Getting ready one morning last week, I got annoyed by the climate talk on the news. It wasn't the first time. The mentions of Glasgow Summit that will happen is always presented as something great, big, fantastic. The prime minister uses it as a filler to pretend that he cares. But what it will be about?
I still have the Paris Summit in my memory, even though I didn't really follow the news about it. But the endless discussions, voting, tension, made it so interesting to watch. And when they all clapped at the end, people thought that something will finally start happening. How naïve. Nothing ever happens after these summits. The attendees make endless talk, they reach an agreement, vaguely create goals that sound nice, put them in a future distant enough for them to be out of politics, positions, retired; they shake their hands, go home, world forgets until the next summit comes and it all repeats itself.
I am getting more and more irritated and impatient. Besides pointless summits, we are often presented with the suggestion that we can buy our way out of the disaster. Once we all buy the electric car, replace our boiler for something more expensive, insulate our homes, we will all be better off. As long as we, little citizens, keep paying and spending, we will all be fine. How will all the things be produced? How many resources, how much energy? Where will the power for the magic car come from? Oh, I forgot to mention the super expensive solar power blocks I am meant to buy once I insulate the roof. There will be grants, of course. It will all be connected, you see? But how will the things be made, transported, put together? How will that affect the climate? Nature? Biodiversity?
The little less interesting message, that consuming less, wanting less, being more frugal, gets lost in the big shiny profit making messages. How many people believe it? How many care? Lots do, but they feel overwhelmed, intimidated, give up before even trying anything.
Hearing Prince Charles speaking that morning reminded me about my childhood, when all these messages and signs were already there, deeply unfashionable. Now it is at least cool to recycle, take your own bag to the shop and drink tap water from your own bottle. Of course, somebody can sell you stylish recycling bin, nice bag and a personalised bottle. I remember being a little girl, worrying about the future, thinking about how to protect it. Back then, I cared most about the animals that were disappearing. I still do, but there are so many more issues. It is all nice that I can save energy by washing my laundry at 30. But will the great washing powder affect marine life? It's not just climate, it is about everything.
The only people talking sense right now are Extinction Rebellion, but they are also making themselves unpopular with their protests and therefore harder to be listened to. I get the message, I know they feel they have to wake us up, there is no time to waste, but I am also sad that it can't be better. I feel frustrated that they can't get themselves heard and help us to do something instead of discussing how to protest 'properly'.
When the pandemic started, there was so much talk about how we will change our way, our mindset, our life style. But as long as money is the only measure of profit, endless growth the goal, and the environment without value if it can't be made into fast profit, I don't see a way out. I proudly do my little thing, I know I am not perfect, but I can't stop to worry. I always remember the saying 'We inherited this planet from our parents and borrowed it from our children' and feel sad about the state of the world our kids will have to deal with. Because, unless we stop kidding ourselves, it will only get worse.
And before I have managed to publish this post, there were the European floods, Chinese floods, fires in the USA continue and the UK has a heathwave. But, yes, they will talk about it in Glasgow and we will all be fine...
