AIBU - to be worried about the future for my grand children

The Cold War was as planet threatening as Global Warming. Had a nuclear war started it would not have kept the harm to just the countries involved. It would have contaminated and killed people world wide, just as effectively as climate change. Look at the damage the Chernobyl incident caused and that didn't even involve an explosion or the use of a weapon aimed at damaging life.

I think the situation is not good, but not as bad as people think.

I have two members of my family actually involved in improving things. DH, in his late 70s, is currently working almost full time getting wind turbines out to sea and operational, while DD works for a reearch centre getting grant money for research for projects of all kinds to make things like batteries and engines more efficient and/or able to operate on different fuels. All the technologies needed to reduce emissions.

There are hundreds of thousands of people in this country working to reduce emissions from builders retrofitting insulation in exiting houses to scientists and engineers researching new technologies. Just look at the developments that have happened with electric cars. 10 years ago, electric cars were city only, doing 50 miles to a charge now there are batteries that only need charging every 100 miles.

I think to progress in dealing with Global Warming will be driven fastest by enthusiasm and hope not doom-mongering and despair.

We need all types, the optimists, the pessimists, the worriers, those with no fear, those who do things for glory and those who don't.

We'd never have landed on the moon if it wasn't for all these types and we'll never survive without them all.

Look a bit further back, it's always been scary, perhaps it's just our age group that has had it easy. My parents both served during a world war, my grandparents were farmers through two world wars. These wars were fuelled by right wing facism and race hate. Later there was the serious threat of a nuclear war, the Cuban Missile Crisis, it was only narrowly averted. My parents feared for our survival. There have been plagues, and Spanish Flu, the latter killed more than both world wars combined. We are still here. During most of my lifetime, born just at the end of food rationing, we have probably experienced one of the most stable and affluent periods in history, but we can and do adapt to change. Encourage your grandchildren to be thoughtful, read the science, and the sense that they have some personal power in protecting the environment and perhaps we can overcome climate disintigration as well.

Yes Monica ^ progress in dealing with Global Warming will be driven fastest by enthusiasm and hope not doom-mongering and despair^ but being a realist is also important.

Why aren’t we building only to carbon neutral standards for example? We are just not taking the issues seriously enough!

I worry about my grandsons, they each have health problems and I worry about their future.

But I would not turn back time.

My great great grandmother died in the work house.
Several babies were lost to cholera and typhoid.

My great grandmother died as a result of an asthma attack.

My grandparents lost their house in the Blitz .
My great aunt and my uncle (5 yes old were both killed again in the Blitz.
My grandfather lost his father in the trenches WW1

My great uncle died from TB
I could like many others on GN go on.

My Dughter at 5 months old was very ill with whooping cough.

All my grandsons have had the whooping vaccine.
As well as the many a vaccination they have either had or will have in the future.

My grandsons have the best chance medically than all the previous generations gone before them.

Only bad news sells - you are hearing a totally skewed message. When my Mother married she HAD to leave her job (ever heard of 'the marriage bar') - and lower pay for women doing the same work as men was absolutely the norm. My Dad nearly died of diptheria. When I had my first period I was so shocked I didn't dare even say anything - thought I had a dreadful disease but couldn't mention it because you don't talk about 'there'. There are always changes and difficulties but life was not better in the past. It was better for the 'fortunate'.

Remember the positives for the future for your grandchildren. Excellent health care and diseases that are now treatable and new drugs being tried all the time. A welfare state, better standard of living. Opportunities available to them that our generation never had. Who ever heard of a gap year when we were young?
I often think of my Grandparents who lived through two world wars, how unsettling and depressing. They must have felt they didn't have a future at times.

Looking at the positives of twenty first century life and then compare with what our forebears had to contend might help?

No not unreasonable at all, I think we just have to find a balance between enjoying life and being responsible to the planet and kind to others x

Our grandparents and parents came through two world wars. Look back and every generation has had its problems. They came through them though. Future generations will do the same....

No point in worrying.
I agree with others.
Just be thankful that in many ways life is far far better than it was years ago.

All these comparisons to wars and pandemics of the past are totally irrelevant to the present situation.

Quite frankly, it's laughable to suggest that recycling and a change to electric cars will make much of a dent in the problems.

Yes, every single thing helps yet still we make token gestures and governments simply won't introduce the much needed changes, for fear of making themselves unpopular.

I think every generation has felt the same - we do need to look after our home (the planet) but we will get there

I am minded of a newspaper article the Headmaster read out at my son's primary school talking about the state of education. We all nodded sagely, agreeing with everything he read and were really surprised when he told us that the article had been written nearly 100 years before. He pointed out the the achievements of the current cohorts and reassured us that was ever coming through with the new Tory Government, they would continue to work hard to educate our children properly.
I'm not dismissing anybody's concerns about climate, etc but I think it was always the case that the older generation worried about the state of the world for the younger generations. I think you have to live your life the best way you can, looking at the positives and working towards making the world a better place as much as you can.

