A Green and Ethical Christmas with Teenagers?

michaels

So I have an aversion to 'stuff' and 'trips' that are not 'needed' on environmental grounds.

However we live in an affluent area and all my teenage kids friends will have mountains of presents under their trees - clothes that will be worn once or twice, smelly sprays that will release vocs into the atmosphere, shiny electronics that will do little more than the existing electronics that will go to landfill and perhaps IOUs for long haul holidays for experiences that 'cost' more carbon dioxide than a dozen people in a developing country will produce in 10 years.

Locally none of the teenagers are Greta Thunbergs, quite the opposite, if I ask my kids to justify this they plead the nihilistic 'the world is screwed so we might as well make the most of the time we have left - no one else will change, the world won't be saved, so why should we be the ones who miss out for no benefit''

Has anyone managed to take their kids with them on the sustainability journey?

arty688

in a word No

Spies

Sad state of affairs. 

QrizB

My teenage kids are fairly non-consumerist (if that is really a word).

• This year's Christmas presents will mostly be books, music and DVDs because that's what they have asked for.
• They wear clothes until they grow out of them or (more recently) they fall apart.
• They have expressed no desire to take long-haul trips (family holidays before COVID have always been to western Europe).

Maybe we're not entirely doomed?

middlewife

My 4 in their twenties, couldn't be more different, including identical twins, two are eco conscious left leaning, two are consumerist right leaning. Their argument is that as someone else is to blame, their actions are too insignificant to make any discernible difference. COP 26 was a cop out they blame big global fossil fuel companies and besides which, they argue, their consumption gives employment, however questionable to others.
Its an uphill battle and you can't influence them, only lead by silent example . Makes for some interesting family dinners!

arty688

They do have a point though , we are just tinkering around the edges to make ourselves feel better. Not many are going to go full hair shirt eco. I just make sure all of the stuff we buy get recycled as much as possible via giving away , ebay , Sold about £1.5k of stuff this year and given away more.