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.

As a parent you will be representing and someone who works within the environment sphere can I simply ask that you look (like you have said) about systemic changes and not knee jerk populist policies without thinking about the broader implications.

Specifically around food and farming I would not want an end to animal agriculture as soil Heath requires it to exist and our food security and future ability to crop would be destroyed.

Same as insulation, great but has anyone thought about the plastics and manufacture snd transport to do this.

Please ask for a fully rounded look.

@Andante57 at least Modi's going to be there!

Really interested in the work you’re doing - it’s actually really great to see a grassroots environmental campaign group that has a simple and clear demand that actually is realistic for the government to action in a reasonable timeframe.

My question is - how do you typically organise? Do you have local “meet ups” or is it mainly online activism via petitions etc? I confess that I haven’t heard of you before today but I will freely admit I’m currently childless so that’s possibly why! Do you have a plan for moving forward for today in terms of future activism/events etc?

What has been the hardest change to make in your life for the sake of the planet?

Lovely to hear from you. As a Glasgow mum I am planning to go with my kids but wonder what would be the advantage of going with a group like yourselves, do you think that will make any more difference rather than being some of the overall number, iyswim?

I was pretty disheartened by a recent scotsnet thread moaning about the disruption with no voices thinking about why it is necessary.

@CoronaPeroni

Lol at first reply! I'm surprised you didn't confirm they'd left a meal in the fridge for dh to reheat.

@CoronaPeroni I know right! Sigh....

@OldTinHat

How did you travel there?

@OldTinHat lots and lots of trains!

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?

What can we do on an individual level to help in our day to day lives?

@Bollindger

Having watched the GMTV interview, can I ask how your going to prepare, as the lady on the interview lost her head and just appeared like a fanatic.

@Bollindger oh dear poor thing.

We can only do our bests. We aren't experts and there is no guide book to being an expert activist. Some of us will focus on the logistics others on social media, some are better at speaking to camera. There are tonnes of different roles behind the scenes - something for everyone and hopefully we will all play to our strengths.

Can you ask all those leaders who live in cities to try and think of those of us who live rurally and can’t rely on buses etc to carry out our jobs (community nurse) or take our children to school? Electric cars will need to be more affordable and easier ways to charge for those of us who don’t have drives as well not to mention that the rural villages will most likely be the last places to be fitted with any charging points if that is even viable, my village is literally 2 rows of houses on a main road

I'd just love to hear all about how you get on.

Best of luck.

Thank you for doing this

I go between feeling angry and so so sad about what our future holds

And more importantly the future of our children and grandchildren

I had the misfortune of being on a packed train heading out of London to Glasgow today and it was full of COP attendees. From the conversations I heard, it very much seemed like a typical conference where like minded people get together, have some fun, listen to some talks, and eat lots of food. I'm sure it's a great event to be part of, and it certainly sounded like there was lots going on for the attendees, but I have to ask, do you really believe it will make any difference? Or is there a danger that it's simply another talking shop for the climate activist bubble?

How are you travelling from Bath and Oxford to Glasgow

Is anyone campaigning to end use of unnecessary plastic everywhere?
There is a lot of focus on electric cars whereas i am sick of being unable to buy food in plastic covers, having everything delivered with 2-3 unnecessary plastic bags. I work in a hospital and even walking sticks and collators come surrounded by plastic sheets everywhere.

@slightlysnippy

How do you think we should finance the creation and implementation of new technology that will replace the fossil fuels that heat our hospital's and deliver our food?

@slightlysnippy Well we have the technologies - we have done for years. If it was down to me, (not for PFF necessarily) I'd like to start taxing the billionaires and biggest businesses who manage to find ways to avoid it... while the government look on smiling.

Yes, we need some serious investment, but reports have shown that the longer we leave acting on this crisis, the more expensive it will get. And lets not forget many people are already paying with their lives for the inaction of industrialised nations.

There are lots of issues with so much manufacturing from countries like the UK taking place in China and counting as 'their' emissions whereas we are the ones consuming the products

I look forward to hearing your solution to this problem.

Heruka
On the first day of said Conference, a major bridge was shut with 15 minutes notice.
Said bridge is the quickest route to the nearest A&E for many smaller places.
I'm sure you can understand that risking lives is more than just a disruption.
I have type 2 brittle asthma and have been blue lighted over the bridge more times than I care to remember, as has my daughter.
Yes, I'm unhappy about it, and I'm one person, consider the rest of those who need to get over the Clyde in a hurry, never mind the rest of the issues.

@OldTinHat

How did you travel there?

Train all the way for us!

You want to tax the billionaires? Heavens! What a stroke of luck! Bezos is there with his private jet, I suggest you “hit him hard with a leaflet campaign”.

I'm so frightened about the future of the planet - not for myself so much as for my 4-year-old. It's not so much that the UK will change hugely, it's that it will almost certainly lead to wars over land as parts of the planet become unliveable.

What can I do to help? I'm very poor on time, not very poor on cash, but also not totally minted!

Thank you for your sense @PooWillyNameChange!

I just wanted to say good luck and thank you, and ignore all the snarky idiots who, given the chance, would interrogate you until they finally discover you used a plastic bag back in 2015, triumphantly cry “Ha! You’re hypocrites then!” and use that as vindication for slagging off all attempts to halt climate change- presumably because it helps quell the naggings of guilt about their own overconsumption 🙄

@MrsIglesias

Thank you Charlotte and Rowan for what you are doing!

I'm so concerning about the worsening state of our planet (and life-support system!) that we are leaving to our children. What's one thing I can do to help you (that can be done in 2/3 mins if possible pls!)

Thank you for your kind words! And yes: it's pretty scary once you allow the science to sink in and think about the timeframes in terms of our kids lives.

I'll give you a choice of 'one thing's :

• Talk about your concerns - and eco actions you're already doing - to people around you. You'd be amazed the impact of talking about climate breakdown; it's easy to feel alone with these worries and by talking about it not only are you helping other people understand the situation and encourage them to act but chances are you'll meet other concerned parents and that empowers you to find more ways to engage. If you have more than 3 minutes we've created a pack to enable people to organise exhibitions of beautiful kids-illustrators artwork precisely to get people talking! Search for #OurOtherMother for details.

• Get in touch with your MP. We have templates for letters etc, particularly about the proposed Cambo Oilfield we're currently working on with lots of other groups. It really does take 3 minutes and if our elected representatives don't know that we care about climate breakdown they're much more likely to continue ignoring it.

• Help amplify some of the work we're doing at COP26. We're using #Act4OurKids as an easy way to find what we're up to. Right now we want as many parent GROUPS as possible to sign this letter so if you can send it to some you know please do! parentsforfuture.org/nonewfossilfuels