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Your stories: Generational differences Your stories: Generational differences
(3 days later)
A few weeks ago, we asked you, our Climate Forward readers, to tell us about the generational differences on climate change within your families. We got many great responses, and today I’m going to share some of them.A few weeks ago, we asked you, our Climate Forward readers, to tell us about the generational differences on climate change within your families. We got many great responses, and today I’m going to share some of them.
What did we learn? First, many of you are frustrated.What did we learn? First, many of you are frustrated.
People from their teens to their thirties said that their parents and grandparents were not taking climate change as seriously as they do. It’s not just about accepting the science, though that is a big part of it. It’s the reluctance to adopt attitudes and behaviors that are friendlier to the environment, like recycling or flying less.People from their teens to their thirties said that their parents and grandparents were not taking climate change as seriously as they do. It’s not just about accepting the science, though that is a big part of it. It’s the reluctance to adopt attitudes and behaviors that are friendlier to the environment, like recycling or flying less.
This is a two-way street. Many people over age 60 said the younger people in their families were either unwilling to sacrifice the comforts of modern life, like catching an Uber rather than waking or taking a bus, or that they believed too much that technology would solve the climate crisis without any other changes. This is a two-way street. Many people over age 60 said the younger people in their families were either unwilling to sacrifice the comforts of modern life, like catching an Uber rather than walking or taking a bus, or that they believed too much that technology would solve the climate crisis without any other changes.
But your responses were also inspiring. We are clearly learning from one other. Every generation has a contribution of its own to the adaptation strategies we are developing collectively.But your responses were also inspiring. We are clearly learning from one other. Every generation has a contribution of its own to the adaptation strategies we are developing collectively.
Some parents are being influenced by their children’s activism and the environmental lessons they learn in school or at work. And in some cases, younger people are motivated by how their parents and grandparents produce less waste, because they were brought up in an era when soda bottles were returnable and diapers weren’t disposable.Some parents are being influenced by their children’s activism and the environmental lessons they learn in school or at work. And in some cases, younger people are motivated by how their parents and grandparents produce less waste, because they were brought up in an era when soda bottles were returnable and diapers weren’t disposable.
Here are five of the responses we received. They have been edited for length and clarity. We hope you’ll learn something, too.Here are five of the responses we received. They have been edited for length and clarity. We hope you’ll learn something, too.
My parents retired with generous public pensions. They installed solar panels on their house and they generate more electricity than they use, even while powering an electric car. Meanwhile, I have not had nearly as much economic stability; so I am forced to depend on the local energy supply and an old car of questionable efficiency.My parents retired with generous public pensions. They installed solar panels on their house and they generate more electricity than they use, even while powering an electric car. Meanwhile, I have not had nearly as much economic stability; so I am forced to depend on the local energy supply and an old car of questionable efficiency.
— Evan Draper, Boston— Evan Draper, Boston
“Sustainability is part of your major? How will you make money after college?” Ever since I changed my major from mechanical engineering, I have been asked this question multiple times by my family back in Singapore and India. It still fascinates me that this is a question on people’s minds even with the buzz about climate change around the world and the impact it has been having on our lives.“Sustainability is part of your major? How will you make money after college?” Ever since I changed my major from mechanical engineering, I have been asked this question multiple times by my family back in Singapore and India. It still fascinates me that this is a question on people’s minds even with the buzz about climate change around the world and the impact it has been having on our lives.
— Sushmit Dutta, Needham, Mass.— Sushmit Dutta, Needham, Mass.
I am 63, and my 6th grade teacher read us “Diet for a Small Planet.” It had a profound influence on me. While I am not a vegetarian, I eat very little meat. I drive a Prius but walk or ride my bicycle as much as possible. I avoid buying plastic in all forms. Recycling, repairing and buying less is my mantra.I am 63, and my 6th grade teacher read us “Diet for a Small Planet.” It had a profound influence on me. While I am not a vegetarian, I eat very little meat. I drive a Prius but walk or ride my bicycle as much as possible. I avoid buying plastic in all forms. Recycling, repairing and buying less is my mantra.
My 27-year-old son, who will be getting his Ph.D. in electrical engineering next year, likes to deride me for my choices. His attitude is that he should not have to live a harder life to achieve some “lofty, liberal goal.” He is a libertarian and wants to have kids someday, but doesn’t see the need to make lifestyle changes to protect the environment for their future. His belief is that technology will save us all. Odd, isn’t it?My 27-year-old son, who will be getting his Ph.D. in electrical engineering next year, likes to deride me for my choices. His attitude is that he should not have to live a harder life to achieve some “lofty, liberal goal.” He is a libertarian and wants to have kids someday, but doesn’t see the need to make lifestyle changes to protect the environment for their future. His belief is that technology will save us all. Odd, isn’t it?
— Karen Svet, Encinitas, Calif.— Karen Svet, Encinitas, Calif.
