_should_i_live_when_facing_catastrophe/
here ...
here ...
https://www.reddit.com/r/climatechange/comments/9scwyx/should_i_stay_optimistic/
as well as the weekly “how fucked are we!!?” post by /u/Pondy001
Throughout history prognostication of doom and gloom has resulted in mental illness both short and long term. Depression is a means of escape for people who feel helpless. Maybe I can brighten you up by reminding you that not one of the predictions made by AGW believers has come to pass. Not one. You're depressed because the media that you choose to follow keeps hammering doom into your head. That's one of the ways propaganda works, simple repetition of the same idea from multiple sources. Those sources could be people atop crates barking to credulous onlookers, or blogs. I'd like to help you out. Start with whatever aspect of AGW most concerns you and I'll help you understand what\s really going on.
I am not OP but have similar concerns. Living in Interrior BC my main specific worry right now is having my city burn to the ground within my lifetime (or my kid's lifetime) due to increases in uncontrolable wildfires. The loss of biodiversity, specifically instects, is also depressing and scary.
I don’t know. I just feel scared. I don’t want to see the world in a catastrophic state like people are saying. I don’t know when it’s supposed to happen. I don’t know what to think. Why do you think it’s propaganda?
People believe that the role of the news media is to inform. That's simply not true. The role of the media is to provide a platform for paid advertising. Every media outlet is out to make a profit, and the way to do that is to secure an audience and retain it. That means giving the audience what it wants. Until the advent of yellow journalism there were few newspapers that made money because people did not care about the general news. But, give them a lurid story and they bought the paper and read the ads. AGW and all of it's related scary stuff is lurid content driving readership. Once a website has a following of concerned people it's not about to run a story about how they were incorrect in previous articles. That drives readers away and hurts profits. So, the propaganda aspect is about having an audience hooked and reeling them in on a daily basis.
You've been misinformed. Where do you get these silly ideas from? Stop reading alarmist nonsense from the doom cult.
I think it was my mom who actually scared me first, but I'm thinking more rational about it now. Thank you
Absolutely. But I'm also inspired by the things people are doing. Some of are tied to what business is able to do. There is a lot we can do to change course, but it requires a different approach. Some business efforts are in this subreddit https://www.reddit.com/r/bcorp/
Yes
Just think about how good your life is now. Try to enjoy each day as much as you can. Appreciate all of the wonders we get to enjoy in today's lifestyle. Treat yourself.
Because....well, you know why....
Two words. Get involved. Actually involved. It's not gonna solve itself. Join us. U are not alone.
Or worry, but know that worrying Is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing Bubble gum ~ Baz Luhrmann
Yes, at times, I do.
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Yes. I have two kids 18 and 5. I have no clue how to talk about this. I do not understand how this is not the #1 priority for every sector of government and the rest of society. Except that we aren’t built that way, it seems. For all our millennias of evolution we’re going to end up swimming in our own waste until we die, like some kind of virus.