Why are we not more worried about the long-term results of global warming?

Question

I recently watched a documentary, and at the end, there was a comment along the lines of:

"How would you feel if you had to look your great grandchild in the eyes and tell them 'we knew this was going to happen, but did nothing to stop it'?"

That really touched me! I do my bit, solar power, low consuption light bulbs etc... but when I talk to other people about it, they don't seem to care. Their answer is "A few low-consumption bulbs won't stop the problem."

YES - it will!! IF we all do it!

Give it a try, it won't harm you, but not doing it could really harm future generations! Think of your kids, and their kids etc...

This is a HUGE worldwide problem, and I wish governments and large companies would also come together to try to at least resolve some of the problems golbal warming will entail.

Answer 1

Don't you just hate reading about people who feel that there is no point in them doing their bit - If everybody did their bit the world would not be in such dire straits. It is because people don't actually want to do their bit that allow governments to pass legislation on our behalf that prevents us from doing as much as we would like - introducing meaningless targets that increase levels of enviro-crime

Answer 2

You are exactly right in what you are saying. It takes everybody to make a difference. The major reason why nothing is happening at the moment, I believe is because there is far to much money to be made from fossil fuels, as 1 example, there are many more. If you take into account that the British government has something like an 80-90% tax on petrol, there is no way that they are going to look into alternative fuels, whilst they can still generate this kind of revenue. You can run a diesel engine on used cooking fat, which when paid the tax, costs about 35p a litre. Which is fantastic for the environment, but not good for the fat cats sat in Parliament.

It is not only governments that need to change, but also peoples attitudes. What would it take for a family to give up their 2nd car? In 99% of the time is really isn't possible. But making small changes like you mentioned with light bulbs, not leaving the central heating on in every room. Boiling just the right amount of water in the kettle etc. These are changes every single person can make, and if they sat down at the end of it and worked out just how much money they were saving, I am sure they would attempt to do a lot more!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 3

Most people just dont care and the dont really think about it but if something is done now we can make a difference, and the answer I get is sure I'll be dead before anything like that happens but it is happening now, climate change, global warming etc

I look at people like ny neighbours who waste energy by leaving things plugged in with the red light still on when there is no need for it, filling the kettle up to the top for one cup of tea, not using low energy light bulbs, leaving lights on it is just a total waste of enery and you are right if everybody does something it WILL make a difference.

Does people who say bla bla wont change the problem are ignorant to there future.

If the governments of all countries did more to help the problem like campaigns to make people aware that one little change can really make a difference. Governments are not really helping the suituation I know they have to bring there pollution levels down by a certain year etc but is this really enough - I sont think so !!!!

We are destroying our world !!!!! The one in which we live

Man is its own worse enemy

Answer 4

We don't think about global warming as much as we should because resolving the issue would cost too much. For example a litre of biofuels would cost about 3 times more than a conventional fuel.

As well as that, most people wouldn't stop to think that we are causing so much harm (or don't know the extent of the problem). As well as that most people wouldn't care about how the the world will be after they're long dead.

Some other methods, such as use of nuclear energy, are deemed unacceptable by most people.

Answer 5

I see our unsustainable lifestyles a bit like an adiction - we are mostly in denial that there is a problem. Trying to tell a smoker to quit won't get you far.

there are 3 basic ways to turn from the current industrial growth model to a life-sustaing society
1) Campaigns and acts of protest to counter the destruction
2) Building positive alternatives and sustainable ways of living, eg permaculture, renewable energy, local interdependence
3) A deeper shift in values, thinking and culture to support this - people are no happier with their consumerist lifestyles, eg when someone complains about an issue, consider the roots of the problem; this may help find positive solution to a better quality of life for all, not just measured by GDP, see Bhutan's Gross National Happiness

Answer 6

I think it was the late Dr. Carl Sagan in his book Pale Blue Dot who said something along the lines of: If we were to stop everything that contributes to global warming, it would take the earth about 200 years to balance itself out and "heal". He also mentions the chunk of the Ross Ice Shelf in Antarctica which broke off. It was approx 100 miles long by 30 miles wide. Yeah, I think of that as a small state, not a chunk of something.
Why is this happening? I think of something (fiction) that I read by Douglas Addams in the Hitchhiker's books. It is called an SEP field. If you want to do something, but don't want others to notice you put an SEP or Someone Else's Problem Field around it. So, even if someone else sees it, part of their brain will register that it doesn't concern them because it is someone else's problem. Well, people can sometimes put the SEP field around somethings all by themselves. If they cannot discern a noticeable, tangible "bad" effect, they don't care about it. And, if they do not care about it, they're certainly not going to bother expending energy to do anything about it.

Answer 7

I whole heartedly agree with u. Its just typical humans, they dont care about it unless it affects them. I mean look at what were doing to save the ppl in the 3rd world from dying. most of them only need 30c to cure their disease, but they cant. We dont care about it coz it doesnt effect us. similarly, we dont care about global warming coz its not going to effect our generation, so why should we care? thats the attitude of most people. Others also believe that its a myth. IT ISNT. and its not NATURAL either for those of who think its a nutural cylce on the earth. Have eco friendly light bulbs, plant a tree, and save power. Not only will u save sum money in the long run, but also help the environment. bit by bit we can prevent global warming!

Answer 8

It is a natural cycle. The Earth warmed and cooled long before humans were around. The main causes is volcanic activity. 98% of all "green house gases comes from volcanos. Also undersea volcanoes are heating the oceans, which in turn evaporates water, which in turn creates clouds, which in turn brings rain, which in turn cools the surface. Heating in the air is caused by increased activity of the sun. Sun get hotter, Earth gets hotter. Human caused global warming is a government money scam!

Answer 9

The majority of people don't care about what will happen to earth after they'll die.Stupid them.How would they felt if their grand parents would have left them a big planet full of garbage to swimm in...of full of radioactive garbage etc.They will be remembered by their followers as a huge community of fools.They could try to preserve at least what they have and do their best not to destroy the environment so much.
PS:sorry for the gramatical mistakes

Answer 10

Easier said than done hun. I do all I can to recycle, cut down on fuel emissions etc but some times i do think, why bother? I feel like a little fish trying to swim the wrong way in a huge ocean.