I Don’t Know How to Feel About 2023

[@besmart]

So will 2023 be the best it ever was, or the worst it ever got?

[@stormtmad9865]

I don't know

[@sbtfactsmansion2537]

I can definitely say that there is one answer out of Best or Worst.

[@deleted-something]

Oh boy

[@xiantivia26]

You forgot the amount of materials that are needed to make the climate neutral items, such as windmills and solarpanels. And getting those materials, currently mostly form China as so damn polluting the enviroment.

[@straaths]

Doing "something" will not help, cos releasing CO2 etc. is also "something".

[@HWKier]

Most people I know are not outright deniers. They would rather not think about it. What do you do when someone agrees with you about climate change but then "would rather not think about it"?

[@faenethlorhalien]

They're guilty. There's the crimeof dereliction of duty if you don't help someone who has been in an accident. This is kinda the same.

[@glenncarver9049]

@@faenethlorhalienWoah that means you are guilty for a LOT of crimes my friend

[@TurdJesus]

@@faenethlorhalienwhat are you talking about? Who are you talking about? Lmao this is so dumb 😂

[@aliancemd]

That’s how people react in authoritarian regimes where they have no influence over what happens. It just says something about the imbalance of power, so people disconnect

[@lakrids-pibe]

Voter apathy, alienation, and fatalism. The perfect foundation for totalitarianism. I don't think social media has a positive effect on the public discourse. At best it's mixed. This channel is obviously a positive influence. Thank you Joe.

[@aajohnsoutube]

I’ve got to say that this definition of climate change is the same definition that has gotten me into so many heated arguments. Climate change is the change in climate, it is not a term to define your political position.

[@Seagaltalk]

Exactly. Climate is always changing so by defining it as a change in climate you hit the nail on the head. Before the anerobic bacteria filled the atmosphere with oxygen for the first time they weren't arguing politics

[@ZennExile]

@@Seagaltalk it's the Carbon Crisis. Everyone who's not a laymen already knows that. So...

[@lowwastehighmelanin]

Yup. It is an object reality not an alignment.

[@Seagaltalk]

@@ZennExileAs all non-laymen know, they are now calling it the Carbon Doom Loop of Ultimate Doom

[@ZennExile]

@@Seagaltalk lol, but still.

[@EnzoDraws]

I think we messed up by putting the fate of the world in the hands of economists and businessmen instead of scientists

[@SudoBurger]

It's unfortunate that while knowledge _is_ power, money BUYS power.

[@widodoakrom3938]

True lol

[@lucky963]

and also politicians

[@EnzoDraws]

@@spinmaster8202 oh I am SUUURE that things would've gone SO MUCH BETTER if we left it up to the businessmen who see dollar signs instead of humans.

[@MappingRobloxAnimations]

300th like

[@lukemckenna]

As a dad and someone that wants to live on the planet a while longer, I just wanted to say thank you.

[@jaypaans3471]

Shouldn't have made (a few) more humans, then 😉

[@ZennExile]

as a dependent living like livestock near a city, and without an ecosystem, you and your family consume 3X the amount of resources that you need to thrive. Not just sustain yourselves at the bare minimum but to absolutely thrive in every sense of the word, nutritionally, economically, sociopolitcally. Why are you thanking him for posting what amounts to copypasta instead of doing something about that horrific unsustainable lifestyle you lead..?

[@markae0]

@@jaypaans3471 Industrial nations have a less than replacement level of births. Women do not want to have four children. Women who do have children have one or two, and odds are the children die in today's crazy world.

[@skyfeelan]

​@@jaypaans3471just 1 or 2 is fine I guess, more than that is not recommended

[@koibubbles3302]

@@ZennExile do you know this family personally? how can you say that?

[@allisonatwood1945]

I'm so glad you're still around. I used to watch you about 10 years ago in college and even met you at vidcon 2015. Thank you and the team for all of your work and dedication!

[@jennyanydots2389]

You're just gonna ignore all the dawg beeting convinctions? Whatever Allison. Go pound Wood.

[@dementiasorrow]

​@@jennyanydots2389 what are you talking about???

[@jennyanydots2389]

@@dementiasorrow Brugh, I don't throw down with dementia patients, brugh. I'm sorry but it's against my better judgments and superior moralities boy.

[@dementiasorrow]

@@jennyanydots2389 still don't know what you're talking about. What exactly are you criticizing...I don't understand.

[@jennyanydots2389]

@@dementiasorrow Im talmbout the dawg beeting charges brugh... water u talmbout boy?

[@fortierma64]

How do I feel about 2023? Trying real hard not to be angry. As you said, we’ve known about this for a long time. Yet, we sat on our hands and watched it unfold before us. Makes me sad for those that already suffer from the consequences. We are privileged, not everyone is and the irony is that most of the people that suffer didn’t have a say in this…

[@HyrimBot]

who had the power to change the minds of those who use science to enforce action and who didn't? i must be insane to have listened to anyone other than myself.

[@jennyanydots2389]

Just let it happen. No one's stopping anything at this point. Tipping point has been passed... modern civilization is doomed. Hope it doesn't go bloody before post modern turns into new modern.

[@notyourbusiness8636]

@@HyrimBotwhat?

[@VoiceDisasterNz]

I think this bot has a bug. @@HyrimBot

[@trevinbeattie4888]

“Why try?” Because the lives of our descendants, if not our own lives, depends on it. Don’t give in without a fight!

[@therandomgamer3268]

How did yous end this 9 hours ago if the vid released 4 mins ago

[@sbtfactsmansion2537]

That's Shocking 😮

[@chickenwarriorr]

I never understood this argument are yall afraid some evil cousin of yours is gonna take a throne or something it's my choice to have kids or not

[@Ryz1989]

That is the problem though. Most people do not think about the future, they think the now. Because the future is uncertain and not relevant to them.

[@trevinbeattie4888]

​@@therandomgamer3268Patreon supporters get to see these videos before release

[@Prairiesentry]

The biggest obstacle I face is not that people don't believe, it's that they don't want the "inconvenience" of changing their habits to help. I try to live as low a carbon lifestyle as possible, but I agree, it's not easy. Buying local is often more expensive (especially with this crazy inflation) avoiding single use plastic is near impossible. it definitely comes with a feeling of helplessness or hopelessness at times

[@BensBrickDesigns]

Agreed. I wish it didn't fall to the everyday human to make these choices. If no one made single use bags, we wouldn't use them. If gas cars were $65k and EVs were $25k, we'd buy them.

