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.

You do know it is pointless don't you, you can "demand" all you like but it won't be happening. Which one of you will be in China's face demanding ? because they won't taking any notice of your demands.

"We’ll be in Glasgow this week at COP26 to hand deliver a letter to world leaders, asking them to end the financing and exploration of fossil fuels."

Can you share with us the steps you have taken to completely eliminate your own families' usage of fossil fuels and all their derivative products?

@PolkadotsAndMoonbeams

Are you "official" attendees, or are you protesting?

Sorry if that seems a really silly question, but I can't work it out from your post, and it would influence the type of question I'd ask!

@PolkadotsAndMoonbeams excellent question!! We do protest on the streets with our families - but our work is mainly based around running campaigns to raise awareness - and fighting for policy change. At COP we will be doing things like running workshops to explain what it is we do, running online sessions help parents speak to their children about climate breakdown, and displaying artwork from our #OurOtherMother campaign.

Climate change is largely a middle clas issue - when you haven’t got much money and are struggling to get by- trying to be eco friendly and climate aware is largely just another thing that seems impossible .

I know many of you will jump on this abs tell me about myself - however - if I only have 30 quid a week for shopping - pound shop et a is my go to place - plastic is cheaper so is cheap food and meat- and fast fashion add a stressful life situation and hey presto perfect storm .

So until being more eco aware becomes actually affordable for most people can you ask those at Thai summit what they will do to make being better with the environment cheaper and more sensical than buying cheap and fast .. half the consumer eco products are way out of price range ..

It really stresses me out that I don’t hear this conversation anywhere - it’s not about choices it’s about survival day to day and many people can’t see past they end of their day let alone the end of the planet though no fault of their own ..

I probably can’t articulate this well enough but I just wish I could get someone to understand

[quote Hawkins001]@Goawaymorningsickeness

This puzzles me when people say this, it's almost unless your perfect then you can preach for others to do x, I understand it helps if the person is also doing x, but at the same time the information is still correct so why do people have issues with it when the nature of some e.g. Potus, ect has to do, that they say we need to do x even if they don't do it themselves ?[/quote]
@Goawaymorningsickness

There is nothing that the fossil fuel industry loves more than watching us squabble amoungst ourselves. Blaming and shaming each other lets them off the hook and gets us nowhere - so what we really need to do is recognise that none of us is perfect, and then unite together to confront those who are creating the real damage.

I don't have a question, but just want to say a big thank you!
It's hard work advocating for change and I like the approach. I hope you will be listened to.

Topsyturvyloo
I understand. And it’s OK. I’m a single mum on benefits too. Look, just don’t believe the greenwash about being able to buy your way to eco virtue with electric cars and bamboo toothbrushes- I can’t afford them either! It’s just another cunning way to sell you stuff (well, there is a point to electric cars, but you know what I mean).

The truth is that, in general, poorer people WILL have a smaller carbon footprint than richer ones. We fly less. We buy less. We have smaller houses. We buy more second hand.

But, the whole point is that - sure, individuals and their consumer choices can make some difference. But what will make the biggest difference is legislative change at government level- making it the easy, default choice for everyone to live a low carbon lifestyle, no matter what’s in their pockets.

After all, the increasing chaos brought about by climate change WILL affect poorer people the most- the rich will be relatively insulated from the worst of it, as they are with everything.

@ISpyCobraKai

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.

I can understand you must be worried, ISpy, given you and your daughter’s heath. I can’t tell you not to feel like that. But this is my previous point exactly- I think given that literally the lives of all of our children and grandchildren are at risk if the course of climate events don’t change. Have a read of some of the information flying about at the moment about what life could be like in even 30 years, let alone 80. It’s terrifying.

I also understand the level of distrust and frustration with world leaders that many are discussing - but does that mean we just let them be shite? Time and time again, history shows that mass collective action can result in change. Lobbying and influencing strategic change is arguably going to achieve so much more than us as individuals using a recyclable cup etc.

@Topsyturvyloo

Climate change is largely a middle clas issue - when you haven’t got much money and are struggling to get by- trying to be eco friendly and climate aware is largely just another thing that seems impossible .

I know many of you will jump on this abs tell me about myself - however - if I only have 30 quid a week for shopping - pound shop et a is my go to place - plastic is cheaper so is cheap food and meat- and fast fashion add a stressful life situation and hey presto perfect storm .

So until being more eco aware becomes actually affordable for most people can you ask those at Thai summit what they will do to make being better with the environment cheaper and more sensical than buying cheap and fast .. half the consumer eco products are way out of price range ..

It really stresses me out that I don’t hear this conversation anywhere - it’s not about choices it’s about survival day to day and many people can’t see past they end of their day let alone the end of the planet though no fault of their own ..

I probably can’t articulate this well enough but I just wish I could get someone to understand

@Topsyturvyloo

So glad you've mentioned this!!! We could not agree more. With every word you've said.

Because yes being 'eco' is often very expensive, and if you're time poor as well then being environmentally friendly is just one more thing to feel awful about.

But the truth is that ordinary people just trying to get by in this life are absolutely NOT to blame for any of this mess.

We are in this situation because a very small group of very rich men have engineered things this to be this way. In 2015, papers were leaked that proved that Exxon, Shell and other fossil fuel giants knew exactly what extracting fossil fuels would do to the earth, and that they went ahead and did it anyway - hiding all of this information from the public. It has been profit before people, for decades.

You are not to blame. I am not to blame. They are.

We live in a capitalistic system which exists to keep the rich, rich and the poor, poor. It's a baked cake - and we are all stuck in it. The whole system needs to be diamantled and rebuilt. And it is no one individual's responsibility to do that. We need to work together. BUT, those who have more time and resources need to do more than those who have less.

Not being able to see past the end of the day is massively legitimate reality for millions in the UK and beyond. You've articulated your feelings beautifully - and we completely hear you.

Please know that we will be fighting for you and your family at COP and afterwards. And that's a promise. XxX

How are you financing your trip (sorry if this has already been asked)?

@MakkaPakkas

I don't have a question, but just want to say a big thank you! It's hard work advocating for change and I like the approach. I hope you will be listened to.

@MakkaPakkas

That's very kind!! People like you keep us going. Thank you. Xx

@crackofdoom

Topsyturvyloo I understand. And it’s OK. I’m a single mum on benefits too. Look, just don’t believe the greenwash about being able to buy your way to eco virtue with electric cars and bamboo toothbrushes- I can’t afford them either! It’s just another cunning way to sell you stuff (well, there is a point to electric cars, but you know what I mean).

The truth is that, in general, poorer people WILL have a smaller carbon footprint than richer ones. We fly less. We buy less. We have smaller houses. We buy more second hand.

But, the whole point is that - sure, individuals and their consumer choices can make some difference. But what will make the biggest difference is legislative change at government level- making it the easy, default choice for everyone to live a low carbon lifestyle, no matter what’s in their pockets.

After all, the increasing chaos brought about by climate change WILL affect poorer people the most- the rich will be relatively insulated from the worst of it, as they are with everything.

Agree 1000000% with everything you have said!! Xx

@Topsyturvylooi agree with everything you’re saying. It’s easy for people to say use your car less etc but some of us rely on our cars for our jobs, either because of where we live or because of poor public transport, even if more buses were put on where I live it still takes over half an hour to get to the nearest hospital. A bus wouldn’t cover the distance I do seeing patients etc. My concern is that those who are making these decisions are short sighted and only see cities and towns and not taking in to account rural livers. There is no way I could afford an electric car that would suit my needs currently. I’ve made small changes in other ways but cannot and will not be able to reduce my car use and won’t be able to switch to electric until they are considerably cheaper

Please ignore the snark in here, you are doing something that is extremely necessary. What 3 things, can we do as consumers right now to cut our carbon footprint ?

Thank you so much for all your efforts.

I don’t get the sneerers on this thread. The whole “well what’s the point if they’re not doing something, I’m not going to make a difference so I won’t bother and I’ll criticise those that do” thing is morbid post modern crap imo. It’s a self fulfilling prophecy, nothing will ever happen if we all think like that.

ParentsForFuture

17to35
what are you doing with your children?
@17to35 - such a good question. Mine are with Daddy. Needless to say a bit of extra planning for me to leave piles of school uniforms and warm clothes for bonfire night!!“

Bonfire night? Seriously. You’re going to protest about climate change but support bonfire night?

@Botanica

"We’ll be in Glasgow this week at COP26 to hand deliver a letter to world leaders, asking them to end the financing and exploration of fossil fuels."

Can you share with us the steps you have taken to completely eliminate your own families' usage of fossil fuels and all their derivative products?

@Botanica

Thank you for your question.

We have become vegan, we drive only when completely necessary, we don't fly,we air dry our laundry, we are as plastic free as possible, we use grey water whenever we can and we put a jumper on instead of turning the thermostat up!

We all try our best.

