I'm a mum going to COP26 - AMA

[ParentsForFuture]

We're Charlotte and Rowan from Parents for Future UK, a growing group of parent climate campaigners. We're going to COP26 in Glasgow to demand ambitious action on the climate emergency and are planning what will be the biggest mobilization of parents ever on a single issue, with other parent groups. Mumsnet reached out to us to come on and answer your questions on COP26 and how parents can make their voice heard. Our work is led by parents and rooted in love (and fear). Charlotte (Mumsnetter) is from Bath and Rowan is from Oxford, and we each have two children, aged 3 and 7.

Hi @Lilifer - your question is here

Is there a plan to combat the hypocrisy of COP26 and environmental protestors in general?

Huge amounts of pollution and carbon have been generated by people attending. People like Price Charles and David Attenborough say we lowlifes need to change our behaviour, when they've spent their life travelling the globe. You want politicians to do something, but don't want to put the effort into getting yourselves elected into governement so that you have the power to change things. The Insulate Britain guy wants everyone to have insulation, but can't be arsed to get it done himself.

You've said before that you recognise you're not perfect, but you (collectively) need to lead by example, not by preaching "do as I say, not as I do."

@ChristmasPlanning

Could you please provide an update towards the end?

Good luck

@ChristmasPlanning

Hi there, yes we will be updating daily on the following channels:

Instagram www.instagram.com/parentsforfuture_uk/
Facebook www.facebook.com/ParentsForFutureUK/
Twitter twitter.com/parents_4future

You shouldn't break into someone else's house

You see a child who appears alone and I. Distress in a locked house. You see flames coming out of the window

You break in even though normally that would be the wrong thing to do?

So stop knocking down climate protestors who are trying to stop the whole world burning up

realise that being physically present is much more likely to make policy makers aware of the strength and depth of feeling and do something

The number of people who demand a face to face with a doctor for a sore throat shows us how important face to face is sometimes

realise that those protestors are trying to create a world where the use of trains and even planes is possible sometimes

Leave it too late and it will be that you can't drive or have a burger or even have like a normal life

It’s not about hypocrisy. It’s not about being good or bad people, lowlifes or elite. It’s about preventing misery for our children an every generation after.

@LizzieMacQueen

I'm reposting my question from Monday as it hasn't been answered or a similar question answered re the sports/leisure industry.

Thank you for doing this AMA.

I'd like to know your thoughts on professional sports. It occurred to me that many many air miles are spent transporting people (and horses!) amongst other things, all over the world in the interests of entertainment. Is that something that'll end?

@LizzieMacQueen

So sorry we missed your post. I can't speak for Parents for Future on this. And it's a hard one. In honesty I doubt very much it will end. At least until the point where we are at societal breakdown.

Leaders have known burning fossil fuels will have a grave impact on the planet for decades and our governments have still failed to transition away from them with any degree of ambition and urgency - to the point where we are now in this crisis. Given burning fossil fuels is one of the main drivers of the crisis and we have 40 new oil, coal and gas projects in the pipeline in the UK alone before 2025, I doubt there will be any measure to curb unnecessary flights for some time. This is supported by the fact the Gov. just cut taxes on domestic flights in the budget.

@MichaelMumsnet

Hi *@Lilifer* - your question is here

But that's just a link to this thread, not the post I put in this morning which has just disappeared!

@HarrietsChariot

Is there a plan to combat the hypocrisy of COP26 and environmental protestors in general?

Huge amounts of pollution and carbon have been generated by people attending. People like Price Charles and David Attenborough say we lowlifes need to change our behaviour, when they've spent their life travelling the globe. You want politicians to do something, but don't want to put the effort into getting yourselves elected into governement so that you have the power to change things. The Insulate Britain guy wants everyone to have insulation, but can't be arsed to get it done himself.

You've said before that you recognise you're not perfect, but you (collectively) need to lead by example, not by preaching "do as I say, not as I do."

@HarrietsChariot

Thanks for your comment. I'm sorry you see yourself as a lowlife. I don't see myself as a hypocrite. I'm totally open that I'm in no way perfect. I've been an huge carbon producer in the past and still am in many respects.

But I'm a Mum who will do everything I can to try and secure a safe, hopeful future for my kids. Families are already dying because of the inaction of our leaders, and so if that means taking a train to Glasgow to try and look a few of them in the eye and demand action, that's what I'll do.

Also, our MPs are elected by us, to voice the concerns of their constituents. We don't all need to be elected as an MP to have a voice. And I don't think it's unreasonable to ask our MPs and leaders to legislate and make the necessary policy and systemic changes now to halt this crisis and keep the planet liveable.

What is hypocritical is our PM making bold statements about us being climate leaders when we have 40 new coal, oil and gas projects in the pipeline before 2025.

@Billlius

Can you get me Joe Biden’s autograph please?

I asume you dont have young children.It beggers belief how some mums here seem to be completely blasé about the future(or no future) for their children.

@orinocosfavoritecake

It’s not about hypocrisy. It’s not about being good or bad people, lowlifes or elite. It’s about preventing misery for our children an every generation after.

@Orinocosfavoritecake I couldn't agree more....

Thanks @ParentsForFuture for answering. Societal decline is such a scary prospect ..... but we created this. Thanks for campaigning.

Thank you so much for all the questions over the last couple of days. We have really valued the discussions but we actually need to leave now for the COP.

If you have felt motivated to get more involved with Parents for Future, please do take a look at our website: ParentsforFuture.org.uk

And follow what happens at the COP26 here:

Instagram www.instagram.com/parentsforfuture_uk/
Facebook www.facebook.com/ParentsForFutureUK/
Twitter twitter.com/parents_4future

Thanks again,

Charlotte and Rowan

@ParentsForFuture

Thank you so much for all the questions over the last couple of days. We have really valued the discussions but we actually need to leave now for the COP.

If you have felt motivated to get more involved with Parents for Future, please do take a look at our website: ParentsforFuture.org.uk

And follow what happens at the COP26 here:

Instagram www.instagram.com/parentsforfuture_uk/
Facebook www.facebook.com/ParentsForFutureUK/
Twitter twitter.com/parents_4future

Thanks again,

Charlotte and Rowan

All the best and thanks for accepting me into the group.

That's it folks - we're closing the thread now. Thanks for all your questions, and thank you so much to Charlotte and Rowan from Parents for Future UK for coming onto Mumsnet at this busy time to answer user questions.