[@themanhimself3]

​@@BensBrickDesignsplus we as individuals have very little actual impact. But the oil companies cutting into our planet produces metric tons of CO2 per second.

[@theonebman7581]

​@@themanhimself3On top of that, there are literal companies that release more carbon than entire nations - China's state-owned steel manufacturer produces more carbon emissions than the entirety of Canada, and their state-owned oil industry releases more carbon into the world than the entirety of Pakistan Now try fighting against those as a random normal-ish human

[@DiceMaster740]

@@BensBrickDesigns It won't be that dramatic right away, but that is the direction we're heading with cars. Think about all the complicated subsystems that have to be engineered and built for an ICE car - the engine, the transmission, the catalytic converter, the spark plugs, etc. With an electric car, there are basically just two things: the battery, and the motor. Motors have long lives and are already not wildly expensive. Batteries are pretty much the only thing making EVs expensive, and they're basically just expensive because we don't have enough mines open yet

[@fruitloopmylk]

I’m sorry but your response is not very empathetic. I and most of the people I know are living paycheck to paycheck. We are already inconvenienced. I work 12 hours a day just to make ends meet. Consumer choices are a luxury I can’t afford.

[@Sunflowersarepretty]

Trying rather than not doing anything is the same mindset I'm cultivating to change my life. We have to do something for our future and the future of our children. And the same for our environment.

[@ZennExile]

every little bit doesn't help. The problem has accelerated to a point where the correct action must immediately be taken. Delusional attempts to alleviate personal guilt on serve to exacerbate the issue further. The terrestrial Carbon Cycle is broken. From the literal ground up. The global Rhizosphere has been decimated. The only thing that can have a positive impact moving forward is the rehabilitation of as much of the global Rhizosphere as possible. Every little bit you do to detract from that is a net loss. It's far too late for all that.

[@jaypaans3471]

Keeping on reproducing is actually a significant part of the problem 😉

[@b1oh1]

Hey Dr. Joe! I just wanted to say from my family to yours and everyone at PBS...Happy Holidays! Thank you for spreading information, education, positivity, and love. You've taught me and my boys so much over the years! If I ever see you in public, I'll ask to shake your hand. ♥️

[@sharpestcookieinthetoolbox9742]

Climate change discussions remind me of water conservation efforts here in California. Nestle's still stealing our water, and almond farms (for example) haven't drastically reduced production, but they tell individuals to conserve and ration water. We're not really the problem, but we're the easiest target for guilt tactics. From my end, it's not doom and gloom, but that the social logistics for younger generations are extremely challenging due to our arrested development from experiencing multiple "unprecedented events." People in office - political or corporate - are doing as little as possible because they're mostly older and don't care about the future unless it threatens their way of life and/or makes them money. Whereas those of us under 40 realize that by the time we can enter these spaces, decades will have passed, we're fighting an even more uphill battle, and change will be much less effective. I'm now 36. Just last year, I was eligible to run for US president. Most of my generation has been too busy being poor and paying off student loans from half a lifetime ago to afford to run for office, leaving likely conservative, wealthy peers as eligible choices. We'd have had to start 15 years ago (during the 2008 recession) to gain enough of a political foothold to make it to an effective political office by now. Even then, we won't be voted for unless we maintain the status quo because too many older people still believe we're incompetent children. Unless people my age were literally child laborers (or created their own companies), they're not yet in the C-suite positions of the highest polluters to make a difference. Our biggest option is raising awareness independent of major media outlets, who happily portray climate change activists as crackpots. Or elect truly progressive candidates. Options are limited, but they do exist.

[@jimthain8777]

For sure, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't do our bit, but it does mean we need to turn that guilt trip corporate.

[@AceSpadeThePikachu]

All of us doing our part and continuing to not lose hope is vital of course, but a massive chunk of the problem is caused directly and intentionally be a few thousand of the richest people on the planet. So our plan of action also needs to include justice and accountability for the ones knowingly making everything worse.

[@oiartsun]

Yes, thank you. “The earth is not dying, it is being killed, and those who are killing it have names and addresses.” -- Utah Phillips

[@Aspenstorpemusic]

those few rich people are rich because of us the reason they pollute is not because they're evil, it's because the people allow them to

[@dgmuze]

@@anjafrohlich1170people are going to keep buying cases of nestle bottled water, large trucks and SUVs, buying tickets for artist who take private jets everywhere, and eating tons of meat. This financial support IS us giving permission to these companies/industries. Normal people aren’t willing to give up these luxuries, so they are in turn complicit.

[@static481]

@@Aspenstorpemusic it isnt a simple allowing, like any other mode of production the capital owning classes also use violence and oppression to maintain their grip on power. Hell look at labor history in this country. Tens of thousands deads to barely get marginal worker protections.

[@theultimatereductionist7592]

Yeah, duh. Why do you think the worldwide childfree Antinatalist and Animal Rights Veganism and Birthstriker movements are growing so rapidly? We AARVs are fighting back hard for the benefit of the young people whom breeders breed.

[@fancyfilly8]

This is a really good mix of optimistism, warning, and call to action. It's not super scary or glossing over things. I think everyone should see this video.

[@pufthemajicdragon]

The real problem isn't "doomerism". It's a lack of actionable direction. The average person can't do anything themselves. It's up to governments and policy (which a lot of people oppose even if they recognize the need for change) and corporations (who are the slowest organizations to change) to make the big changes. The day someone offers every-day people a real, actionable solution will be the day real people do something. In the mean time.... eh?

[@jimthain8777]

Nope. The average person got us into this by buying coal, or oil, or gas. The average person can get us out of this by NOT buying coal, or oil, or gas. The oil industry really doesn't want us to figure that out. It scares the hell out of them. They hate solar panels on homes, They hate heap pumps, in homes. and last and definitely one of the most important, they hate us not having a gas car in our garage. Doing what they hate is GOOD for us.

[@justaname2422]

So what you're saying is capitalism is the problem.

