“Love is the greatest gift one generation can leave to another.”
Richard Garnett, Poet
Picture a group of people with wisdom from life experiences, time on their hands, and a passion for young people. Can you think of anyone more perfectly suited to fight against climate change? I’m talking about grandmothers, and many of them are doing just that. Here’s a shoutout to the “climate grannies”.
Who are the climate grannies?
Data tells us that, on the whole, women are somewhat more concerned about climate change than men. Also, older people are more likely to rank climate change as a high priority than those who are middle-aged. At the intersection, we find the “climate grannies”.
Climate grannies aren’t necessarily part of an official organization; instead they’re women who are willing to do anything to protect their grandchildren and give them a better future. And because climate change poses the biggest risks to the youngest among us, many are taking matters into their own hands.
Lots of grandfathers, not to mention older people without grandchildren, are jumping into the fray too. Maybe they have grandnieces and grandnephews, or are simply concerned about leaving a livable planet for the coming generations.
From motivating others to vote and raising the noise level, to writing letters and making phone calls, to leading initiatives, these seniors can wield a lot of influence.
Coordinated efforts
There are some organizations coordinating the efforts of people in their golden years. One is called Elders Climate Action. With a mission to “to address climate change while there is still time to protect the well-being of our grandchildren and future generations”, they offer lots of practical actions – both on the small and large scale.
1000 Grandmothers is another organization working on solutions. This one has a special emphasis on climate justice, and welcomes all older women to join. They lobby for legislation and work to protect marginalized communities.
I’ve written before about Moms Clean Air Force. Grandmothers are obviously Moms too, and many of the women involved with this group are climate grannies.
At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter how old you are, what motivates you, or what your skillset is…there is something you can do to help. I would like to thank the climate grannies – and all elders involved in climate activism – for inspiring the rest of us!
Let’s do something about climate change. Learn about it. Think about it. Talk about it.