--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's absolutely not acceptable for people…" description: "\"It's absolutely not acceptable for people to argue that, if we are going to do anything about climate change at all, well, the responsibility lies sole..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/325/peter-garrett-16069_acceptable_it-s-absolutely-not-acceptable-for-peopl_2880346.png" --- # It's absolutely not acceptable for people to argue that… ![“It's absolutely not acceptable for people to argue that, if we are going to do anything about climate change at all, well, the responsibility lies solely with the individual.” quote by Peter Garrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/325/peter-garrett-16069_acceptable_it-s-absolutely-not-acceptable-for-peopl_2880346.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/325/peter-garrett-16069_acceptable_it-s-absolutely-not-acceptable-for-peopl_2880346.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/325/peter-garrett-16069_acceptable_it-s-absolutely-not-acceptable-for-peopl_2880346.png) > “It's absolutely not acceptable for people to argue that, if we are going to do anything about climate change at all, well, the responsibility lies solely with the individual.” [Peter Garrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-garrett/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Individual responsibility is insufficient alone; systemic change is needed to address climate change **In simple terms:** Individuals alone can’t solve climate change Key Takeaway Push for collective policy action Themes environment climate responsibility Mood urgent determined Type activist persuasive When to use this quote - government policy - corporate emissions - community initiatives - education campaigns Key Concepts systemic change collective action Questions to Reflect On - What policies could most reduce emissions? - How can individuals influence systemic change? A Different Perspective Focusing solely on individuals may ignore larger contributors ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Climate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate/) [Climate change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate-change/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) ## Related quotes > [You do change when you have the responsibility of caring for children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asher-keddie/you-do-change-when-you-have-the-responsibility-of-caring-for-children/) [Asher Keddie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asher-keddie/) > [When you work as a humanitarian, you are conscious that politics have to be considered. 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You as a state can do that; you have a right to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-christy/if-you-choose-to-make-regulations-about-carbon-dioxide-that-s-ok-you/) [John Christy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-christy/) > [There are philosophical issues involved in that about choosing the right discount rate, the value, the future, and things like that which drive it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-carson/there-are-philosophical-issues-involved-in-that-about-choosing-the/) [Brad Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-carson/) > [ The rednecks. Well, you're not going to get there with climate change and \[Vladimir\] Putin and all the rest of it. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-matalin/the-rednecks-well-you-re-not-going-to-get-there-with-climate-change/) [Mary Matalin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-matalin/) > [I think we're going to find, with climate change and everything else, things like global warming and goodness knows what else and the cost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prince-charles/i-think-we-re-going-to-find-with-climate-change-and-everything-else/) [Prince Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prince-charles/) > [“Wherever the responsibility lies, shame creates a solid and terrible feeling of unworthiness that resides in our bodies: the storehouse of the memories of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/wherever-the-responsibility-lies-shame-creates-a-solid-and-terrible/) [Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/) > [“the responsibility also lies with us. With how common people choose to act.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/the-responsibility-also-lies-with-us-with-how-common-people-choose-to/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [There is an expiry date on blaming your parents for steering you in the wrong direction; the moment you are old enough to take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-is-an-expiry-date-on-blaming-your-parents-for-steering-you-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The moment you are old enough to take the wheel, responsibility lies with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/the-moment-you-are-old-enough-to-take-the-wheel-responsibility-lies/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [Personal responsibility is not only recognizing the errors of our ways. Personal responsibility lies in our willingness and ability to correct those errors individually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yehuda-berg/personal-responsibility-is-not-only-recognizing-the-errors-of-our/) [Yehuda Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yehuda-berg/) > [I don't know but maybe it's fair to say that some of the responsibility lies with the American people and not just on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-novick/i-don-t-know-but-maybe-it-s-fair-to-say-that-some-of-the/) Lynn Novick > [“In the world of eternal return the weight of unbearable responsibility lies heavy on every move we make.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/in-the-world-of-eternal-return-the-weight-of-unbearable-2/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [The onset of more severe climate impacts overseas may also open up temporary opportunities, or 'policy windows.' These would allow legislators the licence to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-beddington/the-onset-of-more-severe-climate-impacts-overseas-may-also-open-up/) [John Beddington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-beddington/) ## More by Peter Garrett > [I believe the divine is part of the world, not in a pantheistic way but by way of the movement of the Spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-garrett/i-believe-the-divine-is-part-of-the-world-not-in-a-pantheistic-way/) [Peter Garrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-garrett/) > [You don't want to spend your life explaining yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-garrett/you-don-t-want-to-spend-your-life-explaining-yourself/) [Peter Garrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-garrett/) > [Our career path has tended to be the most perverse and contrary approach to the entertainment industry imaginable, while at the same time doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-garrett/our-career-path-has-tended-to-be-the-most-perverse-and-contrary/) [Peter Garrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-garrett/) > [What generally happens in this county is that our politicians don't serve us well because they don't tell the truth, and they don't keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-garrett/what-generally-happens-in-this-county-is-that-our-politicians-don-t/) [Peter Garrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-garrett/) > [Once you start to look into the guts of climate change you find that just about every scientific institution in the world is conducting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-garrett/once-you-start-to-look-into-the-guts-of-climate-change-you-find-that/) [Peter Garrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-garrett/) > [But no matter how big the effort to push a propaganda line might be, climate change is bigger. This, undoubtedly and regrettably, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-garrett/but-no-matter-how-big-the-effort-to-push-a-propaganda-line-might-be/) [Peter Garrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-garrett/) > [In particular, Australia, because of its ancient geography, soil profile and distinctive weather patterns, is more adversely affected by climate variability than some other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-garrett/in-particular-australia-because-of-its-ancient-geography-soil-profile/) [Peter Garrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-garrett/) > [In our early period we pretty much survived or perished on our capacity to reach people, and on getting into the pattern of having…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-garrett/in-our-early-period-we-pretty-much-survived-or-perished-on-our/) [Peter Garrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-garrett/) > [There was never going to be a right time for a band that was still recording and had health in its environment, had made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-garrett/there-was-never-going-to-be-a-right-time-for-a-band-that-was-still/) [Peter Garrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-garrett/) > [Climate change is so big that people who study it.. and many do.. need to speak to it. They must present scientific papers, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-garrett/climate-change-is-so-big-that-people-who-study-it-and-many-do-need-to/) [Peter Garrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-garrett/) > [I guess for me what is more significant than success is the nature of each of the songs and of the words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-garrett/i-guess-for-me-what-is-more-significant-than-success-is-the-nature-of/) [Peter Garrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-garrett/) > [Climate change is such a huge issue that it requires strong, concerted, consistent and enduring action by governments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-garrett/climate-change-is-such-a-huge-issue-that-it-requires-strong-concerted/) [Peter Garrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-garrett/) > [Well I'm not convinced that expanding uranium mining is in the best interests of the country and the best interests of its environment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-garrett/well-i-m-not-convinced-that-expanding-uranium-mining-is-in-the-best/) [Peter Garrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-garrett/) > [The challenge that climate change presents to us, both in Australia and around the world, won't be solved by ramping up the nuclear industry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-garrett/the-challenge-that-climate-change-presents-to-us-both-in-australia/) [Peter Garrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-garrett/) > [The forces that are in play on climate change essentially revolve around the generation of power, the transportation of goods and services and people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-garrett/the-forces-that-are-in-play-on-climate-change-essentially-revolve/) [Peter Garrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-garrett/) [Explore all 41 Peter Garrett quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-garrett/) ## More Acceptable quotes > [The inner defenses are unconscious. 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It furnishes examples of holy living, and displays…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-howard-taft/the-study-of-freemasonry-is-the-study-of-man-as-a-candidate-for-a/) [William Howard Taft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-howard-taft/) > [Or why it is acceptable to train fast runners and high jumpers but not to breed them. I can think of some answers, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/or-why-it-is-acceptable-to-train-fast-runners-and-high-jumpers-but/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [As the future is never known with certainty, the evaluation of the prospective benefits requires the formation of expectations. An acceptable house, partner or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-t-mortensen/as-the-future-is-never-known-with-certainty-the-evaluation-of-the/) [Dale T. 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Which is why our actions must always be acceptable in themselves, and not as strategies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-heilbrun/we-cannot-guess-the-outcome-of-our-actions-which-is-why-our-actions/) [Carolyn Heilbrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-heilbrun/) > [In any case, open-seat presidential elections like 2008 just are different in character from incumbent reelects, and I think that's the most important thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kristol/in-any-case-open-seat-presidential-elections-like-2008-just-are/) [William Kristol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kristol/) > [It's horrible how money and fame can make you acceptable while, if you're not famous or rich, you're not acceptable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-tonioli/it-s-horrible-how-money-and-fame-can-make-you-acceptable-while-if-you/) [Bruno Tonioli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-tonioli/) > [I disagree with the prevailing point of view of some black leaders that special treatment for blacks is acceptable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-thomas/i-disagree-with-the-prevailing-point-of-view-of-some-black-leaders/) [Clarence Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-thomas/) > [We get used to a certain kind of colour of form or format, and it's acceptable. And to puncture that is sticking your neck…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-krasner/we-get-used-to-a-certain-kind-of-colour-of-form-or-format-and-it-s/) [Lee Krasner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-krasner/) Browse all 750 Acceptable quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's absolutely not acceptable for people to argue that, if we are going to do anything about climate change at all, well, the responsibility lies solely with the individual.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Peter Garrett" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-garrett/it-s-absolutely-not-acceptable-for-people-to-argue-that-if-we-are/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Acceptable" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-garrett/it-s-absolutely-not-acceptable-for-people-to-argue-that-if-we-are/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/325/peter-garrett-16069_acceptable_it-s-absolutely-not-acceptable-for-peopl_2880346.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/325/peter-garrett-16069_acceptable_it-s-absolutely-not-acceptable-for-peopl_2880346.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/325/peter-garrett-16069_acceptable_it-s-absolutely-not-acceptable-for-peopl_2880346.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It's absolutely not acceptable for people to argue that, if we are going to do anything about climate change…” — Peter Garrett", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Peter Garrett", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-garrett/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It's absolutely not acceptable for people...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-garrett/it-s-absolutely-not-acceptable-for-people-to-argue-that-if-we-are/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-garrett/it-s-absolutely-not-acceptable-for-people-to-argue-that-if-we-are/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```