[@pufthemajicdragon]

@@jimthain8777 Oh, right, the average person can solve climate change by not heating their home in winter, not driving to work, not driving to the grocery store, and not using any electricity! By Jove you've figured it out! Just get 8 billion people to all turn Amish! Lol dude, you first 🤪 Man, I'd love to see you play chess! 😂 The average person can't stop using fossil fuels until there is a viable alternative. The average person can't create a viable alternative, because that requires millions of dollars of investment, which means only corporations or governments have that power. Corporations only do what increases short-term quarterly profits. Which leaves government. Dictatorial governments are like corporations - only concerned with profit. Democratic governments are only concerned with what gets them reelected. Do you see the problem yet? Or do you still think we should all turn Amish?

[@themasstermwahahahah]

​​@@jimthain8777With all due respect sir, a lot of people are not able to afford hybrid/electric cars and solar panels. They are certainly become more accessible, but a lot of people live paycheck to paycheck in the developed world, much less the developing world. The main problem so far is that fossil fuels have been cheaper, and little government regulation has been put into place to ensure that renewables are cheaper.

[@jimthain8777]

@@justaname2422 Yes, and no. It's both the "problem", and the "solution". At least it CAN be the solution.

[@matchrocket1702]

When I was growing up in the nineteen sixties, seventy two degrees was considered a normal temperature to keep your thermostat at. The current temperature in my living room now is sixty two degrees. That's normal for this time of year. I used to mourn the end of summer and the coming of the winter months with its short days and cold nights. But now that climate change has turned my summers into brutal heat slogs I welcome the relief that winter brings.

[@themanhimself3]

We are still getting 80+ degree days in Texas. Absolutely insane.

[@matchrocket1702]

@@themanhimself3 That's scary.

[@themanhimself3]

@@matchrocket1702 We also had record setting rain this year (for our area). It's definitely been interesting. I'm curious to see what happens when it actually starts getting cold.

[@matchrocket1702]

@@themanhimself3 I lived off of Northport Bay on the North Shore of Long Island back when I was young. That bay froze over twice back in the 60s. Solid enough for us to walk on it. That was extremely dangerous and foolhardy. When the ice broke up near the shore we would hop on the "icebergs" and pole around on them with long poles we retrieved from the woods. My bus stop was at a place where a stream flowed into a brackish pond that was connected to a marshland near the bay. I can tell from Google Earth that the high water mark is much higher than it was back then. It's almost on the road.

[@germanomagnone]

for me from 2021 to today I have had nothing but problems: 1) the covid that turned my brain almost to mush. 2) while I was working on the farm, due to a small stupidity I was stung by a dozen wasps (luckily for me I didn't go into Anaphylactic Shock, but it was terrible). 3) with these wars around, there were many occasions when I said to myself: "now World War III starts, 2 wasn't enough" or "it would be better Godzilla & Co." Let's hope that in the coming years we can learn from the past, we shouldn't say "new year, new life" but perhaps it's better "one year over, take the best pieces to strengthen the new"!

[@aq9714]

This exactly what I needed to support what I do believe, 'we can change this' or 'we've got this'. Thank you for the pep talk, I will keep this in my pocket when going out and speaking up for native plants and the whole world associated with them. It is just one cog in the wheel, but every cog is important. I especially appreciated what came out of your mouth at the end. I feel exactly the same about CC.

[@mohammedalharbi1981]

It's fascinating how we express sentiments about completing a trip around the sun. I might share mine in April; there's no fixed starting point, yet we reflect on our feelings about the journey.

[@alekkryz]

Doing something feels like nothing, but doing nothing is nothing.

[@kylera2190]

I loved what you said about flipping climate doomerism to activism. In summer 2021 I was pretty bummed out about heat and climate, and I resolved, as much as I could, whenever I went out walking, try to pick up trash and recycling that I see. I know it’s a very small impact, and is more cleaning littering than climate change, but it has made me feel better, like I’m doing something to clean up the Earth. Doing something legitimately makes you feel better

[@alveolate]

that's the thing... most of us average people can't make any giant impact, especially not individually. that's the real source of the doomerism: we don't have any viable action to take in response to the mounting doom. when joe says "flip the doomerism to activism", it sounds good, but what actually does that mean? donate to more green charities? buy an EV? start preaching? when in reality... it's still the governments and corporations failing to react that is causing the greatest anxiety. what can little old me do about fast fashion or single use plastics or fossil fuel power plants on another continent? these are the big ticket items that can cause a real change in a short window of time, but how can that change be brought about?

[@ZennExile]

that's the corporate plan. Get as many people to "feel better" as cheaply as possible and never actually do anything to prevent disaster. You're officially part of the machine, congratulations on your success in driving all life on Earth that much closer to extinction.

[@yobgodababua1862]

Here are some other relatively easy things that should have more of an impact: * Using a smaller electric room heater instead of central gas heat whenever possible * Getting used to less heat/AC in general by a degree or two. * Turning off unused lights and appliances * Consolidating shopping/errand car trips to reduce total emissions (or taking public transport where available)

[@kakahass8845]

@HypeHouseHomieNo single person can prevent disaster but if more people spent their time to organize and get people to realize that the masses hold the power we would've already solved this and that can start with an individual. TLDR: OP would help more by helping his community to organize and collectively demand change.

[@DemPilafian]

@@yobgodababua1862 Wrong. It is mathematically impossible to conserve our way out of this problem. World population is still growing, so 100% of all of your conservation efforts will be undone faster than you can do it. It's literally basic math. We must transition to clean electric power for everything. There are three parts: 1) Build more solar and wind farms and maybe nuclear and hydrothermal, 2) Make the power grid smarter with utility scale storage and more transmission, and 3) Electrify everything currently burning fossil fuel starting with low hanging fruit like EVs and heat pumps. Everything else is just a distraction that contributes to making the climate crisis worse.

[@gluteusmaximus8881]

I find it interesting how the video addresses climate doomerism and how we shouldn't lose all hope. Yet half of the comments are just like: "give up"

[@PlazDreamweaver]

It's exactly what Dr. Mann had said: astroturf campaigns. The vast majority of those comments are not from actual people, but from oil industry employees trying to spread doomerism. Again, Dr. Mann touched on this in the video.

[@lakrids-pibe]

Why do you like that? I think it's depressing.

