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.

I clicked as I am also "mum at cop"...but am working here. Surely many of the male and female delegates to COP are parents? As activists or government or media or whatever. I am here with work. I have ( grown up) dc. I am a "mum" so I am a "mum at COP". My colleague is a "dad at cop".

Why "parents"4future and not just "people"for future?
Would a better title be "I am an activist " at COP? To distinguish from other "mums at cop" who may be working for whatever government or organisation?

@PumpkinsandTea

This is the most middle class thread I think I've ever read on Mumsnet!

OP - You're speaking in riddles without saying exactly what it actually is that you want the government to do? We're a tiny, tiny little island 🤣 Nothing and I mean NOTHING we do here is going to make a jot of difference to the overall climate of the planet. North America, Australia, Europe etc, on the other hand.... They could really make a difference.

Of course it is all the rage at the moment to be all 'eco' though so you're right on trend!

@PumkinsandTea I can't help but comment on this post too.

1. The majority of the parents coming to the COP with us are from the Global South, because it's the voices of those most impacted by the climate crisis we need to listen to.

1. We are asking the UK Government to end all oil, coal and gas financing. And legislate for 1.5.

1. Although we are a small island, our impact on the planet has far outweighed our size. And as the hosts of the COP, it is absolutely imperative that we lead by example. So I'm afraid we will have to disagree on that point.

P.S It is lovely to finally be 'right on trend' as I've been working on climate projects for a couple of decades now.

Thank you for attending. I don't have a question, just gratitude. No previous COP has achieved this level of media coverage, and I credit XR, and the 2018 October rebellion, with creating the necessary shift in the Overton window for the interest generated since and now. I dare myself to hope and love the galvanising potential of a time like this.

Posters cringing about MC virtue signalling, worrying about bonfires, hypocrisy or feeling lectured, volcanoes or millenial cycles of a changing climate; I so hope these are your real and sincere efforts at engaging with Charlotte and Rowan in good faith and not cynical digs or sneers. That would be so sad and such a waste of energy.

The idea that if you’re not perfect, you’re a hypocrite who should just give up is utterly self-defeating.

The amount of hostility on this thread is really weird! Given what's known now about the likely prognosis for climate collapse, I find it really strange that people campaigning for change are still treated in this way - like they are doing something really strange, pointless, and somehow subversive.
Do people understand that this conference is being held on the basis that climate collapse is happening, and that it's going to destroy the lives of our children? Not some long distant future generations, but our actual children? I struggle to understand the level of contempt really for people who want to attend this and have their voice heard in person.
Large companies have really done a number on some of you, you've swallowed their bullshit hook line and sinker.

Can you tell us some of the pros of leaving fossil fuels in the ground?

And what's the cost to jobs and health if we do nothing?

Thanks for your reply. It just makes me feel that it can't be that much if an emergency if the COP delegation can justify contributing to climate change. Surely if it is a genuine emergency, they'd want to cut emissions down as much as possible.

1) Why did neither of you stop at 1 or 0 children considering the environmental impact? I don't observe many environmentalist parents choosing to limit their family size in this way. Obviously there are plenty of other behaviours that can be modified but this is the biggest and it's never compromised upon in my middle-class circles. Please don't say you only tuned into the environment after having children as the issue has been headline news for at least a decade

This is also my question. Beat me to it @GarethSouthgatesWaistcoat!

Do you think that governments throughout the world should be raising greater awareness of the domestic big hitters of creating carbon? Travel, meat, children, meat eating pets etc? And try to persuade people to make more environmentally aware decisions?

Whilst I agree that businesses and governments have to step up dramatically, we cannot absolve the individual in creating a demand for the products that these companies offer and knowingly making choices that are bad for the environment, justifying it to themselves that they recycle so they can have a 4x4, 5 kids and 3 dogs and new clothes every season.

@crackofdoom

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 🙄

This is so true. It feels like by highlighting how climate activists are not 'perfect', people find a way to basically divert attention and their anger from the issue at hand, disastrous climate change, to the people wanting to address it.

I remember reading about people unhappy with the Insulate Britain campaign here on Mumsnet, who consciously stopped recycling just to score a point against the activists, as 'that will show them!'. Fair enough if you find these motorway protests deeply frustrating, but surely, such a childish response is hugely counter-productive. Are people literally going to let their temper take precedence over the planet's future?

Keep the good work going up there in Glasgow! Every little message and pressure helps.

