Mothers Speaking Out for their Children at COP26

But what about those who are voiceless? Just outside the action one hub inside the Scottish Event Campus, a group of parents who are taking a stand for their children. They are from different countries and made their way to Glasgow so that the voices of their children can also be heard. News Five spoke to the mothers, who are from the Parents for Future organization. This morning they presented a letter to the COP26 president regarding air pollution in their countries. They too joined in the youth protest within the city of Glasgow.

Rowan Ryrie

Rowan Ryrie, Parents for Future, Global

“This morning, we delivered a letter to Alok Sharma on behalf of millions of parents around the world. So this was a letter that was signed by parents from more than forty-four countries representing millions of parents and lots of groups. So we are delivering it direct to the COP leaders and our very specific message was asking for a commitment for no new fossil fuel extraction or finance after COP26 because fossil fuels are affecting our children’s health today and the climate for the future.”

Mariana da Cunha de Menezes

Mariana da Cunha de Menezes, Brazil

“The idea of this demonstration, we brought this big grey bubble to show something that is usually invisible; that’s air pollution that makes our kids sick and also shortening their lives. So this is a symbol of something that our society, our policymakers are not taking care. Our children are already innocent victims of all this mess and they didn’t cause it and are already victims.”

Rowan Ryrie

“And air pollution is one of the issues that many parents see as linked to climate change in a way that’s affecting our children now. So that’s why we as parents are engaging around air pollution and making the connection between air pollution and fossil fuels to engage millions more parents in talking about climate change but recognizing that the impact starts today.”