Potential responses to climate change are explored (from an Australian perspective) by First Dog on the Moon .
These potential responses include direct action which goes well beyond skipping the occasional class.
Deep Adaptation: A Map for Navigating Climate Tragedy
“Deep Adaptation: A Map for Navigating Climate Tragedy” – Vice interviewed Jem Bendall about his allegedly “depressing” paper. If you read the whole article, it emerges that some people have actually found it empowering.
The paper is intended to be an “ethical and philosophical framework”. You will note that the word “map” appears in the title, which is a clue to the content.
While the factual content about the environment is disturbing, there are better strategies than collective denial when we are confronted with existential risks.
“The longer we refuse to talk about climate change as already here and screwing with our way of life – because we don’t want to think like that, because it’s too frightening or will somehow demotivate people – the less time we have to reduce harm”
Download the original paper here and please try not to be frightened or demotivated – these are not useful responses.
Climate change versus plastic pollution – environmental priorities
Climate change: obsession with plastic pollution distracts attention from bigger environmental challenges.
This article from The Conversation suggests that our reusable coffee cups may not quite be enough to save the planet – “We must reform the way we live rather than tweak the choices we make.”
Includes an infographic which attractively presents various priority issues – however the content is not so attractive, unless the situation has improved dramatically since 2009
Paper or plastic bags – which is really the better option?
Paper or plastic bags – which should you choose, in terms of their total impact on the environment?
Morrisons are trialling the use of paper bags instead of plastic bags, which seems like a good idea, provided the overall impact isn’t increased – the trade-off between the environmental (e.g. energy) cost of producing the paper bags versus the plastic waste from the existing ones seems to have been addressed to some extent.
Previous environmental concerns about this plan focussed on energy, although on closer inspection, the Environment Agency source material for these concerns wasn’t exactly recent.