Find out parents' thoughts on the Climate Emergency

[JustineBMumsnet]

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With a rise in extraordinary weather events around the world and activists like Greta Thunberg in the public eye, more people than ever before are engaging with and are worried about climate change. Following the launch of the “Portraits from the Precipice” campaign - which places art that inspires action on climate change on digital billboards across the country - we’d like to hear your thoughts on the Climate Emergency.

Here's what Octopus Energy – the green energy supplier behind Portraits from the Precipice – has to say: “With climate experts giving humanity 10 years to slow rising global temperatures, the time to take action for the planet is now. We all have a crucial role to play in combating the climate emergency.

Whether it be to switch to a renewable energy company, to buy an electric vehicle or even to just make small dietary changes or reduce the amount of plastic waste in your home… acknowledging the problem is just step one, we now need to act.”

Thinking of the Climate Emergency, what are your biggest concerns, if any, for yours and your children’s future? Are there any small things your family does to try and help? What would you recommend as being the most effective change people can make in helping the fight against Climate Change?

How aware are your children of the Climate Emergency? How do you talk to them about it? Do you think schools are doing enough to educate children on the Climate Emergency?

All who share their thoughts on the Climate Emergency on the thread below will be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £300 voucher for the store of their choice (from a list and provided by Mumsnet). Octopus Energy will also donate £300 to a charity fighting climate change, of the winner’s choice.

Thanks and good luck!

MNHQ

Insight Terms and Conditions apply

It feels inevitable at this point - the governement and big companies aren't doing enough about this because they're more concerned about making money or they don't believe it's real (or they don't care).

Us small fish can't do enough to make a difference, and most of us are too busy worrying about the mess of our day-to-day lives to try harder about preparing and saving our future.

*government!!

I get my kid to put things in recycling and turn off lights etc when not used. That’s it, really. I’m not going to give up my car, stop flying or forcefeed myself and my family a diet of vegetables.

I also make sure I give him a balanced perspective on the climate change conversations he may be having at school,
including discussing what PlanDeRaccordement says above. I follow many scientists who are very sceptical about the way this topic is being covered by the media, and I go out of my way to make sure he understands that this is a topic that has different viewpoints.

I have very young children so they don’t understand the climate change emergency, but we try to get them involved in positive small steps e.g. helping with recycling, cooking with local ingredients, cutting down on meat etc.

We are very aware as a family. Last year we decided to go vegan to reduce our impact on the planet. We find it tough living in the country with a lot of farming families as friends who have different views to us.
My eldest is only 4 but I try to talk to him about liking after the planet, the importance of recycling and not using too many resources. Unfortunately we live too far away from school to walk but my dh sometimes cycles him there in the trailer.
I do feel scared about the future of my children and guilty for having 3 (just had a third surprise baby) so we try to do what we can to reduce our carbon footprint

Don't changes in climate often occur slowly?

Fast changes tend to lead to mass extinction events?

And this is fast.

Taking a good climate and turning it into a less good one seems rather daft. You wouldn't do that in your own house , take a good carpet and rub some muck in, so why is it ok to do that to the air we breathe?

I think we’re in mitigation rather than prevention now. I used to think technology would help but I think that trees and preserving nature are our best hopes now, with technological solutions alongside.

Many people have made major life decisions based on cheap transport (cars, planes etc) being readily available and so that will be hard to reverse.

I worry hugely about my childrens’ futures.

It’s difficult on a local level. Councils reduce bin collections yet so much non recyclable packaging is on things we need..where is the rubbish supposed to go if the collections we pay for won’t collect it all? Our recycle bin doesn’t even take glass, yet without transport our rural villagers couldn’t take glass to a recycling point. Frustrating! We do what we can with cloth bags, shampoo bars, soap bars, no air travel, etc. But it seems a drop in the ocean.

I think even if drastic action is taken now it may be too late. I try to do my bit with recycling, being vegetarian (although I do this more for the animals). It is a real worry for future generations though

I think the biggest issue is population growth. How are we going to sustainably feed ourselves, where are we going to live, without causing further climate damage? I'm not sure it matters how we respond to it, with an exponentially growing population it can only get worse.

It is terrifying for the children. Disgusting how the people in power can just ignore the issue or pretend it isn’t happening. Making changes is important but I think the biggest thing we can do is talk about it, try to build some sort of pressure and momentum. Everyone saying it’s pointless because of China and America - there are fashions in these things, if Briton leads from the front there is some hope others may follow.

How aware are your children of the Climate Emergency?

They are very aware, and are interested in David Attenborough, Greta Thunberg and watch television and see the polar icecaps melting, plastics in our oceans and the planet heating. They ask me questions which I try to answer, but quite frankly do not know the answer to.

How do you talk to them about it?

I try not to worry them, try to get good unbiased information, and we try to do our but to reduce our carbon footprint.

Do you think schools are doing enough to educate children on the Climate Emergency?

Not really or they would not be as concerned as they are, and ask me and their father lots of questions.

I feel utterly depressed when I hear people saying that there's no point in them doing anything about climate change, because one person can't make a difference. Everyone can make a difference, and every single person who joins in will make it just that tiny little bit better.
I agree with 'TheCoolerQueen' that non-recyclable plastics such as black plastic food trays should be banned. My council burns them because it won't recycle them. There's plenty of recyclable and even compostable packaging out there now, so there's no excuse.

