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clean and renewable energy is already
happening, and it can be high-tech and
affordable and, at the same time, be
playful and life-affirming.
Parents are well-positioned for these
kinds of positive climate conversations,
because we’re part of a network—
through our kids’ schools, after-school
programs, neighborhoods, faith
communities, and extended families—of
adults who really care about our
children’s well-being.
What would you advise a super-busy
parent who wanted your three
easiest suggestions?The most
important thing is actually to get clear
on three things: First, our children’s
survival is at stake in the climate crisis,
but we have solutions. Because our
government is captive to the oil
industry, it’s obstructing every solution.
Parents stand at an unprecedented
crossroads: Do we let the fossil fuel
industry go down, or our own kids? It’s
one or the other. Countless people are
working to make sure it’s not our kids.
So first is to see our predicament
clearly.
Secondly, we need to get clear that
climate scientists insist we can bring
future, instead of one with polluters on down the carbon count of the
the board shaping the organization’s atmosphere to the safe upper limit of
mission. Every family needs to eat, so 350 parts per million within this century
we can choose more plant-based foods if we drastically cut emissions now and
to reduce our meat consumption. If sequester carbon in the soil and plant
we’re chatting with other parents on the trees everywhere. But we have to do it
sidelines, we can mention how cool it is now. Every parent should know that
that wind power is now cheaper than “prescription” for the planet that’s been
any fossil fuel. Few adults actually know put forth by the top climate scientists in
this, or that China is enjoying a stunning the world, because it’s a road map out of
solar boom—and even built a solar farm this emergency.
in the shape of a giant panda. That kind Finally, cutting emissions means we
of information-sharing helps people must fight every fossil fuel proposal or
understand that the large-scale shift to
Bliss Planet 23
