6 things Christian parents can do to raise children who care for God’s creation

As the latest UN conference on climate change starts - Mari Williams helps Christian parents to start conversations at home around how to look after God’s creation better

This week the latest UN conference on climate change (COP30) began in Brazil. It is of course essential that governements and corporations act responsible with regards to the planet but families can also take action to help look after our environment.

As Christian parents, we have a double reason for looking after the planet. Not only do we want our children to inherit a stable environment, we are also called by God to be good stewards of his creation. It’s important to teach our children what the Bible says about caring for creation and for those living in poverty, who are the hardest hit by climate change and environmental degradation.

This is a journey our family has been on as we’ve sought—step by step—to intentionally live in ways that reduce our environmental footprint. We don’t always get it right, and we still have a lot to learn, but here are six areas of family life where we have tried to model our calling as Christians to steward God’s wonderful creation. 

1. Tackling transport 

My children now walk to school with their friends, but for years, when they were little, I walked with them most days—unless it was raining heavily or we were running very late! When the complaints came about “Why can’t we go in the car like our friends?” I took the opportunity to explain tha