How to talk to children about climate change
A guide for parents, carers and teachers
Children today are growing up in a world facing enormous challenges – from a rapidly changing climate to a constant stream of information and misinformation. With so much at their fingertips, young people are looking to the adults in their lives for honest yet hopeful answers.
In this article, we share practical tips for talking to children about climate change, supporting them through climate anxiety, and helping them to feel hopeful for the future. We’ve been inspired by the work of climate psychology expert, Caroline Hickman; as well as Greenpeace’s Parents and Carer’s Guide to Climate Change.
1. Understand the climate facts
Between 1850 and 2024, average global temperatures have risen by around 1.3°C. Through the rest of the 21st century, climate scientists predict we’ll see total warming of between 2°C and 3.7°C, depending on how quickly countries around the world rein in carbon emissions.
It’s important to understand the reality of the climate crisis yourself before attempting to explain it to children. Our rapidly changing climate means that the current generation of UK children will experience the following in their lifetimes:
Heatwaves
The number of days over 30°C has more than tripled since 1960–1990. The back-to-back heatwaves we’re experiencing this summer have seen highs of 35.8°C and were made 100 times more likely due to global warming.
As global average temperatures continue to rise, heatwaves are going to be hotter, longer lasting and more frequent.
Source: The Guardian, Met Office, Hadley Centre “Central England temperature records, by year”
Flooding
Rainfall is becoming less predictable and more intense, leading to flash flooding.
With sea levels rising, the risk of coastal flooding and storm surges is also increasing; particularly as sea-levels are rising more quickly around the UK than global averages.
Food system disruption
Unpredictable weather is having a huge impact on food grown in the UK and abroad. 2024 was one of the wettest winters and springs on record, with waterlogged ground pushing back the growing season and increasing the spread of fungal diseases. Conversely Spring and Summer 2025 have been extremely dry, leading to one of the earliest harvests on record.
Global inequality
While UK children will face climate challenges, those in poorer countries often endure far worse. In 2022, over 27 million children were driven into hunger due to extreme weather events.
And 1 in 3 children – approximately 739 million globally – live in areas exposed to severe water scarcity, with climate change exacerbating these conditions.
2. Start climate conversations early, tailored by age
It’s never too early to start talking to children about climate change in an age appropriate way. Many kids are exposed to the topic through TV, conversations at home, or from friends before it’s formally taught in school. Starting young helps children process the information in bitesize chunks, rather than it being an overwhelming subject to tackle further down the line.
The key to approaching this complex subject is to stay calm and curious by making it a shared learning experience. Balance honest discussions about extreme weather and human impacts with hopeful messages about the people and organisations working on solutions, and the sheer resilience and ingenuity of humans.
By acknowledging both the challenges and the progress being made, you can help children understand the issue without feeling helpless.
Here are a few ideas for conversations and activities, tailored by age:
Preschoolers (Ages 3–5)
At this age, you can build care and connection with the planet through your everyday habits:
- Walking or cycling instead of using the car, and explaining why you’re making that choice.
- Reusing packaging to make crafts or toys, using this as an opportunity to talk about conserving resources.
- Spending time outdoors, learning names of animals, trees and flowers, and chatting about why we care for wildlife and the benefits for our environment.
Primary school (5–9)
At this age, you can go deeper with your climate action and conversations. This could include:
- Exploring where clothes, food or toys come from, why you shop at certain places and how you can get rid of things you no longer need.
- Visiting a local recycling centre to find out how to recycle in the most impactful way
- Cooking together with local, seasonal ingredients. Talking about how food is grown and where it comes from.
- Discussing where renewable energy comes from, and celebrating the global boom in clean, green power.
Older kids (10+)
Older kids can handle more complexity in their climate conversations, and build confidence by understanding their impact in the world:
- Discussing fast fashion and encouraging teens to swerve the worst offenders as much as possible.
- Comparing companies with strong environmental credentials (like B Corps) to more wasteful businesses and letting your children influence where you shop as a family. A nice place to start could be choosing an ethical bank together for their first account.
- Encouraging them to influence bigger-picture policies, by signing local petitions or writing to their MP about subjects they feel strongly about.
3. Support children through climate anxiety
Climate change is having huge impacts on our physical planet and our mental and physical health. Children, especially older ones, may be experiencing eco-anxiety: fear, sadness, or helplessness about the future of the planet.
According to climate psychology expert, Caroline Hickman, in Greenpeace’s Parents & Carers Guide to Climate Change, it’s vital to “notice, name and make room for painful feelings.” Reassure them that these emotions are natural, and that it’s really important that people care as it leads to climate action.
Guilt is another interesting angle when it comes to climate change. If you’re feeling guilty about having a child during the climate crisis, remember that you did not cause this rapidly evolving situation. Focus on what you can control and influence, by modelling sustainable habits, supporting your child’s resilience and nurturing hope.
4. Shift from anxiety to action
Once children understand the problem, help them focus on actions that are within their control and influence, and empower then to take action and become part of a collective movement.
While it’s natural to talk about personal responsibility, too much focus can lead to feelings of guilt and overwhelm – for parents and children alike. That’s why is important to also look at the bigger picture: the role of communities, governments and businesses in tackling climate change.
You don’t need all the answers. You just need to be present, honest, and action orientated. Because while climate change is big, so is children’s potential to shape a better future.
Resources
Greenpeace’s Parents and Carer’s Guide to Climate Change: A simple-to-read and beautifully designed leaflet to help guide climate conversations. Get your instant download by filling in a couple of details.
Parents for Future: A global community of parents and carers taking climate action for the sake of their children.
Good Energy’s Learning Hub: We pull all our resources about renewable energy, technologies, greenwashing and climate change together in this useful hub.
