this post was submitted on 31 Aug 2026
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Climate
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Discussion of climate, how it is changing, activism around that, the politics, and the energy systems change we need in order to stabilize things.
As a starting point, the burning of fossil fuels, and to a lesser extent deforestation and release of methane are responsible for the warming in recent decades:
How much each change to the atmosphere has warmed the world:
Recommended actions to cut greenhouse gas emissions in the near future:
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efforts lost on false hope are efforts wasted.
you want to be vegan because of some moral code, fine. that's a personal choice. don't shame others into your personal choice so you feel morally superior.
you want to be vegan because you believe your actions are having a significant worldwide impact on climate change, you're lying to yourself or you've been lied to. it's no different than being asked to use paper straws, or paper bags, or inflating your tires more, or turning your thermostat up or down.
the only way to slow climate change is through legislation. the only way to get legislation is to remove corporate interests from government. the only way to remove those interests is to expose the corruption. you don't have to kill anybody. you don't have to destroy infrastructure. you just need to investigate connections with lobbyists and political leaders.
I promise you, if 3% of the US population began to deeply investigate politician relationships and money, something would change immediately. far faster than if you changed your diet.
still don't believe me? when was the last time individual self-sacrifice solved any problem with government? I'm talking starvation, sleep deprivation, self immolation, etc. dietary protests change personal opinion, not public opinion.
It's not false hope though. I'm saying veganism has a positive impact on climat change. It has far more of an impact than paper straws etc. In any case, a sustainable world means eating less meat.
You are correct that there are better ways to make a difference but i'm saying every little helps. People should be encouraged to go vegan as much as possible. You're probably right that if 3% of USians investigated the corruption we'd see change. But 3% of the population going vegan would have an impact too.
I believe it will take individual AND systemic changes to stop climate change. I would never shit on someone trying to make a difference, however small.
To answer your last point.
Bobby Sands - https://www.bbc.com/news/stories-56937259
Thich Quang Duc - https://allthatsinteresting.com/thich-quang-duc-burning-monk
Obviously these are extreme examples and in another universe may not have had the same impact.
I'm just not sure what you're trying to say. That everyone should eat meat and investigate US corruption. That's as crazy as saying everyone should go vegan. Why are you shitting on vegans?