Up to one million species are on the verge of extinction, U.N. panel says

Re:Up to one million species are on the verge of extinction,... by save_ferris on Monday May 06, 2019 @08:17AM (#19838688)

The problem with individual action is that it requires a collective effort to make such sacrifices worth it, and most people aren’t willing able to make all or any of those sacrifices.

For example: one cannot simply replace air travel with trains in the US. Amtrak is wholly inadequate to act in an interstate commuter transport capacity in the vast majority of the US.

Also, I’m not at a point in my career where I can afford to work part time. Part time software engineering jobs are hard to find in the US, and part time jobs don’t provide benefits like healthcare.

Individuals are going to look at this and say “why should I make these sacrifices when I know that others aren’t going to make them?”

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Up to one million species are on the verge of extinction,... by perfunctory on Monday May 06, 2019 @08:33AM (#19838789)

That's kind of the point. Stop thinking about "most people". Do it for yourself. If you believe in the climate emergency that is. You might be pleasantly surprised to see your friends around you follow the suit.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Up to one million species are on the verge of extinction,... by c1sc0 on Monday May 06, 2019 @01:23PM (#19841634)

I like to think of this in terms of carbon debt. It is surprisingly easy to calculate the avg. per-capita lifetime carbon debt accrued by someone living in a specific country. It’s a fun metric to compare generational differences (e.g. baby boomers vs millennials) & location-based differences (e.g. USA vs.China) ... last time I did this I can to a carbon debt of EUR 20K for my generation. Which in the grand scheme of things is not all that bad.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Up to one million species are on the verge of extinction,... by Redoubts on Monday May 06, 2019 @08:55AM (#19838956)

I can’t even get my friends and coworkers to vote.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Up to one million species are on the verge of extinction,... by jlokier on Monday May 06, 2019 @12:03PM (#19840648)

Perhaps they might be persuaded to do other things, whose effects they can see more directly.

Also, encourage children in their activism. They are good at making complacent parents take notice at least, if only for social signalling :-) and hopefully some of it sticks when they grow up.

Voting shouldn't be seen as the basic thing, which people need to do to show they care in the world. Many people see voting as mostly pointless, and they might even be right compared with other things they can do.

[ Parent | on HN ]