[@krazykhajiit9110]

@@lakrids-pibeI think he meant “like” as in “interesting”. So his sentence would be: I find it interesting that this video addresses…. I agree with you that it does suck and is a bit depressing how so many people have this doomer-mindset regarding the climate (myself included at times), but I know there’s many really smart and really passionate people working on the good side trying to fix things. Try focus on that to be less depressed. (Easier said than done, I know).

[@gluteusmaximus8881]

@@krazykhajiit9110 interesting is probably the more fitting word here haha

[@jjQlLlLq]

​@@gluteusmaximus8881 The phrase "I like that (…)" is often used as sarcasm that points out an irony though, so the "like" in that phrase isn't a literal "like" that's like in "I like ice cream". Yea might be a lil weird to neurodivergents like yours truly but that's how it is, lol

[@Iamanandhu360]

For me 2023 is my worst year I faced in my life but it's is the year I learnt lot of things as well as!

[@TylerSmithMusic1]

I have the door open and the windows cracked in Missouri in December. NEVER in 30 years has that been the case.

[@kmoses582]

Does cold disprove global warming?

[@kmoses582]

I also looked up the records for st. Lewis, this month the highest temp was 68, on Dec 31 1875 it got to 74.

[@TylerSmithMusic1]

@@kmoses582 I’m not refuting. I’m saying this isn’t normal and sure we have had spikes like this, but not as consistent throughout the year. This summer had an index of 117.

[@kmoses582]

@@TylerSmithMusic1 You are full of crap, I looked more at the records and this year the highest temp for St. Louis is 67, in 2021 the highest was 68 for Dec. so much for 30 years this has never been the case. Also this is not the hottest for Missouri this month and the coldest temperature for the month was just a couple days ago, 21 for St. Louis, 21 for Kansas City and 20 for Sprinfield. The highest temp was weeks ago, do you not remember that? Are you a liar or just cant remember?

[@TylerSmithMusic1]

@@kmoses582 and if you don’t live in Missouri….well then you can’t expect to know “normal” or average weather here. Glad google told you everything you need to know though

[@NanaShaCrash]

I am not a big fan of using EV's as a way to show positive change for global climate change because it still means that humans are driving around in single occupancy vehicles and charging them at stations that are generating electricity using fossil fuels (overwhelmingly), and the infrastructure for electric is very vulnerable to the climate change disasters we see each year (fires, flooding, etc). Just last year, we had winter storms flood in low lying areas and it completely totalled all of the electric vehicle motors. Many of these vehicles had been purchased by seniors using government rebate programs, and now they have nothing to show for it. The best ways to reduce carbon footprints are as follows: 5) Improving mass transit and walkable/bikeable city infrastructure. 4) Reducing commutes by using WFH and hubs for work. 3) Reduce waste by improving local manufacturing and reuse of items before they are discarded in landfills. 2) Going after waste generated by the top gross polluters (ie: wealthy folks). 1) Actually going after companies that "build fines for their ecological disasters" into their cost of doing business and Stopping pollution at the industrial level. Some individual action will help, but if all the combined work of us taking 5 minute cold showers is literally wiped out by some rich dude taking his private jet to his private island where he leaves the AC and heating on all year long with the windows open, then why is it that the average person is asked to suffer greatly while a select few set the world on fire more quickly? We need to work together, but this is a problem that is far more of a political and finance-makes-right problem than a scientific one. After all, the wealthy don't like being told they can't play with their toys.

[@mathieud5594]

"Should I be worried?", well, in short, YES!

[@alsomika]

The way I think about it is if it's doomed then why not try, might as well give it a shot, what do we have to lose?

[@TheVav111]

For me, the most disheartening thing is that for the many people who thought that climate change isn't happening and "it's fake" 5-10 years ago, now it is actually so much easier to accept "it's too late now" and get on with their lives. It is just mind-blowing that while accepting you are wrong about something so important that would basically make your children' lives worse, your next step is just to ignore it and let it happen... (Maybe we should've listened to Al Gore from the beginning and not let money and greed get in our way... Who knows what the world wouldve been now)

[@kalahariswirl1231]

I’m currently a freshman in college trying to double major in statistics and either environmental science or meteorology. Why? Because I want to devote my life to environmental problems like climate change that have immediate and far reaching consequences. What pains me is that we’ve known this kind of thing would happen for so long but it feels like we just let it happen…we also know theoretically what can be done to mitigate climate change effects and reverse the anthropogenic contributions to it, and yet it still feels like nothing is being done or at least not fast enough. I hate when socioeconomic factors and politics get in the way of issues such as this but that honestly feels like where we are at globally with this problem. What is the next step in actually solving the issue of climate change? I’m all for complex problems, but this is definitely a tough one…

[@Ag.mar.]

It's disappointing that animal agriculture wasn't mentioned in this video, given its huge contribution to climate change

[@Darkflowerchyld718]

I'm in NYC. We're not famous for our snow but it does happen. We get slushy, snirty, gross New York City snow. Sometimes we'll get a blizzard that'll knock out the city for a few hours but we keep angry and carry on. But we didn't get any last year, or the year before that or the year before that. My 3 year old has never seen snow. It's nice to not deal with but inspires dread when I think about it too much. I never thought I'd miss pushing my stroller through the snow but I do... I hope we get some this year but I won't hold my breath.

[@b1oh1]

I grew up in a snowy state and I remember having tons of snow but the past few years we've gotten so little. The fact it got up to 58 degrees F a week or so ago was really disturbing. I went outside at like midnight and it was eerily warm.

[@PlazDreamweaver]

​@@b1oh1Same here in the northern midwest. Also, we really haven't had much of an Autumn for the last couple years. It goes from summer to warm winters with only a few weeks of Autumn climate.

[@MattieAMiller]

I'm from Minnesnowta and we still get snow, but not until January now. We used to always have white christmases, but looks like not this year, or the last few years.

[@NGC-7635]

The scariest thing about 2023 is how many people there are out there who are completely oblivious to anything that happened this year or the last.

[@kmoses582]

The scariest thing about 2023 is how many people there are out there who are completely oblivious to anything that happened in the 20th or previous centuries.

[@NGC-7635]

haha true @@kmoses582

[@laurajames138]

The weather over the past couple of years has made me very anxious. I feel like so many people hate winter they are actually happy about climate change. I miss the snow and ice skating outside.

