(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . What can I do to combat global warming? [1] ['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.'] Date: 2024-12-15 Climate change will cost the world economy $38 trillion per year by 2050 according to a study by the Potsdam Institute. That’s 17% of a projected world GDP of $225 trillion per year. And that doesn’t even count the death and disease that will accompany those costs. 2050 sounds like a long way off. It isn’t. It’s now as close as 2000. When we hear excuses for doing nothing about climate change, we’re usually told we can’t afford it. The correct response is that we can’t afford not to. There’s a lot that could be done if we want to avoid throwing $38 trillion down the drain EVERY YEAR. The cost to meet the 2015 Paris climate change agreement is estimated to be $6 trillion per year. I’m not an accountant, but that investment sounds like a no brainer to me. The question is whether you believe the numbers. If everyone believed the numbers, our job would be done. Since 30% of Americans do NOT believe that global warming is caused by human activities, and since the incoming administration is a WHOLLY-OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF BIG CARBON, we all owe an obligation to the planet to fight global warming. We absolutely must reduce that 30% number. Allegedly, we live in a democracy. 58% of Americans believe that global warming IS caused by human activities. Why aren’t we making progress? The answer is that big money, big carbon, with the acquiescence of some stupid voters, have bought enough politicians to thwart the will of the people. Trump and his ROBBER BARON OVERLORDS are standing in the way. We have to go over their heads to the voters to effect change. It can be done! We need to convince a lot more of our friends, neighbors, and politicians that: Climate change is real It’s caused by humans It’s going to affect you or someone you love How can that happen? Well, NOBODY ELSE IS GOING TO DO IT, so it depends on us: If you’re social media maven, get on TikTok, FB, X, Bluesky, or whatever, and make some noise. Tell your story or pass on another. Contact your politicians, relentlessly. This allows them to tell their colleagues, “I got 10,000 emails on this.” Volunteer for your politicians and tell them why Send money to politicians and tell them why Comment on websites If you run into a denier, you should first ask yourself if it’s even worthwhile to try to turn them. Many people say, “It’s a waste of time; concentrate, rather, on motivating climate neutrals.” I tend more toward taking up the gauntlet. But keep your expectations low. Probably the best you can hope for is to move the needle a bit or sow some doubt. At least, though, you may blunt the influence of someone who has a disproportionate voice on social media. The best way to turn climate deniers is not with facts & science. If they believed facts & science, they wouldn’t have been deniers in the first place. Quiet stories with emotional impact are best. Changing the minds of climate deniers is impossible without affirming - to some extent - their worldview. Use the “yes, and” rule to accept and stay assertive. For instance, if they believe in God, ask if they have a responsibility to care for the world that God has given us. I had some moderate success with a frequent denier on social media. After explaining what I knew about the facts of global warming and the reasons for it, I finally got him to allow that there is some chance (although not probable) that it’s caused by humans. He next said, “But, it’s not going to happen in my lifetime.” I then said that he MUST HATE HIS KIDS. That really upset him. He stayed silent for days and never brought the subject up again. Do you want some examples to show to your friends? Here are five stories of Americans who have been impacted by global warming. Are you unclear on the connection between global warming and increased storm intensity? Here’s a little bit of the science behind that connection. It turns out that WATER, that ubiquitous stuff we take for granted, HAS AN AMAZING SUPERPOWER. Here’s a resource if you want to get involved: Climate Stories. [END] --- [1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2024/12/15/2292040/-What-can-I-do-to-combat-global-warming?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=latest_community&pm_medium=web Published and (C) by Daily Kos Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/