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

the few people that do as much as they can does not make up for those who do little or nothing

The peer-pressure effect is real, though. Social shifts take time but they can happen.

Depends on who you listen to.
Views can go from dire (short period to save the planet) to a natural phenomenon occurring.

I guess it's best to recycle house-hold / tech etc. to protect resources, energy save where can, (though little fish in big pond!) re-use / make and mend, don't waste food. (use freezer) Walk / use public transport.

We need to do more - right now.

I feel many consumers are trying to make a difference but big businesses are not. Why are companies allowed to make appliances that are designed to fail within a few weeks of the short warranty running out, this is way more of a problem in my opnion than what indivuals can do. Though of course we all should try.

As an individual I do as much as I can but this needs to be tackled on a bigger scale at Government level. I bite my tongue when hearing people say it's not as bad as they're making out or it'll be solved by new technology. There's also an increase in flying for a short break of perhaps even 1 or 2 nights! On a local level I'm concerned about wood-burning stoves. The window sills - in and out- are coated in black particulates which we are breathing in and we have to be careful when we put the washing out as it gets covered in black soot.

There is just too many people on planet Earth!!! - if we have a future I think we need economies that dont rely on population increase and some agreements in place that we dont have as many children! Our population worldwide has exploded at the expense of the natural habitat of many creatures, extinction of many species, natural places have been ruined and too many of us live in poverty, overcrowded places and cities that are struggling to cope with the day to day amenities of catering for millions of people in small spaces.

Yes if we all conserve energy and be less wasteful it would help - but really what would really make a difference is all the governments around the world making a difference and really making changes that work - but none of these non-tax paying companies would like that would they?

It's a big worry for future generations really. My children's school are great in that they have an eco warrior group set up and they promote lots of recycling. My oldest age 9 talks about it and worries when she sees examples of extreme weather. She questions why this is. We involve the children in recycling at home. We always walk to school and their school holds walk to school Wednesdays which definitely has an impact on the amount driving to and from school that day. Makes people think too.

I'm very energy conscious & always recycle. I use eco friendly, organic laundry liquid, washing up liquid & toiletries & for cleaning I just use steam which kills bacteria without harming the environment. I don't use chemicals on my garden to help the birds, insects & other wildlife & I share a car journey to the shops with my next door neighbour or my friend or order online

It should be compulsory education in all schools, particularly the science behind the issues. Children and young people are already way ahead of adults in understanding the seriousness of the problem. They need to be equipped with the tools to help adults understand.

Glad to be part of something that raises awareness. I can do what I can like others to treat the environment better. Am already vege and heading towards being vegan and recycle sensibly.

I took my master in political environment there is not enough time to tell you my thoughts.
I now teach social science so I have to update my knowledge. It’s something that worries greatly.
I do as much as I can to take responsibility on a personal level, I also Lobby MPs and local organisations and councliors. I also run workshops in my college to make kids aware but to be honest it not the kids we need to educate its the ones that are profiting from not caring.

Don't get me wrong I am so angry with the lack of common sense things that EVERYONE could do to help save our planet and climate change or NOT we should still be doing the best we can to care for our environment. I am also fed up with teenagers blaming 'my generation' as we were actually a lot less 'harmful' and used a lot less plastics than modern society. Also I do believe that our climate changes 'naturally' too and we will head for another Ice Age....

Yes very very concerned. I feel the world is waking up but far too slowly. We do lots of small things but it’s honestly not enough for people to do small things and I’m sick of being made to feel guilty when being part of society is so carbon intensive. Why should individuals have to put all this effort into making these changes when huge corporations get away with doing so little. The main thing I try and do is make a noise about climate change. Going on protests, write to politicians and more recently trying to get involved in our districts carbon reduction plans. All the small stuff is great and adds up but really we need massive divestment in the fossil fuel industry for disaster to be averted.

This is such a hard issue, and can feel.overwhelming at times. My older DD(8yo) is definitely aware as they watch Newsround at school and do various environmental projects.

We try to recycle, consume less, drive less (though need to improve on this), use less energy at home, and eat a little less meat. We rarely fly.

I think the most important thing is to do something. We've got to start somewhere.

I get irritated by climate activists who disrupt people's lives and make impossible demands to our Government. They simply have not done the sums. We in the UK contribute less than 1% of the carbon dioxide that is released in the world and that figure is steadily falling. There is effectively nothing much we can do to have an impact on global warming, however many protests there are in our streets. If climate activists are serious about the climate emergency, they should be protesting in Beijing, Moscow, Delhi or Washington D.C.

I'm scared about the Climate Emergency. It feels like we're so far behind and so much needs to be done in order to save our planet. I'm worried for my children and childrens children.

It’s a huge worry

I teach the children about waste, recycling, reusing and so on. Our car is electric and our energy green. We eat fish but no meat, I’ve cut back in dairy myself (due to bad skin mainly).

I could definitely improve in regards to ethical shopping and so forth, I do buy second hand but the new is not necessarily ethical shopping.

I believe the big firms need tackling - so much unnecessary packaging and plastic. Shopping garbage to Asia - honestly, I’m shocked! We can try our best as individuals but unless the industrial world and government policy changes, I feel terrible sadness for how things may go

I worry for my Children's and Grandchildren's futures

The only way to deal with this is through pan-Government action. Massive taxes on air travel, second cars, use of plastics countered by subsidies on planet-friendly changes. Bottom line is that we are a selfish and hypocritical race - how many of the protesting children have smart phones and get driven to school?

The main damage has been done by us the parents as we have been brought up to use plastic and throw away single use items. our parents had the war years when it was more make do and mend, and even jam jars were returned for cash, we get in the car for short trips and make use of the cheap flights, yes I am guilty as charged. I have tried to recycle for many decades glass has been easy but other items has always seems overly complicated. Yes I do worry about the next generation what a mess we will have left them to try and sort out, and the poorer the country the bigger the challenge to keep their head above water, in more ways than one.

Most people are just doing small things when there are two massive issues staring us in the face - the environmental impact of animal agriculture and that from flying.

I use green energy. We use our car less and have been flying less often also.
Our children are aware. My older one seems to worry about it and I need to reassure him at times.
I think the Government needs to step up. Also businesses get away with doing the bare minimum. There's so much that could be done, sooner.

a worry for my kids future

As a family we try to do our bit by recycling waste properly. We have the recycling bins in our home and our kids are aware of which to use in regards to their rubbish. We also reuse anything we are able to such as old bottles for drinking water, when we go out on excursions. We have switched to a renewable energy company recently too.

I do think the schools do their best in outlining the issues surrounding climate change and they regularly do things with the children to make them more aware, be it trips out to pick up rubbish to help tidy up areas which can damage the wildlife, holding talks, events to raise money and awareness.

It's just too overwhelming to properly quantify