The Environment

In general, children and young people are becoming more and more aware of the world we live in and are open to learning how they can help protect our planet.

It’s perfectly normal for some children to find it confusing or overwhelming to learn about climate change, so here are a few ideas for starting a successful conversation.

• Look for the positive news. Although a lot of news, images and statistics around climate change can be scaremongering, there are plenty of uplifting stories to share if you take a bit of time to find them.
• Weave the chat into your everyday lives. Let your child know where their food has come from when you sit down to eat.
• Ask them to explain things back to you. You’ll soon find out if they’ve understood a topic by asking them to teach you! They’re likely to feel empowered if they’re able to tell you all about recycling, for example.

The world has changed a lot in the past few decades and it’s important to remember that older people have seen society change in lots of ways in addition to climate change.

Here are a few ideas for encouraging older people to make more sustainable choices.

• Respect that the generations above us were brought up in a very different time when society was very different. Climate change has not always been such a prominent topic, so try to be empathetic when discussing today’s issues.
• Suggest small changes to everyday life and show how they add up to make a real difference.
• Make links to their current lives, for example, suggesting they apply for a grant to make their home more energy efficient could lead to their energy bills coming down.

Talking to friends and peers about climate change is an opportunity to learn how engaged in the topic the people around you really are. Whether your friends are hardcore protestors or seemingly oblivious, no conversation about climate change is too small.

Here are a few ideas to get you started.

• Try not to get defensive or angry if they’re doing something you disagree with. Instead, ask why they’re doing it or if they know the impact it can have. A calm conversation is more likely to inspire positive results in the long term.
• Normalise your own positive behaviours. For example, make a point of making your own party decorations instead of buying plastic ones.
• Persevere and accept that small but regular conversations are more likely to result in positive behaviour change than one big one.

Climate change is on the global agenda. Here are some useful links for finding the latest news about conversations and commitments happening across the world.

United Nations Climate Change

European Council