[@ChinnuWoW]

Those who live near the equator don’t feel the same.

[@royalfelineandtracygrant]

I know. I don’t have snow where I live, but I adore the rainy winters. It feels like everyone these days worship heat and sunlight and summer, and it honestly makes me sick. Seriously, do they want climate change or something?

[@themanhimself3]

​@@royalfelineandtracygrantwhen it's raining or bad weather I get a mental and energy boost.

[@ax14pz107]

Just remind them how badly COVID affected the supply chain, and that in a few years climate change is going to have a much worse effect on the supply chain. COVID was nothing compared to the loss of hundreds and hundreds of trillions of dollars worth of coastal infrastructure.

[@iout]

I definitely prefer summer to winter, but I also know that global warming doesn’t make winters more tolerable. It instead makes winters worse. Global warming is an increase in average temp, but individual cold events can and are still worryingly bad.

[@MsSilvain]

I have one big issue about people, praising electric cars. I wish that PBS promoted real information about what electric cars do and do not do to save the environment. I see them as a short term solution with a very short sighted attitude allowing people to brush problems under the carpet and clean their consciousness by just spending money on an electric car. What about the process of producing those cars which is incredibly environmentally harmful? What about the batteries, which have a very short lifespan and need to be replaced much more often than regular car batteries? On top of that, we still do not know how to recycle them. There is no way for that. What about lack of reliability? We can’t rely on those cars in really severe weather. In case of a huge traffic keeping drivers stuck for more than an hour or in a bad weather (loads of snow and temperatures way below zero Celsius), those cars are useless. Batteries die fast and without charging ports the driver is in big trouble. I do agree, there are many fantastic ways we can work on to improve the climate change issue but electric cars are definitely NOT one them. Electric carts are creating a new future problem which we’re not ready to deal with on top of all the rest. That’s just NOT a smart solution. @besmart, Joe I’d love to hear your thoughts about this, please?

[@juho984]

Regular people cannot contribute to climate change all that much in reality. What makes a difference is that corporations and governments choose to go green. The sad thing is that corporations have noticed that going green is good for business, so they greenwash as much as possible, but in reality they just do whatever makes the most profit. Greenwashing is the action of making something sound environmentally friendly, but is usually anything but. Most people can’t afford new cars, regardless of their method of power. Usually our choices are limited to our pick of a shopping bag. Get a tote bag, or a plastic bag. But then arises a question of how long do I need to use this tote bag for it to be more environmentally friendly than a simple plastic bag? People need to realise that the process of making batteries is not environmentally friendly nor sustainable. But neither is the process of making fuel. Not much have been said about how environmentally friendly and sustainable are solar panels and wind turbines. A lot of people just assume they are the greenest thing ever, but wind turbine blades are a huge issue when it comes to recycling. For us to make good decisions, we’d need to better understand environmental effects of entire lifecycle of a product. But therein lies the infamous greenwashing. A lot of decisions are made based on profit, not what is good for Earth.

[@somratkhan8688]

An actual thought-out comment.

[@ikhbjhbkm5]

Tokyo, New York and Shanghai being underwater is the type of wake up call that people need. Unfortunately people dont work together on the scale needed until it makes sense in an economic day-to-day obvious way. I think we're more likely to find a technological answer than a global political answer.

[@jiffyb333]

It is hopeful to hear that we need to push for progress, and that progress is being made. Also nice to learn to watch out for Doom as a tactic for delay

[@LivingMidnight]

Great message. Wanted to say that I am mostly doomerish in my outlook. However, pessimistic as I am, I want to act with love towards other living beings. That compels me to try to limit the harm of climate change and the other combined problems that make up the metacrisis. No matter how difficult or pointless or sure to fail it might seem, I can't give up.

[@alex_valkyrjet1081]

This is the first video that’s given me real hope that the world won’t end in my lifetime.

[@jimthain8777]

It shouldn't be that way. There's always hope. We simply need to DO something, anything, to change just a little bit. Everyone is capable of changing just a little bit. Some are capable of changing more, and that's great. YOU decide how much you can change. Even if it is just a little bit, that little bit less fuel burned is actually helpful.

[@alex_valkyrjet1081]

@@jimthain8777 I do believe that. Most videos I’ve watched haven’t given the most hopeful info, so this one particularly helped.

[@xyz-pg3zd]

@@alex_valkyrjet1081I don’t understand. What can we do

[@macsarcule]

I needed to hear this, and I need to change my thinking.

[@takenname8053]

Made me realize how much of a doomer I am. Thanks for this!

[@LemurWhoSpoke]

Everyone has to choose: Do you want an economy and civilization or do you want a livable climate and a chance to survive. It's that simple.

[@kmoses582]

You made this up, and by the way 2023 weather was not that bad.

[@dinoknightz]

Isnt the goal both? You can have both, the people in power are what keeps the status quo

[@JamesOKeefe-US]

You still keep me optimistic Joe. Thank you for everything you do!!

[@OverlordMaggie]

This is important! We have to recognize all aspect of an issue. The negative, the consequences, the things we could to better; but also where we *are* succeeding, making progress, and seeing change.

[@jtdnet]

This video taught me that I am a Climate Doomer. We aren't "electric-car-ing" our way out of the this problem.

[@svankensen]

Good thing that that isn't the plan. Transport is about a fifth of emisssions.

[@jameshughes3014]

Not knowing how to feel about a year is such a nice change. Cause I had no trouble knowing how to feel about some of the recent years in the past. I'm gonna call it a win.

[@UCannotDefeatMyShmeat]

I enjoy how increasingly simplified the explanations are getting, it’s like “hey idiots, do you get it yet? No? I’ll go get the colour by number earth.”

[@stratagama]

Here's something to think about, back in 1912 in my area a short line railroad opened and 2 to 3 times a year every year they would have to stop operations to clear the tracks after a bad snow storm. A snowstorm with dump a little over 4 ft of snow in just over a day. And this happened multiple times a winter. These days we hardly get a foot of snow in a year.

[@SliceOfDog]

Great and very important message. Thank you for what you do!

[@mojaindustries4185]

Come on fellow humans, huddle up, we gotta do something about this, I know we can. Start with small changes, and if each of us makes small changes over time, those small changes start to add up and make significant differences. Be thoughtful, don't just exist for yourself but rather do something to make a change. I am saying this to myself as much as I am saying it to you, don't give up hope. Stay safe!

