If I was childless I could turn this into a big YOLO party, but I have kids and am heartbroken to have them inherit this mess.
But ok, I'll bite: there's an implied "hypocrite!" in your question. My existence consumes resources and I'm therefore part of the problem.
I can do "my part" but this is bigger than any one individual. The policy makers are the one who have control to shape outcomes.
Take for example the ipcc report that just came out. It is a resounding idea of a bunch of anti meat vegans trying to use climate change alarms to persuade the world into their world view.
It is manipulation at its best. And now I don't care about the the whole climate change drama. It sucks. They are trying to control me.
I will strive for green energy and stuff but not for climate reasons.
There's compelling evidence that industrial meat production has significant environmental impacts. (I'm not a vegan but am sympathetic to it). Yes, the vegan extremists go too far but that should not detract from the facts.
This appears to be a case of false equivalency.
> They are trying to control me.
Is urging you to not eat meat (whether or not it's really "right") controlling?
Do you believe that people are driven by incentives, with money being a primary one? Think about all the money to be made from fossil fuels, might they be highly incentivized to keep those pumps pumping so they can continue to make money?
What are the incentives of people agitating for action against climate change?
The individual still has control of himself. It's the more organized movements like policy creation and corporate activities that are outside the individual's control that indirectly affect him. Isn't that how we are trying to get the right to adopt green tech?
When a person sets up a niche shop, he has an incentive in getting people to adopt the niche as mainstream. Like vegetable made meat products.
> The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is the UN body for assessing the science related to climate change. It was established by the United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in 1988 to provide policymakers with regular scientific assessments concerning climate change, its implications and potential future risks, and to put forward adaptation and mitigation strategies. It has 195 member states.
> IPCC assessments provide governments, at all levels, with scientific information that they can use to develop climate policies. IPCC assessments are a key input into the international negotiations to tackle climate change. IPCC reports are drafted and reviewed in several stages, thus guaranteeing objectivity and transparency.
> The IPCC assesses the thousands of scientific papers published each year to inform policymakers about the state of knowledge on climate change. The IPCC identifies where there is agreement in the scientific community, where there are differences and where further research is needed. It does not conduct its own research.
> To produce its reports, the IPCC mobilizes hundreds of scientists. These scientists and officials are drawn from diverse backgrounds. Only a dozen permanent staff work in the IPCC’s Secretariat.