But 'completely eliminating' our usage of fossil fuels is impossible since our society itself still runs on them. However we don't feel that we need to be completely perfect environmentalists - we would argue that such a person doesn't exist - in order to care. You don't have to be perfect in order to take action on behalf of other parents and children.

Well Thankyou @ParentsForFuture

This and another response from @crackofdoomis just so great,

I was really speaking on behalf of so many I know.

I do see so much progress however I also see companies monetising being eco and it’s driving me insane.

I’m currently fortunate that I now do ok in life - but there was a point in which any choice aside from the cheapest option would be completely impossible utterly.

We do need an entire change - living for our future should be cheaper and less stressful for all involved.

I actually think supermarkets are to blame for a lot of U.K. consumer issues - why on god earth do we need it all on demand like that. When things run out they run out that’s what I say - each high street a greengrocer ( local seasonal only ) a butcher ( as ethical as at all posssible ) etc etc … we need to learn what it means when things are gone.

I do hope you get to be heard - I know someone going for another reason. I hope they get great visibility also.

Thanks for your responses it really helps - I might do ok now but at one point I was making my own cat food and living off the cheapest food I could afford.

Any ways I can get involved in currently trying to understand how I can contribute - I do want to .if anyone has any links to great places I can read or be involved with like minded people who accept those who are learning .. not perfect but has so much to say ..

Good luck to you all thanks for responding

We live in a capitalistic system which exists to keep the rich, rich and the poor, poor. It's a baked cake - and we are all stuck in it. The whole system needs to be diamantled and rebuilt

Op how do you envisage the rebuilt system?

@SamuelWhiskey

Thank you so much for all your efforts.

@SamuelWhiskey

Thank you very much. That means a lot.

@Topsyturvyloo

Well Thankyou *@ParentsForFuture*

This and another response from @crackofdoomis just so great,

I was really speaking on behalf of so many I know.

I do see so much progress however I also see companies monetising being eco and it’s driving me insane.

I’m currently fortunate that I now do ok in life - but there was a point in which any choice aside from the cheapest option would be completely impossible utterly.

We do need an entire change - living for our future should be cheaper and less stressful for all involved.

I actually think supermarkets are to blame for a lot of U.K. consumer issues - why on god earth do we need it all on demand like that. When things run out they run out that’s what I say - each high street a greengrocer ( local seasonal only ) a butcher ( as ethical as at all posssible ) etc etc … we need to learn what it means when things are gone.

I do hope you get to be heard - I know someone going for another reason. I hope they get great visibility also.

Thanks for your responses it really helps - I might do ok now but at one point I was making my own cat food and living off the cheapest food I could afford.

Any ways I can get involved in currently trying to understand how I can contribute - I do want to .if anyone has any links to great places I can read or be involved with like minded people who accept those who are learning .. not perfect but has so much to say ..

Good luck to you all thanks for responding

@TopsyTurvyloo

Agree wholeheartedly. And finding like minded people is so comforting! Try posting on local FB groups. So many more people are becoming aware and wanting to talk about it nowadays. Wishing you all the very very best. Xx

@Billlius Why on earth would you want murderous Joe Biden’s autograph, the man who has wilfully destroyed the future for all Afghanistan’s women?
If he cared about climate change he wouldn’t have turned up with a calvacade of gas guzzling humbers, the old phony.

@Andante57

We live in a capitalistic system which exists to keep the rich, rich and the poor, poor. It's a baked cake - and we are all stuck in it. The whole system needs to be diamantled and rebuilt

Op how do you envisage the rebuilt system?

@Andante57

Basically we need DEgrowth. Less of everything. Because the truth is that the more humans consume, the more miserable they are.

Degrowth is not taking away - but giving. Giving more opportunities to communities, families and individuals and giving wealth in the ways that truly matter. Offering people the opportunities to learn new skills and build independance and self sustainability. Offering opportunities to clean up our local environments, to have clean air and clean water. Giving people a life with more leisure and creative time, (a four day working week would reduce energy bills by 23%), so that they can build stronger relationships - and systems - with the people around them.

It would involve investment in better public transport systems - which needs to be good and FREE - as well as revolutionising our education system.

Because the alternative to degrowth is that we carry on living in excess, we continue to try to replace all fossil fuels with other energy sources (at great expense), and we destroy the earth and the small chance we have of the successful continuation of our civilisation.

Obviously it is a herculean task. But the good news is that we can make a start on all of this right now, in small ways, in our own communities.

Parentsforfuture thank you for answering my question.