by Alicia Hall
For the longest time my friends and I had been discussing our shared grief, worry and sense of helplessness over climate change and the immense impact it will have on our children’s future and the children of the world. I reached that tipping point where the climate anxiety and doing nothing had become unbearable; I also knew I wasn't alone. I am one of millions, or billions of parents deeply concerned that our children may not have a liveable planet by the time they are our age. Millions of mothers and children across the globe have already been displaced by the impact of climate change or about to be in the not too distant future.
I couldn't find a space that fit around parenting so I founded Parents for Climate Aotearoa in May 2019. I know that you, like me, have had enough of inaction, both from the government and corporations and that New Zealand and other countries need to embed climate in all policy and legislation - every decision made through a climate and just transition lens. This will influence policy across the board, it will create solutions and will influence behavioural and societal change. It sends a strong message of intent, that we need to act now on a global, political, business and individual level. I hope that you, the parents (in all the forms there are), grandparents, childless parents, aunties, uncles, cousins, friends and any adult who cares about our kids will join us in influencing positive change. Because ultimately, it is positive change, we will all benefit from a more equitable and sustainable society, we will have deeper connections to each other and our communities and most of all our children will not be condemned to the future they are on the path to right now. Thanks for taking the time to listen and I hope you will step off the beaten path to join me. Alicia x