Becoming a parent makes two thirds of people feel more concerned about green issues
To mark the launch of Climate Week 2013, parents across to country are pledging to 'Protect the Future' to ensure a sustainable future for their children
Parenting organisations and celebrities are backing a new campaign, Climate Week - Protect the Future, for parents to protect their children’s future by helping to prevent climate change.
The campaign launches today as part of Climate Week (4-10 March), Britain’s biggest environmental occasion, with over half a million people expected to attend 3,000 events across the UK. Supporters include the former UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan and the Prime Minister, David Cameron.
New research1 for Climate Week by Ipsos MORI shows that parenthood is a powerful trigger for concern about green issues. Two-thirds (66%) of mothers and fathers said that becoming a parent made them feel more strongly about protecting the environment. The campaign is backed by the UK’s largest charity for parents, NCT, and by Family Lives, which helps over a million children each year.
Belinda Phipps, Chief Executive of NCT said: “Having a baby makes you re-evaluate your priorities and realise that for the sake of their future we need to look after the planet we rely on now. Climate Week is a great opportunity to make some small changes which could make a huge difference.”
Model, fitness guru and mother Nell McAndrew, eight months pregnant, had the words “protect the future” written on her bump. She said "Becoming a parent makes you realise how important it is to protect the planet for future generations, and that's why I'm supporting Climate Week."
Pregnant campaign supporter Vanessa Doman also had her bump painted as a globe damaged by oil, showing that to safeguard the next generation from climate change we must use less fossil fuel.
People can also help to publicise the campaign by taking a photo of themselves displaying the words “Climate Week - Protect the Future” and making it their Facebook or Twitter photo during Climate Week.
Kevin Steele, Chief Executive of Climate Week said: “The campaigning of parents during Climate Week is helping it to be Britain’s biggest climate change campaign – an occasion when everyone can start to live and work in more sustainable ways.”
There are lots of other Climate Week activities – for example for schools, workplaces and community groups. People can register to take part in Britain’s biggest environmental competition, the team-based Climate Week Challenge. They can also run a Climate Week Swap event for people to exchange clothes and children’s toys they no longer want for great stuff that they do. For more information, visit www.climateweek.com.
Climate Week (4-10 March 2013) is Britain’s biggest climate change campaign, inspiring a new wave of action to create a sustainable future. Each year, half a million people attend 3,000 events - visit www.climateweek.com to find out more.
Climate Week promotes ways that people can live and work more sustainably. It is an annual renewal of our ambition and confidence to combat climate change, and is for everyone wanting to do their bit to protect our planet. Climate Week is supported by over 200 national organisations and people such as the Prime Minister, David Cameron and Sir Paul McCartney.
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