[@mikeferguson8075]

Great video Joe ! Merry Christmas !

[@leelindsay5618]

Seeing so many farmers and rancher switching to regenerative practices is really hopeful. Helping more people learn how to incorporate regenerative practices in their yards and gardens and support more regenerative farms will start to shift the cascade of effects to a more healthy balance.

[@randomdatastream]

I love you guys. I want permission to challenge your thinking. I don't think "doomerism" is about the belief that the *climate* can't be changed for the better. It's about the belief that *people* can't be changed for the better. You say we need to "flip our mental switches from doomerism to activism," but the idea that the answer is "moar advocacy" hurts. If our only plans rely on an impossible level of consensus, how can good things ever happen? It's time to stop talking about advocacy and start talking about things we can do to improve the environment that *don't* require changing minds. I'm not talking about recycling and drinking from mushy straws, but plans with real impact that can be accomplished by 20% or less of the population with or *without* permission and government support. That's a tall order, but it's not impossible if we put our best minds to it NOW. The future is hopeful, but we must change the conversation to get there.

[@forevera5241]

Still feel like we skipped spring where I live because my allergies barely bothered me this year.

[@blyndeaf8503]

I think I needed this video. My sibling just asked me yesterday why I don’t want to have kids, and climate change was one reason. I had a really doomer mindset overall, but this gave me a boost of hope. Still don’t see kids anywhere in my future, but I’m excited to see a greener earth one day, and hope I can be an activist when I’m older.

[@mbusontshangase4522]

I get where you're coming from, but if climate change is your only reason for not having kids and you actually want to have kids if climate change was not a thing, I would then advice against your position. Genuinely believe that humans will overcome the climate change challenge. Maybe we'll lose NY and all the other cities (and more) mentioned in the video. But that loss will be the impetus (if we hadn't found one earlier) for mankind to truly rise to the occasion. Have your kids, they might even turn out to be the key players that will win the war against climate change.

[@macdietz]

This is a completely brain dead excuse for not having children. You don't fix something by giving up. Please don't vote.

[@blyndeaf8503]

@@mbusontshangase4522 It was only one of my reasons. I think having children is a lot harder and a bigger responsibility than society tries to get people to believe. I put a lot of thought into what I’d need to be a good parent and building a good future for my children, so for me there are many factors like financial goals, a good partner, the country I want them to grow up in, etc.. It’s just my opinion though, I don’t hold other people to my standards.

[@EmeraldView]

Just don't look up! It's easy.

[@laa2787]

It is scary to think that i fell into "climate doomerism" even if i am surounded myself with the knowledge the science and all that. I am recognizing this in my heart but still dont know how to deal with it..

[@roy4173]

The problem isn't climate doomerism, nor climate denial, nor most things people blame. It's capitalism. As long as the ones holding power insist that endless profit and growth is more important than the health of this planet, then we will continue hurtling down this trajectory. Personal decisions to consume in a more environmentally friendly way will always be overwhelmingly dwarfed by the immense effects of the mass production of carbon guzzling corporate machines brought on by capitalism.

[@betsykroll6583]

People worry only about things when consequences hit them hard. Data is not scary, but when a tornado, fire or flood takes away your home thats when you pay attention. 😢

[@mayurdahiwale5907]

I hope we are able to flip this, for the sake of everyone and everything alive right now and will be alive in the future

[@riveramnell143]

I spent 2023 bedridden due to a herniated disc that gave me sciatica down my legs. Most pain I’ve ever felt. I would just lay there and read bad news after bad news. It was a bad year for everyone. I’m starting 2024 off with back surgery and I’m excited. I hope it’s a better year for everyone!

[@suolainenomena7631]

So what should we do? NO, to really do to make this situation better for us all?

[@bobtuckey2409]

Hey Joe, Bob here. Well said but I still think things are going to get worse before they get better. But here’s to a Happy New Year anyway.😊

[@m41437]

I'll put it simply: Southern hemisphere's winter had some hot weeks: 27ºC

[@riverxxz4612]

Where I live we are usually shin deep in snow by November. It’s currently late December SO WHY WAS I ABLE TO SEE GRASS TWO WEEKS AGO!?!?!?!?

[@KenSpreitzer]

I appreciate the effort to inform, but I think the problem with videos like this is that they feel compelled to end on a positive note (just as he explicitly said). This is bad to the extent that it gives people false hope that everything will be OK, that “we still have time,” or that someone else is working on the problem and we’ll be OK. The reality is that we’re way past the future being OK. Ask yourself if this video makes you angry and feel an urgent need to make drastic systemic changes? Nobody is seriously considering the types of cuts in CO2 emissions that we need to make. And of course they aren’t, because that would crash most economies - which is why we’re screwed. Yes, I consider myself a doomer but I consider it more to be a “realist.” I really dislike that Mann says that *I’M* the problem. I’m NOT saying we shouldn’t do anything, and it’s wrong of him to insist that I am. If anything, I feel like understanding how truly desperate the situation is actually makes me MORE motivated. “Do not go gently into that good night…” Given all that, is it appropriate for a video to leave you feeling like you don’t need to make our support any changes? People need to feel motivated!

[@DemPilafian]

Hard disagree. Scare mongering does not work.

[@realtorforlouisiana]

We appreciate you so much! Here's to all of us, striving to improve our world.

[@chalkie4047]

Thank you for sending a hopeful message, even if the data is scary!

[@kmoses582]

Why do you say the data is scary?

[@EmeraldView]

​@@kmoses582Have you seen it?

[@chelseashurmantine8153]

It was a cool year to start getting involved. Wow, to see how much work has been getting done is incredible! To say I've helped will be worth 100X more than procrastinating gave me!

[@MindLaboratory]

Great video! Calling out the doom and gloom as the biggest obstacle to progress is exactly what is needed right now.

[@Praisethesunson]

Doom and gloom is yet another technique of manipulation our corporate overlords are using to keep us rabble from challenging their continued fossil fuel based profits.

[@whatthebeepvideos]

Big oil and international capital are the main drivers of climate change, but the little guy pointing this out is the issue? We are completely screwed unless we restart our government from scratch, and even then we're probably still screwed.

[@teflonda5655]

@@whatthebeepvideos As I've learned over the years, it's easier for people to shoot the messenger than to actually change something. If you say anything other than "we'll definitely be able to fix it" then you are the problem, even if no one actually listens to you to begin with.

[@Nocturnal_Icon]

I’m in graduate school for carbon management at Colorado state university. I’ve had these exact conversations with my professors and they have the same answer to the optimism/pessimism question. I love the phrase “climate doomerism to climate activism” we can do this

[@Nocturnal_Icon]

Jk lol we’re fooked

[@kmoses582]

@@Nocturnal_Icon The Earth has always had natural disasters, calm down.

[@oneworldonehome]

It's going to get much worse as we go on. The great environmental changes will trigger so many political, social, and economical upheavals that it's going to be very gut-wrenching. And on top of that, the ET visitors who are hiding in the shadows and manipulating behind the scenes are just waiting for the perfect opportunity to reveal themselves as the saviors of humanity. Such a dangerous situation for all of humanity. To learn more I recommend listening to MV Summers.

[@rklauco]

I am not pessimistic. I am optimistic - finally, we started to talk about this on wide forums. This is getting from extreme environmental groups to mainstream. People start to be conscious about single use plastics, about oil usage, about environment, about deforestation, about sustainable farming, about animal well-being, ... None of these things were a topic 5 years ago. Even topics like electricity sources for EVs are now being openly discussed - CO2 levels from generating the electricity, mining practices, ... All of this moves us forward. Yes, it is used in the tactics to slow things down, but we are still moving ahead. Slower than I'd like, but forward. And that makes me optimistic.

[@kapoioBCS]

Wide forums sponsored by oil companies and oil countries in order to make more oil deals? lol

[@rklauco]

@@kapoioBCS COP is not the only thing that's happening. Countries do a lot on their own level, despite what they sign there. So does EU. And so do individuals.

[@sbtfactsmansion2537]

Your Videos are epic bro. I like your Video topics. Love from India❤❤

[@shravyaboggarapu5877]

In India many people are turning towards Solar power and electric cars. The main problem that needs to be addressed here is water scarcity and pollution of water

[@ljfinger]

The biggest part of the solution is to get efficient, and make up the rest with renewables. I personally reduced my energy use by 85%, still living in the same house with the same number of people.

[@thebomber7641]

Shifting the question into ones family responsibility doesnt change anything. Except for the feeling of self-justification. And the biggest consumption of non-renewables that you've made is a house that you're living in and all the infrastructure around it to support it.

[@StevoSwiss]

I spent a lot of time focusing on getting my jobs back in order, savings money here and there, getting over 2 bouts of COVID, and... Moving. And altogether, even my community garden plot suffered from my negligence. I would say that if next year offers less challenges, for everyone out there, and maybe a few less wars, there might be a lot more time to focus on making good climate-related life adjustments, like saving up the cash to purchase an electric vehicle, or planting a few more healthy trees. Honestly, I feel like 2023 was a year where a lot of people dealt with difficult life problems, and had very little time too focus on anything other than consuming information about climate change, rather than making a difference. I hope next year offers a better opportunity for everyone on all fronts.

[@sagargaikwad9985]

As an individual, I try to control what is in my hand e.g. spending less electricity, avoid using AC or heater, taking public transport wherever possible, not using plastic bags. I am not sure if it will have any impact but it does not hurt to try. It's small things over long duration that matters.

[@kbeezyk]

It almost doesn't matter. Taylor Swift's jet alone put out more than 1,200 times than what you or me put in a whole year.

[@jimthain8777]

if we could get just 1/2 the human population to adopt that mind set (4 billion people), you'd be very surprised at the results.

[@juniperjabber]

@@kbeezyk And what can we do about that? Lessen support for those people by spreading the word. What's a good way to make people more aware? Maybe implementing ways to be more environmentally conscious in our everyday lives. People will ask, and you can tell them what you know, and if they don't, tell them without being prompted.

[@lakrids-pibe]

I remember when smoking was banned (*). I was convinced it wouldn't work and people would defiantly puff away and ignore the ban. But it worked. It became normal to keep public spaces smoke-free. Things can chance. We can improve things. Vote for people who are trying to improve things instead of the angry populists. (banned in certain areas under certain circumstances. You are still allowed to smoke in the street and in your own home)

[@Praisethesunson]

I hauled wood in the middle of December and it was so warm I didn't need a jacket. While there was half a meter of snow on the ground. It was legit Terrifying.

[@kmoses582]

Are you terrified of mild weather?

[@Praisethesunson]

@@kmoses582 It's weather that has not existed in my part of the world in all of human history. That's not good.

[@kmoses582]

@@Praisethesunson Like what?

[@teflonda5655]

@@kmoses582 Like what they already described and you called "mild weather," in an area that is not supposed to have "mild weather"

[@kmoses582]

@@teflonda5655 How do you know they are not supposed to get mild weather? Weather has always changed the temperature day to day throughout history.

[@_samandriel]

I'll blame it all on corporations and corrupted politicians. A single corporation causes much more damage in one day than any individual could ever do in their entire life. They are too greedy to change. and governments just turn a blind eye because it benefits them in some way.

[@brooksschneider3441]

Meanwhile, on this morning's news, they said today is expected to set an all-time record for air travel. It's pretty hard to remain hopeful.

[@briann7744]

Thanks be smart for another great video 👍climate anxiety is rampant. You can’t do it all yourself, do what you can.

[@heiskanbuscadordelaverdad8709]

Don't give up, that's what the companies want

[@godemperor7742]

It will get worse, and/but we can and will make it better through our choices.

[@taylorfair3640]

It’s hard to believe that, as things get more extreme, people won’t resort to extremes themselves. I don’t think anyone’s going to like what solutions will come forward when conversation and policies fail.

[@DemPilafian]

Conservation? World population is still growing, so conservation is MATHEMATICALLY not a solution. Pushing conservation distracting us from the one and only real solution. We must transition to clean electric power for everything. There are three parts: 1) Build more solar and wind farms (and maybe nuclear and hydrothermal), 2) Make the power grid smarter with utility scale storage and more transmission, and 3) Electrify everything currently burning fossil fuel starting with switching to EVs and heat pumps.

