this post was submitted on 18 Jul 2023
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NASA called the soaring heat "part of a pattern of increasing global temperatures, as a result of human activities, mainly carbon dioxide emissions."

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[–] [email protected] 40 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

I wish news would stop saying the broad term human activity and more accurately say corporate activity.

Yes, the general population contributes to climate change, but the real polluters are the big companies manufacturing things, big oil, etc. They don't care about what they're doing and lobby govt's to put the blame on the citizens.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (4 children)

who are those corporations selling stuff to? maybe those buyers should stop that.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 year ago (1 children)

https://sites.manchester.ac.uk/global-social-challenges/2022/07/07/corporations-vs-consumers-who-is-really-to-blame-for-climate-change/

100 companies have contributed over 70% of greenhouse gas emissions. Only 100.

Do you really think that an average joe can make a difference? The blame doesn't lay on ordinary people. Us polluting is a byproduct of corporations polluting.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Yes i do because i'm one of many. Maybe i can't convince you to make a difference but i'm not going to just say 'oh well, nothing can be done'. Vote with your wallet. They're making things because people are buying them. Stop buying them. Vote for governments that make it cost prohibitive to create emissions. Join the citizens climate lobby. Just because one drop in the bucket seems insignificant doesn't mean we cant collectively stop dripping. Make it the collective norm to be minimalist, make it awkward to consume in excess. Do something, but don't pretend that we, the mass of people that are consuming things don't directly impact the decisions of those 100 companies.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

Thank God there’s people like you replying here. The defeatist stuff is crazy to me.

I door knock and work on campaign teams for leftist candidates and have seen such success it’s boggling to me that people sit back and decide they cannot do anything about it.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

I 100% agree.

The change we need isn't the perfect set of policies, what we need is a cultural shift. When people are personally invested in resolving climate change, they'll push for changes in corporations, legislation, etc. If people don't care, it's not going to happen or happen very slowly.

So do what you can to set a good example for your neighbors, friends, and coworkers.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago

Legislation is needed to dissuade people from buying that shit. Guess who pays billions to make sure that legislation never gets passed?

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Ah yes those powerless companies that have simply no choice but to destroy our biosphere.

It's not like they can use the money that they're currently using to lobby against environmental regulation and oversight for heavier oversight, regulations and *gasp* penalties instead... Yes it's literally impossible to take a principled stance at the expense of literally any amount of profit. Besides, who needs clean air and livable temperatures anyway?

No it must be the consumer who must wade through the sea of greenwashing and propaganda spread by companies who have no problem outright lying about their carbon emissions to everyone's faces. Because it's just so easy for everyone to know the complete supply chain of every product they buy. Simple really.

Edit: After looking through your comment history I can't help but think what you said was meant as more of a call to action for people rather than stepping to bat for multinationals as if they are helpless victims with no agency. Apologies if my comment came across as mean spirited I've just been on edge recently due to certain undisclosed life events. I'll keep my base comment as is for archival though.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

I award you one fake internet gold for this comment.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

People should stop buying food?

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

If it is within their means to purchase food from more sustainable sources, yes, we should stop buying products from the worst polluters.