Children are some of the biggest victims of climate change, and almost every child will experience environmental hazards caused by our changing planet in the near future (UNICEF). Despite the huge implications for them, children have little power to limit the changes happening around them. A landmark study last year found that the majority of youth experience eco-anxiety and 81% of children who responded said that when they try to speak about climate change, they feel ignored or dismissed (University of Bath).
Many of us are not just corporate leaders - we are parents and family members. How we do business isn’t just about how we impact the climate; it’s about how we build the world for future generations. As a parent, discussions about climate change can be difficult for a variety of reasons, but it’s critical that we inform the next generation on the issues and lead by example – teaching them how we can live and work more sustainably, especially as we work from home.
If you don’t know where to start, that’s OK! One great resource is NASA’s Guide to Climate Change for Kids. This website provides a lot of useful answers to frequently asked questions about climate and covers themes, like weather and climate, atmosphere, water, energy, and plants and animals, using easy-to-understand graphics and cartoons to help explain things.
You can also refer to Talking to Your Kids About Climate Change by The Climate Reality Project. This webinar is a roundtable discussion with four leading experts who share their unique insights and best practices for having meaningful conversations about climate change with kids.
Do you have any advice for other parents beginning to talk about these issues with their children? We’d love for you to share helpful resources on our Climate Action Discussion forum.