When my first baby was born, I decided to use cloth diapers and wipes. My main motivation was reducing waste sent to the landfill. My mom’s chore as a young girl was washing out her little brother’s cloth diapers — she hated it. Her family didn’t have and couldn’t afford disposable diapers. That was a luxury she aspired to, and relished buying them for her children. My choice to go with cloth for non-financial reasons was confusing to our whole family, especially my mom. She eventually came around to the idea when I showed her how modern styles and methods make cloth diapers easier and even less gross than what she remembers. But she was still hesitant to change a cloth diaper herself.When my first baby was born, I decided to use cloth diapers and wipes. My main motivation was reducing waste sent to the landfill. My mom’s chore as a young girl was washing out her little brother’s cloth diapers — she hated it. Her family didn’t have and couldn’t afford disposable diapers. That was a luxury she aspired to, and relished buying them for her children. My choice to go with cloth for non-financial reasons was confusing to our whole family, especially my mom. She eventually came around to the idea when I showed her how modern styles and methods make cloth diapers easier and even less gross than what she remembers. But she was still hesitant to change a cloth diaper herself.
— Sara Atwood, Orem, Utah— Sara Atwood, Orem, Utah
I grew up in India. My mother lived a more environmentally conscious lifestyle than I do now. This was in the 1970s and 1980s when buzzwords like “sustainability” didn’t even exist. For us, it was just how we lived, respecting the resources we had. We lived in northwestern India where the summers were hot, water was scarce and power cuts were a part of life.I grew up in India. My mother lived a more environmentally conscious lifestyle than I do now. This was in the 1970s and 1980s when buzzwords like “sustainability” didn’t even exist. For us, it was just how we lived, respecting the resources we had. We lived in northwestern India where the summers were hot, water was scarce and power cuts were a part of life.
My mother reused newspapers as book covers. She made her own compost-like mixture which she would add to the soil. Old T-shirts turned into mops and old saris were given to the local tailor to stitch dresses for me. Clothes were passed on to neighbors, cousins, friends or household help.My mother reused newspapers as book covers. She made her own compost-like mixture which she would add to the soil. Old T-shirts turned into mops and old saris were given to the local tailor to stitch dresses for me. Clothes were passed on to neighbors, cousins, friends or household help.
It is true that this generation is more aware of the impact of our actions, but we need to learn from the past. Sustainable living needs to be part of who we are, not something we do as an additional effort. It is more about relearning who we were, than teaching everyone a new way of living.It is true that this generation is more aware of the impact of our actions, but we need to learn from the past. Sustainable living needs to be part of who we are, not something we do as an additional effort. It is more about relearning who we were, than teaching everyone a new way of living.
— Lavanya Seetamraju, Idaho— Lavanya Seetamraju, Idaho
I’d like to thank everyone who responded to our question. The Climate Forward team read each one and talked about them at length. We’ll have more questions for you soon, so stay tuned!I’d like to thank everyone who responded to our question. The Climate Forward team read each one and talked about them at length. We’ll have more questions for you soon, so stay tuned!
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Biden’s wins and losses: These interactive charts compare the president’s legislative goals to what he actually got. He was most successful on climate and transportation.Biden’s wins and losses: These interactive charts compare the president’s legislative goals to what he actually got. He was most successful on climate and transportation.
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After Hurricane Ian: Florida has seen a rise in reported cases of a deadly bacterial infection that occurs when open wounds come into contact with contaminated water.After Hurricane Ian: Florida has seen a rise in reported cases of a deadly bacterial infection that occurs when open wounds come into contact with contaminated water.
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The world’s oldest trees are in trouble. Jared Farmer, a professor of history at the University of Pennsylvania, explains why they should be protected.The world’s oldest trees are in trouble. Jared Farmer, a professor of history at the University of Pennsylvania, explains why they should be protected.
As other countries outlawed asbestos, one New York plant was “swimming” in it. ProPublica looked at what that has meant for the workers.As other countries outlawed asbestos, one New York plant was “swimming” in it. ProPublica looked at what that has meant for the workers.
Seattle, a city known for rain, has received barely a drop since early June, CNN reported.Seattle, a city known for rain, has received barely a drop since early June, CNN reported.
From Climate Home News: After a year of negotiations, South Africa has approved an $8.5 billion energy transition plan supported by contributions from wealthy countries.From Climate Home News: After a year of negotiations, South Africa has approved an $8.5 billion energy transition plan supported by contributions from wealthy countries.
A new survey found that 84 percent of Indians say global warming is a reality that cannot be ignored, according to Business Insider.A new survey found that 84 percent of Indians say global warming is a reality that cannot be ignored, according to Business Insider.
Flooding caused by unusually heavy rains has affected more than a million people in Chad, France 24 reported.Flooding caused by unusually heavy rains has affected more than a million people in Chad, France 24 reported.
The La Brea Tar Pits museum in Los Angeles is getting its first big redesign in decades, and its leaders want climate education to be a priority. Curators say the stories contained in their vast collection of ice age fossils — about climate events, mass extinctions, and how prehistoric humans shaped the land — hold lessons for the modern world. Those stories, they hope, can start conversations about climate action and give the museum new relevance in the bargain.The La Brea Tar Pits museum in Los Angeles is getting its first big redesign in decades, and its leaders want climate education to be a priority. Curators say the stories contained in their vast collection of ice age fossils — about climate events, mass extinctions, and how prehistoric humans shaped the land — hold lessons for the modern world. Those stories, they hope, can start conversations about climate action and give the museum new relevance in the bargain.
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Jonathan Wolfe, Claire O’Neill and Douglas Alteen contributed to Climate Forward. Read past editions of the newsletter here.Jonathan Wolfe, Claire O’Neill and Douglas Alteen contributed to Climate Forward. Read past editions of the newsletter here.
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