Parents want children to inherit clean air and water over money, new poll reveals
Four in five parents value clean air and water as much or more than financial wealth for their children, says a UK-wide poll.
A healthy environment matters more than money for many UK parents. According to a new poll by Parents for Future UK, four in five parents (80%) believe clean air, clean waterways, and a stable climate are equally or more important for their children to inherit than financial assets like property or savings.
This finding highlights growing parental concern about the future, with nearly two-thirds (63%) of parents worried about the impact of climate change on their children.
The poll, based on a nationally representative survey of 1,000 parents, revealed that tackling climate change and reducing pollution are now seen as being just as critical to children’s futures as securing a good education.
Charlotte Howell, co-director of Parents for Future UK, said:
As parents, the most important thing we can ever do is keep our children safe, now and into the future. Extreme weather events are becoming the new normal and our kids are quite rightly worried. It’s clear parents are increasingly concerned, but we need to turn that concern into action. And the most impactful start is supporting a move away from fossil fuels.
Climate anxieties shared by children
Parents’ concerns appear to be mirrored by their children, with 75% of parents reporting that their kids have raised worries about climate change. The anxiety is most pronounced among children aged 8–11, where 87% have expressed specific concerns.
The top climate fears voiced by children include:
- Extreme weather events (49%)
- Food shortages (33%)
- Poor air quality (32%)
- Rising sea levels and coastal erosion (31%)
- Biodiversity loss (23%)
Parents are acting—but kids want more
Encouragingly, 74% of parents have made at least one lifestyle change to reduce their environmental impact. This includes altering how they travel (51%), adjusting their diet (47%), or switching pensions and investments to sustainable funds (45%).
However, almost half (49%) say their children want them to do even more to combat climate change.
Parents for Future UK, in collaboration with Potential Energy and Mission 2025, has launched the “Protect Our Kids’ Future” campaign. This initiative encourages parents to engage their communities in conversations about the climate crisis and advocate for a transition away from fossil fuels.
Matthew Phillips, lead at Mission 2025, said:
Mission 2025 is a coalition of businesses, leaders, scientists, and activists dedicated to pushing forward climate plans that will dramatically accelerate clean energy economic growth. This campaign is exactly the kind of effort we need to inspire people to act and show support for common-sense clean energy solutions.
A call for government action
Parents are also calling for stronger government policies, with 60% supporting measures to phase out fossil fuels to reduce the effects of climate change on their children. Support is even higher among parents aged 55 and over, with 70% backing such initiatives.
John Marshall, CEO of Potential Energy, said:
The most effective way to mobilize support for climate action is through love and the desire to protect future generations. This narrative is at the heart of the Protect Our Kids’ Future Campaign. This campaign shows that later is too late to act on climate change, and everyone has a stake in the outcome.
With growing pressure from parents and children alike, it’s clear that safeguarding the environment is becoming a family priority for the sake of future generations.
Source: Parents for Future UK poll, conducted with a representative sample of 1,000 UK parents.
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Ruairidh is the Digital Lead on MadeForMums. He works with a team of fantastically talented content creators and subject-matter experts on MadeForMums.
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