[@jrkc9218]

Jane Goodall: “I do have reasons for hope: our clever brains, the resilience of nature, the indomitable human spirit, and above all, the commitment of young people when they're empowered to take action.”

[@epgui]

Climate denial is not a big blocker anymore? Have these people spoken to non-academics? IMHO it's more of a problem now than it ever was, and the problem is being manifested pretty clearly in what and who people vote (or don't vote) for.

[@prapanthebachelorette6803]

I think Joe tries to prevent people from swinging into the doomer direction, which is important for me to hear right now. I definitely feel similar to you too, as many people in my social circle aren’t deniers per se but they just prefer convenience. Public utilities don’t make things easy for people who want to lead a more eco friendly lifestyle either 😢

[@epgui]

@@prapanthebachelorette6803 IDK about you, but people I grew up with who I used to think were smart, are in complete climate denial mode.

[@NoNonsense_01]

​@@epguiGiven the solution proposed by the activists, anyone would cope by denying the existence of climate change. Renewal sources are not the answer to the problem, and the activists despise nuclear power more than they hate fossil fuels!

[@hx0d]

​@epgui They're noise. They'll be (or are) working minimum pay jobs while the people who can see further than their nose do the real work. Don't worry too much about them.

[@LouCadle]

Where I live, we set 18 record highs. It was miserable, and A/C couldn't keep up. Also food plants I grow could not produce fruit; it was so hot, pollen was infertile for about five weeks.

[@alkatron768]

Imagine if we just stuck to Nuclear fission until we got good renewables going. This one desicion to abandon Nuclear because the public is scared has probably had the biggest impact total.

[@norielgames4765]

I seriously never understood this. We use countless small controlled explosions per second to power our cars and planes every day. They cause countless deaths every year. We have Thorium fission with is a way cleaner and safer alternative to other fission alternatives. We could be investing in nuclear fusion, a way safer and insanely cleaner alternative to everything else we got going on today. But no, instead we have to burn toxic substances that pollute the air so much my window seals get covered in a yucky black ashy substance every couple of weeks. We got used to seeing clouds of smoke coming out of cars and buses as if it was the most normal thing in the world, and smelling them. I can't comprehend the idiocy of people.

[@Poliostasis]

Bringing Nuclear energy back as the main source of energy will save us in the long run, despite how much it would cost and all that. Educating the public on such things is necessary, yet, inaction remains.

[@ljfinger]

Nuclear is the most expensive new energy we can buy.

[@Poliostasis]

@@ljfinger And yet is the best.

[@ljfinger]

@Poliostasis No, it's hard to integrate into the grid, expensive and impossible to handle the waste and decommissioned materials long term (tens of thousands of years).

[@mandragonna]

As long as corporations and rich people don’t lower their CO2 emissions, us the average person won’t impact as much… 😢

[@eivix5030]

Personal initiatives are like a drop of water in the see,so the only thing we can actually do Is to vote politician Who want to do something about It. Even something that would lower out quality of Life. We have to do something as global community not as countries only

[@SandhillCrane42]

I was so enthusiastic, and then the hard turn toward pitching consumption upscale in the guise of eco-gadgets and economic growth for a slight deferral and transmutation of the ecological collapse, as though these two aspects aren't the basis of the actual problem. I mean, I think people worry about it because it's so bad for life. Maybe they're worried the rocks will all suffer or something, but this techno optimism definitely destroys the ecosphere for reasons you shouldn't need explained, like the extraction of its material basis and the consequences of its implementation. Sustainability would entail an economy driven by quotas in accord with necessity instead of profit. It entails a reduction in the population and a radical restructuring of resource allocation systems like money, for instance. A cheaper solar panel is a product I personally can use, but it was mined from a radioactive sludge pit by disenfranchised people before crossing the ocean on a container ship, and it's only useful to me insomuchas I curtail my electricity consumption to match its output. If we're going to replace all these frikken cars (have you seen them? The cars???), the government obviously needs to give people a massive rebate for their old vehicle when they exchange it for the nationally produced electric one, and set up facilities right there to repurpose everything off the ICE vehicles with a guaranteed job and living quarters like the old days of company towns! Hell, they could have trains and bikes and then they'd just have to get the train right! Nothing significant will happen. Nothing. I'm sorry. It pisses me off.

[@jeaniebird999]

As a child, I was certain that humans, as a whole, were much smarter (than we're currently behaving) and we would NEVER let things get this bad because we're just too smart to allow that to occur. I expected the complete opposite of what I'm seeing, now. Imagine my surprise and disappointment. I had high hopes, at one time. Now, I have finally given up.

[@crunchydragon2025]

Don't know if you've heard of Guy McPherson. He is a conservation biologist (experts in extinction) who studied climate change and went full prepper in the early 00s. He is the first person I know of to start counting the positive feedback loops. Back in 2005, he said that he can't imagine there will be much left of humanity by 2030.

[@ToniosPlaylist]

I don't feel it as bad as you describe. It's like previous years, adding in the row.

[@awsumcreations7604]

Normal people affecting the climate is small not too impactful. if we really want to see change we need to hold corporation and factories accountable. We aren't going to get far on a individual level of the average person so yes we still should do our part but corporations and factories are the real threat to climate change and our earth.

[@sixvee5147]

“I accepted to come to this meeting to have a sober and mature conversation. I’m not in any way signing up to any discussion that is alarmist. There is no science out there, or no scenario out there, that says that the phase-out of fossil fuel is what’s going to achieve 1.5C.” - Sultan Al Jaber, President of COP 28, also CEO of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company Seems more and more likely, scenario SSP5-8.5 of the IPCC assessment may come to fruition (or at least the higher end of the spectrum). I say enjoy what you can, while you still can; pity the generations to come.

[@Luanmm]

I haven't seen any comment point what I will... The central question is not the individual doomerism, but the economic system we are subjected to. Capitalism inevitebly leads to ecologic crisis, as it is an ideology of infinite growth on a finite planet. Things won't change meaningfully under Capitalism.

[@widodoakrom3938]

This meme is actually perfectly described the global situation lol

[@LaceNWhisky]

"Do something" Do *what?* I still have to drive to work. I still have to buy groceries. I still have to live in this world of rampant consumerism. We need to pressure those in power to make meaningful changes.