Climate, change, and the things future kids might remember as, “Things our family used to do.”

I wrote this in draft six months ago. Events since then appear to be answering some of the questions…

Could it be that activities we enjoy now, have always undertaken, that have become a way of traditional life — and that we take for granted — will become increasingly seen as shocking, not least by younger generations inheriting our legacy?

Beyond that, will a plethora of levies, limitations and laws designed to reduce an increasing number of activities officially deemed to be contributors to global climate change be imposed by governments in abundance during coming years?

Certain countries might well have excused themselves from agreeing to stop fossil fuel energy production at COP26 (military might and the global industrial economy has no credible alternatives to be able to hit the targets) although will that stop the effects of governments’ policies that will hurt their citizens first and give world leaders an excuse to deny responsibility when things go wrong (“because it’s your fault”)?

Are we starting seeing to see this happen already?

Here are just some of the things that could — sooner or later — become a thing of the past, from the seemingly mundane to the obviously unsustainable:

• Carving pumpkins (then throwing them away after Hallowe’en, adding to the unnecessary waste that generates CO2)
• Plastic cable ties
• Celebrating with balloons
• Those tiny plastic wires used to attach price labels to your new clothing items (aka kimble tags)
• Cling film (focus on the industrial-scale usage when it comes to wrapping pallets)
• Fireworks
• Bonfires
• Charcoal or gas-fired barbecues
• Cooking on gas, full stop
• Gas-fired and oil-fired central heating systems?
• Coal or wood burning fires
• Buying a real Christmas tree every year (then throwing it away afterwards, adding to the unnecessary waste that generates CO2)
• Eating beef (and lamb, pork and other meat (fish, too) which will revert to becoming a preserve of the wealthy elite)
• Eating vegetables that are out of season (e.g. asparagus flown from Peru to satisfy all-year-round expectation and demand)
• Buying flowers (then throwing them away a few days later, adding to the unnecessary waste that generates CO2) — along with the single-use plastic wrapping film used in abundance for the bouquets?
• Going to fairs, events and festivals that rely upon huge and hungry diesel generators to power the “fun”
• Ordering anything online and expecting a next-day delivery for free (we will be paying for it, in so many ways)
• Chucking everything into recycling bins in the belief it’s a “good thing” and enough to solve a problem
• Travelling by train (where diesel-electric or steam powers this mode of transport)
• Affordable air travel
• Using petrol or diesel to power a combustion engine (except for the maritime industry, which is a long, long way from viable alternative solutions)
• Lithium-ion batteries as the sustainable "electric solution"
• Motorsport as entertainment, from the bottom level up
• Air shows and pageantry fly-pasts?
• Nuclear power… because there might be a correlation between nuclear power applications and the acceleration of global temperature rises, which no one is talking about, yet (ask yourself what happens to the trillions of gallons of super-heated river and seawater used to power the steam turbines…)
• Swimming or paddling in the seas and rivers of Britain without risking serious disease
• What else, do you think...?

We’ve been seeing (or ignoring) the effects of climate change for decades, and things are getting serious, whatever dangerous denials are (still) being made by many in positions of “responsibility”.

We’re being directly affected by rising energy prices, food shortages, and drought, let alone pandemic disease. Is this the beginning of the future?

Do you think that available energy, clean water and clean air will continue to deplete unless we change the way we live (or will we be forced to do so by nature, in ugly ways, more so than has been happening already)?

Perhaps, we all need to ask big questions; continually probe, and hold establishments and big organisations (and each other) to account. OPEC, the oil and gas companies, water companies, the marine cargo industries, the logistics industries, the construction industries (and mainstream media organisations benefitting by telling the stories the the aforementioned all want spun)… do they control the planet’s route to catastrophe by continuing to corrupt proper progress? They could, instead, be proper pioneers of positive change.

(By way of just one example, new houses in the UK are still being built the same way as always, predominantly, despite the availability of better alternative architectural designs; as in, still installing gas boilers, gas stoves, no solar integration as standard, cheap and weak insulation, as many buildings as possible crammed into a development area, a minimal amount of natural exterior spaces… this remains the fashion, with local planning authorities holding no appetite or accountability to improve, so why should they change the habit of a lifetime?)

Is this all doom and gloom? Not necessarily.

Some (some) of the richest people on Earth are investing in bold new ideas. Although theoretical solutions will take years to develop and deliver, invention, innovation, and critical and scientific thinking will be key to humanity’s survival (when it’s applied for the right reasons).

A smattering of solutions exist already: proven mechanical technology, for example, has a great deal to offer, and can be refined. Should we be teaching kids a thing or two more about creativity and humanity, and how to stand upon the shoulders of giants?

We all need to change our habits, almost certainly, taking a small step back towards community endeavour in order to take a larger step forward in the right direction. Small, kind things done by a lot of people, collectively, make a big difference. Does this sound idealistic and soft? Maybe it’s time to get real, whether we like it or not.

Previously abstract warnings (countered for decades by powerful industries protecting their profits and controlling the agenda) are becoming a tangible reality, so should we wake up, stand up, and take responsibility? Things worth doing are not usually easy, although the choice to take the more difficult path usually is; a challenging, more rewarding path worth taking, uphill, to a brighter future.

I think we should question everything, strive for better, think “outside the box” — and do this kindly, thoughtfully, and with patience for those caught up in themselves. Let’s set the example for others to follow (especially the children of our planet).

More importantly, what do you think?