@Heruka

I disagree with those advocating for a virtual summit. These are such sensitive diplomatic interactions - humanity is required. We are lucky to have virtual technologies of course, but they are a poor cousin of eye contact, feel and tone when trying to connect meaningfully with another person.

Exactly, it shows a certain ignorance of international negotiation practice.

What we know from other big conferences, like the G7, G20, etc., is that lots of agreements are being hammered out in informal settings: side-rooms, over lunch, even in the gym, where questions are settled of 'if we move on X, would you be willing to compromise on Y', etc. It is important for that reason to have the world leaders and their teams physically there to facilitate this informal process, which is an intrinsic part of the formal proceedings.

@4thtimethecharm
Re when people are questioning why not hold it virtually Exactly, it shows a certain ignorance of international negotiation practice.
So it's back at the asking questions/disagreeing with you of course = ignorance?
Is it not more ignorant of you to assume everyone has an understanding or experience of international negotiation practice? I've inferred that response as quite condescending and mocking.

@crackofdoom

Ah thanks bordermidgebite, that was my impression too. And, of course, a lot would depend on where the bonfire was (broadly, urban vs rural) and wind speeds etc, as to any adverse effect.

But what does MeatyTuck think about it, as an expert in their field? 🤔

Not sure why you keep referring to me as an expert. I'm not. I have a degree in an environment-related subject and I work in sustainability, but that doesn't make me an expert. Very strange. But thanks anyway!

@Heruka

I disagree with those advocating for a virtual summit. These are such sensitive diplomatic interactions - humanity is required. We are lucky to have virtual technologies of course, but they are a poor cousin of eye contact, feel and tone when trying to connect meaningfully with another person.

We were all more than willing to do this for COVID though.

Could you please provide an update towards the end?

Good luck

The leaders that are meeting are largely committed to agreeing to change, the countries that aren't, and are the biggest contributors to global warming are not in attendance; do you have any plans to try and engage them rather than preaching to the choir?

Those saying about a virtual conference, emissions from streaming etc are actually really ridiculously high, that wouldn't be free from contributing either.

Ah but @Anythingbutsnow that was OK for the ignorant hoi polloi, we don't need meaningful connections for work or education, only the important people need that.

@Fetarabbit

The leaders that are meeting are largely committed to agreeing to change, the countries that aren't, and are the biggest contributors to global warming are not in attendance; do you have any plans to try and engage them rather than preaching to the choir?

Those saying about a virtual conference, emissions from streaming etc are actually really ridiculously high, that wouldn't be free from contributing either.

Of course servers etc. are a part of the problem, but far less so than a bunch of individual private jets.

Why couldn’t this be over video call? I bet most people took their private jets and big cars. No one used public transport.

And then the event itself. Loads of cars, energy from fuelling the building and making food etc.

All these rich people claiming to be environmentalists. If they really cared then they wouldn’t travel to conferences in other countries.

@elbea

Whilst campaigning and promoting veganism, do you understand than animal agriculture is essential to the production of fresh produce around the world and animals have been used to produce the vegan food you eat.

In order to farm in a way that is sympathetic to biodiversity, animal manure is need for fertilisers and grazing livestock in breaks reduces the need for pesticides and herbicides. That soil health is absolutely dependent on herd animals.

Thanks for pointing this out. OP have you met any Glaswegians?

Good luck Rowan and Charlotte. I think what you are doing is fantastic. Climate change is so broad and complex to understand, but being so singleminded in your goal (to get governments to stop the exploration and financing of fossil fuels) really helps boil it all down to one thing we can all help fight for. Thank you for everything you do. I will find out more about Parents For Future UK and try to get involved.

OP: who are you planning to "hand deliver" this letter to? Don't all the bigwigs have security? I asked previously if you think an email might have been a more environmentally-sound means of communication. Not sure I received a response to that.

[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]
There’s a big difference between not being perfect and swanning about on the med in a fuck off yacht and swanning about on private planes and helicopters. To me that’s the polar opposite of being carbon aware. No one can be perfect in the century we live in and I wouldn’t expect anyone to be. I’m certainly not. But I don’t take the piss either. It’s the epitome of hypocrisy.

@MangoIce

Why couldn’t this be over video call? I bet most people took their private jets and big cars. No one used public transport.

And then the event itself. Loads of cars, energy from fuelling the building and making food etc.

All these rich people claiming to be environmentalists. If they really cared then they wouldn’t travel to conferences in other countries.

Exactly.

@Goawaymorningsickeness I can't quote your post about hypocrisy for some reason, but I completely agree. How anyone can expect to be taken seriously at a climate change conference when they rock up in a private jet is beyond me.