Parent Letter to World Leaders – Press release

Don Cheadle, Dame Emma Thompson, Julianne Moore, Khaled Hosseini, Robert Redford and Sir Mo Farah among more than 150 notable parents urging an end to fossil fuels ahead of UN Summit of the Future 

Signatories to an open letter to world leaders, spearheaded by Our Kids’ Climate, as part of a movement to mobilize parents around the world to take climate action and help protect what we love, include:

• Actors Cobie Smulders, David Morrissey, Dia Mirza, Djimon Hounsou, Emmy Rossum, Halle Bailey, Hend Sabry, Isabelle Carré, Julie Walters, Kevin Bacon, Matthew Rhys, Ray Winstone, Rosario Dawson, Simon Pegg and Steve Buscemi; and film director Fernando Meirelles.

• Musicians Angelique Kidjo and Annie Lennox.

• Author Ian McEwan, and children’s writers and illustrators Axel Scheffler, LeUyen Pham and Malorie Blackman.

• Prominent activists Bill McKibben, Princess Esmeralda of Belgium, Kumi Naidoo, Naomi Klein, Nnimmo Bassey and Tasneem Essop.

• Former UN Climate Chief and architect of the landmark 2015 Paris Agreement on Climate Change, Christiana Figueres.

• