Don’t get me wrong, I’m very much an optimist when it comes to things like fighting climate change, fixing the ozone layer, etc. and I take plenty of personal responsibility. More than the average person does, I think. The point of my comment was to call attention to the pessimism and doomerism that’s rampant any time you try to discuss saving the planet — case in point, the comments in this very thread.

I think those kinds of comments can be discouraging for the layman who wants to help the planet but maybe isn’t well versed enough in the topic to argue with the doomer. More sinisterly, I’ve often wondered how much doomerism is pushed by oil companies and other businesses that stand to benefit from the status quo.

You can't personal responsibility your way out of large-scale societal issues...

And this is a bit like saying your vote doesn't count because it's just one of many. Society is built of people. Changes can only come from people.

I don't think anybody suggested otherwise. But funny you use the plural there...

Feel free to make a counterargument, but your dismissiveness comes across as very rude.