Parenting in a Changing Climate: Tools for Cultivating Resilience, Taking Action, and Practicing Hope in the Face of Climate Change

by Elizabeth Bechard

If we eat a plant-rich diet, compost, ditch single-use plastic, drive a Prius, install solar panels, trade fast fashion for used clothing, and use only LED light bulbs, this narrative tells us, we can check “did my part for the planet” off of our to-do list. The personal responsibility narrative is, in many ways, a distraction from the critical work of climate activism and political engagement. And yet. Mark continues: “…here’s the thing: when you choose to eat less meat or take the bus instead of driving or have fewer children, you are making a statement that your actions matter, that it’s not too late to avert climate catastrophe, that you have power. To take a measure of personal responsibility for climate change doesn’t have to distract from your political activism—if anything, it amplifies it.” I agree. And from a behavior change perspective, it makes sense to embrace the small steps we can take to be more climate-friendly at home. Successful long-term behavior change is the result of an accumulation of small wins that build our sense of self-efficacy over time.

Hmmm