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

I think supermarkets need to do more, to make it easier for conasumers to buy goods that aren't packaged in plastic.

Also don't have world meetings about climate change that politicians fly to.

No-one that can actually make a real difference really cares! I rarely use my car during the week and haven't flown for over 3 years now, but that pales into insignificance when you see the activities of millions of other people.

Any combination of the phrases “climate emergency”, “Greta Thunberg” and “10 years to slow rising global temperatures” are enough to stop me reading any further because my eyes just rolled way back into my head.

Couldn't agree more Jillyhilly

My biggest concern? That it's too late.

I've had a lifelong interest in the environment and as a family we do everything we can. Some of those things, like reusable water bottles are tiny, some, like being mainly vegan, always vegetarian are a much bigger commitment. Is the current situation an issue? Yes. A huge one. The solution, however seems impossible. Too many people who couldn't care less and continue to buy all the plastic tat, etc coupled with big companies focused solely on profit with a huge sway over politicians with the power to change things. Utterly depressing.

i do worry about this but i feel it is never too late to change! if everyone makes one change and sticks to it, anything is possible!!

It makes me very angry when I hear some countries/leaders refusing to believe that there is a problem. If kids can understand that their future is at serious risk, why can't elected leaders???

The other thing that goes hand-in-hand with the climate issues, which is just as worrying is the rapidly expanding world population, but this doesn't seem to get the same media coverage.

its really devastating to see whats happened recently i think we all need to do more to help the planet

It is not being taken seriously enough. I work in a school and whilst the world has started talking more about a climate emergency, it seems schools are not being pushed to talk about it at all. If a big event/ news story occurs we usually have a special assembly, but we haven't even been given time to do a class discussion on it. The timetable is so tight with everything that primary age children need to know, that this MASSIVE issue of a Climate Emergency is being ignored!
I have talked to my 3 year old about polar bears struggling.
I think people turn their backs on this issue because they don't want to stop living the way they do. They don't want guilt about flying, having kids, eating meat. But it is everyone's responsibility.

I think it is vital and there are things that everyone can do to help but all will be in vain unless the big carbon emitting countries and companies change their ways and the countries with the rain forests properly stop them from being permanently removed.

My biggest concern is the realisation that it's all 'too little too late'. It frightens me to think what sort of world my daughter is going to grow up in. I must admit that we probably don't do enough but we try to do what we can - recycle, not use as much plastic etc.
I think the most effective change that people can make is to actually change their behaviour(s) to help fight against climate change. I know a few people that don't even recycle their paper or plastic - which is a straight forward thing to do - especially as each house has a recycling bin, it really couldn't be more straight forward! One thing I will say about recycling waste is that I find a lot of packaging states that it can't actually be recycled which I find baffling. I'm sure that companies could stop producing these types of materials but I guess it's the cheapest and easiest option for them to mass produce.
My daughter is not overly aware of the climate emergency due to her age, but she does notice different news stories and asks questions relating to these events. I try and explain to her about the world and what can happen but it's very difficult to be honest.
She isn't at school yet but I presume that schools probably do focus some time on the climate emergency and the world we live in.

Really important and the children are learning more about it. I do recycle. I would be happy to get an electric car if it wasn't so expensive.

It worries me that there are still sceptics out there that refuse to believe we are in crisis, especially when some of these are world leaders. This therefore slows down action against climate change, and puts our children's future in jeopardy. It makes me angry, and I feel that the changes we make in our lifestyle is just a (plastic) drop in the ocean.

Start with explaining the climate change to the very young. Make sure they know about recycling items and taking care of the environment and animals and plants.

It's really scary... what is the future for our children

I fear that it's too little too late and I think that instead of placing blame on the ordinary people, it should be placed at the feet of the worlds politicians and large companies that have been driven to produce as much as they can for the cheapest price.
I fear for not only my children's future but their children and the generations to come so the more they know they better.

I've reduced our plastic by buying items that have no or very little plastics. I walk to places I can walk to rather than drive. We recycle and reuse as much as we can.

My kids seem to be pretty clued up on environmental issues and are keen to help do their bit.

I feel so guilty, it is so hard to avoid damaging the environment. I avoid plastic wherever possible, I've reduced the meat I eat, I recycle, I use public transport. I try, but I know every time I use electricity, drive a car, end up with a bag of bananas in plastic that I should be doing more.

I was reading somewhere that every toothbrush we have ever owned is yet to decompose. At 52, that’s at least 150+ for me. It’s hard to imagine that many. It’s impossible to multiply and imagine that by a billion, for all the people on earth who use them. How many of them are polluting our world. Scary thought.

I agree the situation can feel too big to tackle, but I believe that if enough individuals do their little bit to help, we can make a difference. I'm heartened to see that at last the supermarkets are making efforts to reduce packaging, and they're only doing that because of pressure from the likes of you and I. So, let's keep the pressure up and see what we can achieve,

I think it's really scary to think of the rising sea levels, higher temperatures and all the other consequences of global warming. I am trying to do my bit by recycling more, buying less and swapping products for reusable alternatives. I think if everyone does their bit then we may be able to turn things around for the better and learn from any mistakes.

We should be doing a lot more. I remember in france in the late 80s you were charged extra for glass bottled items at supermarket but got more when returned. Little incentives like this would encourage next generation to help and make some pocket money

I am terrified by the enormity of it all, until fairly recently most people thought that doing a bit of recycling would make things ok, whereas what probably needs to happen is that we go back to living as they did a couple of hundred years ago - no cars, plastic, electricity +++ and a much smaller population.

I still try, I don't have a car, grow a lot of my own produce, shop second hand for a lot of things, regularly help clean up my local beach, parks & streets, and try to educate others to do their bit.

Its terrifying. I do as much as I can but I wish I could do more. I wish more companies would agree to cutting back, like Coca Cola.

I try to do little things like walking more instead of driving, car pooling, using less plastic, but I feel like I am just a drop in the ocean. I think the big companies need to do more, if they didn't use loads of plastic packaging it would make it easier for the consumer. There are a lot of people on low incomes who can't afford to worry about the carbon footprint, they are too busy trying to feed their families and not get into debt.