Until the silent majority change their ways I am afraid it is only going one way! generally I find society is getting lazier and lazier and will always look for the easy option

*There is no climate change crisis
The Earths climate constantly changes between Icehouse and Greenhouse states all on its own. It did so hundreds of millions of years before humans existed and will continue to do so no matter what humans do to the atmosphere. We cannot stop or impact climate change in any noticeable way. A few degrees C over a thousand years is part of normal fluctuations. The same with rising or retreating sea levels. The same with erosion of coast lines. The same with bouts of extreme weather. It’s just our massive egos thinking we have any real impact.

The bigger concerns are plastic pollution, overpopulation and disease.*

This is interesting. My DM used to insist on this too. She was very convincing. I believed her and still do to an extent but isn't the issue the actual speed in which the planet is warming? I'm no climate scientist but i do vividly recall a previous thread where there was a climate scientist who said he/she was only going to post their msg once and everyone would remember it and scream why didn't we do something when we had a chance! It was doomsday stuff and pretty terrifying. They said we only have 25 years tops before it's a case of no return.

We try and talk about being "eco" and have done a fair bit lately to swap out eg plastics for other more sustainable options which I feel we are making headway on.

We do all we can as a household to minimise our contribution to climate change but I get very cross when our government enforce legislation here to reduce emissions and still award contracts to China in the shape of the recent Huawei deal with no condition that they shape up and adhere to the same standards. It's not a level playing field.

I try to recycle and not be wasteful in general. But I also think that reducing plastic waste, although important re plastic pollution, is a distraction from the big reasons behind climate change. The only way we're going to actually prevent climate catastrophe is by urging world governments to agree to multilateral drastic action. It's pretty pointless the UK working towards being carbon neutral when China emits twice as much carbon as the entire EU. If we have to pay countries such as China to reduce their carbon then we should do it.

I worry about the future for the younger generations. We should all cut back on unnecessary consumption and stop wasting resources.

We need a system that encourages people to recycle and stop being wasteful. We also need a tax system which encourages and benefits all of the public, and not gimmicks which only benefit a few who can afford to take up the benefits of a scheme. Do not tax the small person as they are only trying to survive!

I think we are in desperate need of doing something drastic to reverse climate change before it gets too late. I do what I can at home and my children are really concerned, mainly because their schools discuss it regularly.

The government frustrate me.
If we want less car use we need joined up public transport,HS2is not that.
We need building regulations that stipulate solar panels,good double glazing and heating that doesn't use gas.
We need countrywide plans to reduce flooding,do water capture,putting bends back in rivers ,not building on flood plains,banning big areas of concrete etc that don't allow soak away.Having targets,eg that washing machines have filters to reduce microplastic release into the water system,banning micro beads(I thought these had been banned but apparently not in the UK).Proper information,eg glass can be recycled but it is energy high to do so.
Everyone wants to do their bit but we need to know what bits count and make a difference if we all do it.

Thinking of the Climate Emergency, what are your biggest concerns, if any, for yours and your children’s future?

I fear for the wildlife by rainforests being cut down and the bushfires.

Are there any small things your family does to try and help?

I don't drive, DH drives a minimal amount, we moved closer to work, DD is vegetarian, we recycle. We learn about wildlife and other countries and cultures.

What would you recommend as being the most effective change people can make in helping the fight against Climate Change?

Donating money to projects that support wildlife and rainforests, reducing driving and flights and meat consumption.

How aware are your children of the Climate Emergency?
How do you talk to them about it? Do you think schools are doing enough to educate children on the Climate Emergency?

They are very aware and school educate them on it. We discuss rainforests and wildlife. School is doing plenty. The children think the days off school are just skiving for most kids though. I admire Greta but don't think children should be losing their education to protest - a quarter of the year is holidays for schools so protest then if needed.

I am trying all I can to do my bit. I am a public collection point for Terracycle collections and our council does recycle quite a bit that other councils don't, but it's hard spreading the message. The media coverage of Greta Thunberg has helped, and Extinction Rebellion, but I wish Governments would do more - but won't because they are more interested in profit and listening to fossil fuel companies :(

I am very concerned about the climate problem. I do try and make changes to our lifestyle but also find it very difficult. I think more pressure should be placed on the big corporations and the damage they are doing to the planet and less on day to day people. The changes need to come from the top.

I'm disgusted at the way Greta Thunberg is being portrayed in the media. As a mum of a girl with ASD I feel so encouraged and hopeful that Greta is showing the world the unique advantages ASD can bring. But the media reception to that is to humiliate a 16 year old girl.

I do talk to my children about climate damage and their school has done a term focused on it. However I think its important to implement that in small ways that the children can see daily

We replaced our diesel car with an electric car... fitting the electric charger became a complete saga with no end of trenches dug and vehicles back and forth... I don't think my car's overall impact now will benefit the planet. But at least the fitters have learnt from their mistakes for the next customer (I hope).

Of course we recycle, I buy charity shop clothes (not so much the constantly growing teenagers though, their requirements are too specific), we eat less meat (I'd love to only eat from local farms but too expensive and time consuming).

At work I am a lone voice in my company (and the directors hate me) so have set up a network across my industry to seek others and team up to make changes if we can.

One of my DC is very environmentally engaged and planning a career in this area. The other thinks it's all too late whatever we do. It's hard to find a truthful balance between being encouraging and being realistic some days.