Climate change is a parenting issue

I used to look forward to the changing seasons. Now, my mind is occupied by the new threats each one brings.

Summers in Philadelphia are not only getting hotter each year, but we are often forced to endure blankets of smoke covering our city due to wildfires from the opposite coast, putting a serious strain on outdoor time.

This time last year, as kids were set to return to their classrooms, the entire Philadelphia school district had to shut down due to flooding from Hurricane Ida. This year, some schools have had to dismiss students early because the indoor temperatures in buildings were simply too hot to learn.

Philadelphians are no strangers to fluctuating temperatures, but the past few years have made it clear that younger generations today are living in a completely different world than we parents remember from our own childhoods. Parents across the state are rightfully worried about how extreme weather takes a toll on their children’s futures. The good news is that there is still hope.

As a climate scientist and ecologist at Penn State University, I’m intimately familiar with how climate change drives the frequency and strength of extreme weather. As a mother, I know how scary it can be thinking about the future world our children will inherit, how they may have to live a life that we haven’t prepared them for, and how many experiences they’ll miss out on. My 19-year-old daughter recently reminded me how much she used to love playing in the snow, and now it’s a “miracle” if it even snows that much.

The thing about climate change, though, is that we know what we have to do to beat it. Limits on pollution and investments in clean energy provide a path toward a safer, healthier, and more prosperous future. Still, despite the fact that an overwhelming majority of Americans, including 75% of Pennsylvanians, accept that climate change is happening, very few people see it as a top priority that demands urgent action. Parents have a lot on their plates, but it’s past time we all put climate action on our to-do list.

The need to bring new people into the climate conversation is why I joined Science Moms. This group is on a mission to make climate action a top priority for the experts on getting things done: moms. As a Science Mom, I seek out opportunities to engage with moms throughout the state and country, educating them on climate change and how we can protect the planet for our kids. I try to help them understand that climate change is a parenting issue. The most important thing we can do for our kids is work toward bold, immediate climate action.

» READ MORE: I’m a teen worried about climate. The inflation bill doesn’t do enough, but it’s a start.

Talking to people about climate change is something all of us can do, but it can only be the first step. Once people are on board, they can feel overwhelmed by the sheer size of this global problem, but everyone has a part to play. In addition to reducing your own pollution, like swapping out gasoline-powered cars and natural gas-stoves for electric versions or installing solar panels (the Inflation Reduction Act offers robust financial incentives to do so), we can also use our individual voices to build the collective power needed to get our society off greenhouse gases for good.

Talk to your neighbors, friends, colleagues — anyone you can — about climate change, and get them to care. Write and call your local, state, and federal elected officials, and ask them what their plan is to deal with climate change. If they don’t seem to take it seriously, maybe it’s time to elect someone who does.

Climate change is the defining issue of our time. The new federal climate laws represent an important step forward, but there is still much more work to do. For the sake of future generations and weary parents everywhere, let’s keep the momentum going.

Erica Smithwick is a climate scientist at Penn State University and a member of the group Science Moms. @EricaSmithwick