As climate operators and investors, we spend our days navigating the complexities of this massive global challenge, from evaluating carbon removal technologies to debating the merits of direct air capture. We are deeply immersed in the technical, financial, and political aspects of climate action. But what if there’s another, perhaps more personal, role we should embrace?
Let’s consider an ancient tradition — the Godparent. Historically, the godfather or godmother has been a spiritual guide for children, someone the family trusts to mentor the child in matters of faith and life. This trusted figure offers guidance, not necessarily having all the answers but being committed to finding them. Over centuries, the role of godparents has evolved, but the essence remains: they are a reliable figure to lean on.
Today, I’m proposing a new iteration of this concept: the Climate Parent.
The Role of a Climate Parent
Imagine being that guiding figure — not for spiritual matters, but for climate-related ones. A Climate Father, or Climate Mother, would be someone who a friend or family member could turn to, especially on behalf of their children, for advice, understanding, and direction in all things climate. This is not about preaching doom or handing out lectures. It’s about mentoring in the way godparents traditionally have — as a source of support, trusted insight, and gentle guidance.
We’re not expected to have all the answers — the climate crisis is vast and multifaceted, and no one person knows it all. But what we do have is access to the broader climate community, and the ability to steer conversations toward solutions, context, and hope.
Why This Matters
Children today will grow up in a world where climate change is a defining feature of their reality. Whether they know it or not, they will face challenges related to environmental shifts, resource management, and sustainability. And it’s not enough to leave them to figure it out on their own or through textbooks. We can offer something more intimate — a space to explore these ideas, ask questions, and shape their understanding of their place within this planet’s future.
As someone entrenched in this world, I feel an added responsibility to be there for those closest to me, especially my friends and their children, as a mentor in navigating this new climate-driven landscape.
A Climate Parent’s Responsibilities
• Fielding Questions: Whether it’s “What is carbon capture?” or “Why does the weather feel different?” — being available for the basic to the complex questions. It’s not about having the answer on the spot but providing a thoughtful response or pointing them toward resources to explore further.
• Offering Context: So much of the climate conversation feels distant or overwhelming. A Climate Parent can break down these issues into understandable bites, framing them in ways that align with a child’s world and experience.
• Encouraging Action: Beyond education, we can foster action. Small habits like saving energy, planting trees, or reducing plastic use are things we can mentor them in, without imposing a heavy burden. The goal is to instill a sense of agency, not anxiety.
• Creating a Support Network: As we offer this role to those around us, we also create a network. Parents, kids, friends — all can tap into the wealth of knowledge we have from our careers. We can serve as the bridge between the scientific, technical, and policy-driven worlds of climate and their day-to-day lives.
Why Now?
With climate action becoming increasingly urgent, now is the time to think beyond professional roles. It’s not enough to just invest in the right companies or build the next clean tech solution. We must also become personal climate advocates — trusted figures who our communities can turn to for advice, understanding, and, most importantly, hope.
Just as a godparent helps nurture a child’s spiritual and moral growth, a Climate Parent can nurture their environmental and ethical growth. The next generation will inherit the challenges of our time, but they will also inherit the opportunities. And we can be there, right beside them, guiding the way.
Final Thoughts
To my fellow climate operators and investors: if you’ve found yourself in countless conversations where your friends or family ask about the latest climate trends or your opinions on climate tech — I invite you to lean into that role. Offer to be their Climate Parent. Make it formal, if they choose. Become that person they come to for advice, for mentorship, and for support as they navigate this critical and complex space.
Together, we can not only drive change through investments and innovation but also through a personal commitment to the future — one child, one question, one answer at a time.
