{"id":11246,"date":"2015-09-16T14:00:57","date_gmt":"2015-09-16T19:00:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/climate411\/?p=11246"},"modified":"2026-03-14T13:03:30","modified_gmt":"2026-03-14T18:03:30","slug":"why-should-moms-and-dads-care-about-climate-change","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/climate411\/2015\/09\/16\/why-should-moms-and-dads-care-about-climate-change\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Should Moms (and Dads) Care about Climate Change?"},"content":{"rendered":"

I am a mom. It\u2019s not the only descriptor I use for myself, but it\u2019s up there at the top. My daughter is three years old. She loves to play outside and hug trees and chase birds and go fishing with her daddy.<\/p>\n

I am also a clean energy and climate advocate. My weekdays consist of trying to convince Texas policymakers to take action on climate change, and I sometimes think negotiating with statewide officials is harder than negotiating with a \u201cthreenager.\u201d<\/p>\n

As parents, our daily lives consist of a million things we have to do to keep the kids fed, dressed, and out of harm\u2019s way. Can\u2019t someone else worry about climate change? The problem with that perspective is, although moms and dads may differ politically, our desire to see our kids grow up happy and healthy is universal. But if enough of us make small changes in our lives and raise our voices on climate and clean energy issues, those actions can add up to a big solution.<\/p>\n

Climate change and life as we know it<\/strong><\/p>\n

When a problem seems overwhelming, as climate change often does, it\u2019s helpful to break it down into relatable pieces. Let\u2019s think about how climate change affects our everyday activities with our children.<\/p>\n

For example, my daughter and I start the day with breakfast. She has oatmeal with blueberries every day. Oats<\/a> and blueberries<\/a> are generally grown in cooler climates (Russia is by far the largest oat producer in the world). Crops depend on specific climatic conditions, and as the climate changes, we will likely have to move our centers of production, disrupting ecosystems and making further changes to our natural environment. It\u2019s a complicated issue to break down because, in some cases, increased levels of carbon dioxide could increase crop yields<\/a>, but at the expense of other crops. And as temperatures increase, we are likely to see more droughts and extreme weather<\/a>, risking damage to our agricultural system. The fate of their favorite breakfast food relies on a healthy, dependable climate.<\/p>\n

In the summer, sometimes we go to the pool. Will cities be able to justify keeping public pools open when there is chronic drought?<\/p>\n

Other afternoons we may go the playground. Before heading out, I check the weather. In Texas that means hot and dry in the summer, but I also have to be concerned about Ozone Action Alerts<\/a> \u2013 that is, days when air quality is dangerous for vulnerable populations, which includes children, whose lungs are still developing. Multiply that effect on children who are already suffering from health problems, such as asthma. On those days, it\u2019s better for us to play inside. Climate change \u2013 which is closely tied to and influenced by air pollution and ozone \u2013 may mean we see more dangerous air quality days, and less opportunity to enjoy the playground.<\/p>\n

These are just a few examples of how a changing climate spells differences for our kids\u2019 everyday lives.<\/p>\n

What action can you take?<\/strong><\/p>\n