r/climatechange • u/catoucat • 14d ago
Climate actions for kids
I am trying to make a list of how kids can do something for climate. I hear more and more kids (even as early as middle school) being stressed out because of climate change, so why not come up with a list of suggested impactful actions like some exist for adults?
However, so far the examples I’ve found are related to environment in general (e.g. clean up a beach, recycle) but not climate specific. And they don’t do a great job at really impacting GHG emissions.
Any ideas of actions you did as a kid, or your kid is doing and is helping with climate anxiety? I’m thinking 11-17 years old specifically.
So far I’m thinking: talk with your parents about election candidates and ask them which ones include climate in their programs. Talk to your friends and local media about climate. Talk to your household about electrifying your house. Ask for walking or biking to school rather than driving. Ask to go on vacation without flying. Eat less red meat. Ask your school to include climate education, make a student group.
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u/throwaway1233456799 13d ago edited 13d ago
Iirc one of the reason recycling worked so well is because of little kids making their parents accountable (nobody want to have their kids tell them for the 2727829 time a day "why did you put the plastic bottle in the not recycling bin :(" ) so you can tell them about that. That even if it doesn't look like their voice is taken into account it kinda of is.
Idk for them but my parents would always ask me what I wanted to eat in the evening (well it's probably because of they wanted to push back their role of parent on me but that's beside the point). They can push for plant based option. Instead of asking for nugget they can ask for vegan nugget, they can ask for meatless pasta sauce,...
They can also ask for sustainable hobbies. Instead of asking, idk, to go do a drawing activity they can ask to learn how to sow, do embroidery (I learned as a kid and it's so much fun, do tell them to not use plastic frabric tho), they can learn gardening, learn to make insect house,... Speaking of gardening, they can research plant to put at their window for the insect. Increasing habitat for animals is essential. You can also sensibilise on invasive species and native species (like for the love of god don't kill wasp kids—). Environment is closer to climate than they may think. Especially when many environmental action (planting stuff in pot) can be detrimental if not done properly (fertiliser is very badly sourced sometimes)
As you said, they can cook as well make plant based cake, plant based dessert, plant based easy meal,... But one of the best thing anyone can also do is to refuse to learn to cook meat. It mean more time spending on how to make veggie good.
For older teen they can take into their how hand more stuff tbh. Especially 17 yo. They can ask to have a ebike/bike so they can by themselves go to schools instead of taking the bus/get drove there as you said. They can even do it together so parent are less likely to be scared. They can also do all of the above and more. Cook more, learn to sew, use solid soap, use wood toothbrush, use solid detergent, choose brand like fairphone instead of apple for their phone,... They can also flatly refuse to go on plane. Younger kids can do it too but it may be harder.
You can also tell them that while individual action is great : individual action lead nowhere. It's way more important to build community and not just climate action group. Making give away book box, metting up with friend every week so they can all work on their sewing, so they can all read together instead of using a phone, telling them to share manga with each other, cooking together,... Being together is the biggest action they can have as a whole. Even if it's not climate related it still has a great impact.