How do people from the US/Canada/Australia think about climate change?

[Never_falter2]

Is this something discussed in your countries? How do you think about it?

 

[scout86]

It's discussed. In a wild assortment of ways. (US) I live in what's considered a fairly conservative part of the country but i think, even here, most people think it's real and are concerned. But I also think they're waiting for someone to rescue them, magically if necessary. Unfortunately, they keep electing people to office who don't share their concerns but DO share the hope that someone will solve the problem, magically if necessary.

 

[Songbirdhero]

I work in a statewide govt position and we discuss it on a daily basis. It varies by state, by person, by local level etc in the US but I think a majority of people care and want to make a change.

 

[Never_falter2]

I hope that is not impolite to mention this: I heard that the CO2 footprint Ofen average American is twice that of an average European. How do you feel about this and why do you think it is the case?

 

[scout86]

Guilty! LOL Even though I suspect my personal carbon foot print is relatively modest.

My personal opinion, based on only my own opinion, is that people tends to be way to wasteful and crave way to much "stuff".

 

[Songbirdhero]

I hope that is not impolite to mention this: I heard that the CO2 footprint Ofen average American is twice that of an average European. How do you feel about this and why do you think it is the case?

The US craves convenience. I think people work way too many hours and have very little time to live their lives and therefore they buy out of convenience, full of plastic, disposable items. People don't want to or don't have the time to wash reusable containers or grab reusable shopping bags when heading to the store. And electronics? Complete junk after a year.
I've calculated my carbon footprint and it's not as bad as I thought but obviously could be better. I have an electricity supplier for my house that is 100% renewable energy. I signed up for that earlier this year as a way to try and reduce my footprint at home.
There are so many things we can do: use those cloth bags for shopping, buy containers to reuse instead of using plastic bags, carpool when we can, stop using Roundup! But I think people need to be educated more first.

 

[Freida]

The U.S. Is based on capitalism and its gone haywire over the last few decades. We have allowed massive corporations to just run unchecked, which is the majority of our carbon footprint. It's all about money - and your stakeholders don't make money if you are wasting profits doing things to take care of the environment.

I think individual Americans care but they won't do anything to try to change the culture. Or they can't because those with big money buy politicians. We call it "lobbying" but it's really payoffs for votes.

 

[Songbirdhero]

The U.S. Is based on capitalism and its gone haywire over the last few decades. We have allowed massive corporations to just run unchecked, which is the majority of our carbon footprint. It's all about money - and your stakeholders don't make money if you are wasting profits doing things to take care of the environment.

I think individual Americans care but they won't do anything to try to change the culture. Or they can't because those with big money buy politicians. We call it "lobbying" but it's really payoffs for votes.

All very true but I have also noticed a lot of companies and local governments are starting to implement sustainability strategies. Unfortunately it's getting to the point now where it's too little too late. And the US energy infrastructure can't support all the renewable energy coming online.

 

[Muttly]

Talked about regularly here in my part of the US. And I think the vast majority of conservatives around here believe it too. I know there are deniers around but the weather around here has changed so dramatically it's just hard to deny.

I think as well as craving convenience (totally true) there's a sort of helplessness too. It's such a big scale problem it's hard to wrap your brain around things you can do. I've called myself the king of recycling at work and have made a big difference in how much we do recycle. I do nag at people about recycling sometimes. Lately there's been stories in the news about how recycling isn't working and other countries are refusing our recycling (understandable). So I've gotten some "what's the point" comments about recycling. I know they care, it's just this feeling that it's hard to do the right thing.

Another factor of the carbon footprint in the US is the geographic scale and lack of alternative transportation. I would bus, if I could, to save on gas but I'm in a smaller town. The bus service, to the veterinary clinic I live in is in a bigger town, is limited and is well over an hour instead of a 20 minute drive. It doesn't even run on one of the days I work. And because I live in a small town, there are services like therapy that are also outside of town. I haven't figured it out but if I could get to therapy by bus I imagine it would take several hours and multiple bus changes.

 

[Freida]

I have the same challenge with public transit. It can take two hours and three buses vs 30 minutes by car

 

[Changing4Best]

US, I believe it is a huge problem, but I also feel there is little I can do to change things, since I don't own a TV or a vehicle, usually buy used cloths, I do have Sierra Club Shopping bags, and in general try to do things like recycling and so forth.

 

[Sideways]

Increasing awareness here in Australia. It’s impacting farming regions in a big way, and serious weather events are increasing.

The degree of concern, and the motivation to make significant compromises on lifestyle, does appear to be a little different across the generations. Pretty massive nation-wide protests by school kids in recent years would suggest our youth are really very concerned.

How this translates politically is another matter. Digging up coal makes a lot of money. Money talks. And motivates politicians to err on the side of inaction.