Chestnut I’m in a better position than most to see what lies ahead. It is the refusal of people like you to see, understand and act on the evidence that has brought us to this.

And of course I keep my views to myself unlike you who feels free to resort to name calling.

???

This is nkt they same as evety generation’ and it is this kind of thinking that has resulted in the Climate Emergency. FFS.

We cannot protect them, but the earth has faced threats before and it is still here - it might change - perhaps catastrophically - but it will continue. I think the best we can hope for our children is that they will do something positive for change.They cannot all be Greta Thunbergs, hopefully one of her is enough, but we can all do something, beginning with understanding what is happening and why. One of the root cause of what is wrong, is selfish materialism - wanting the same as our friends etc and not caring what the cost is to the earth and its inhabitants around the world, another big problem is inequality of wealth. . Becoming someone who knows and cares, who can stand apart from the crowd, and find happiness without relying on man made objects to distract them, will give the young ( and old) the tools to survive mentally and cope with what is to come. It is already too late to prevent some of the consequences of our actions, but we can help ourselves and others to assist in putting the world back onto a positive path. Knowledge, will and action. Understanding that all the countries and people on earth are interdependent, that earth’s resources are finite and should be shared equitably, and sustainably - doing what we can to adjust our own lives so as not to impinge on others, joining with groups and other people who care, to lobby (non violently) and work for change. There are many positive signs out there. supermarkets and manufacturers are getting the message, now we need to find (or become) the politicians that will make the right changes in the face of opposition from those who have a vested interest in leaving things the way they are. We will all die sooner or later, but our legacy will live on.

I'm sorry I'm not a world leader I wish I could be of more assistance. Worrying about things that are completely out of your control will only give you high blood pressure, sleepless nights or even worse, cancer. The important thing is to do our bit, although some people are saying we have left it too late. Instead of worrying spend quality time with your grandchildren as you may project your worry onto them and scare them.

I find many comments here both encouraging and ones with which I agree. I have found myself feeling very upset indeed about my GC's future, especially because of climate change and then because of the changes in Government style and the fact that we can have Leaders like Trump and Johnson, who are proven to be liars and have dreadful morals.

As a Christian I agree with many other Christians who see signs in the world of the end of times. I do not expect it in our time or that of our children but our GC may see the return of Christ. Therefore I strengthen my prayers for them and for the world.

I fear that there could be a major war looming into which our country shall be drawn. I am very sad that our GC will be educated without the advantages of being in the EU and that the Health Service will not be able to work with the EU in the same way, both in treatment and research.

I do agree that every age brings its own version of fears. I agree that I was luckier than my parents in terms of kitchen appliances! We probably will cope with Covid-19 but I do find its rapid infection rate is very frightening, however, we must just do our best and be brave. I regard it as just another flu, take sensible precautions and try not to join the hysteria.

I have great confidence in the younger generation. They are the most aware of climate change and are very good about how they spend their money or travel and the ones I know show great awareness for those who are disadvantaged in any way, both here and abroad. I admire them enormously and have such great hopes for them.

I think becoming frightened about the state of the world and for the future may be a part of growing old in my case. I do feel so much more vulnerable and am so much less able to do anything very helpful to change things beyond the simple home-based things like recycling etc.

We can only do our best and try to stand up for what we believe is right. I think t is harmful to spread doom and gloom but giving a sensible and appropriate warning where indicated, which might prevent more harm, is good. I certainly do not agree that we may as well give up and "party"! That kind of attitude was always one which led to problems.

I also agree that humans are very adaptable and that our GC will produce ways which we cannot imagine yet that will enable them to live with the changes to come. My main support of course, comes from my faith. I put everything in the Lord's hands and trust Him to guide us through any difficulties ahead. I won't mean there are no difficulties, just that He will be there to hold us up as we go through them.

Reading this thread Nehbutnobut I think you'll find most people agree that doom mongers are not really helpful. We need people who try and make things better. I think everyone is aware of climate change, and I'm not denying anything. Of course I'm worried but telling everyone 'the end is nigh' just reminds me of those old guys who used to walk the streets with sandwich boards 100 years ago.

Large numbers of people die from flu every year in the UK, 600 I saw somewhere. Deaths from Corona virus are pretty steady at 2%. 98% of people who get it recover. One table I just looked up seemed to suggest death rates from flu and pneumonia were in the teen range per 100,000. Infinitesimal.

I don’t think anyone anywhere can reassure you that your grandchildren will be ok. Or anyone else’s grandchildren, just have to focus on the good things in life, and not picture doom and gloom, I don’t think there are any grandparents that don’t want the best for the future generations. Totally agree with grannylaine

I am proud of our young people, they are concerned about the planet and care about nature far more than some older folk.

Worrying has never been shown to change anything, so better to enjoy the blessings of the here and now.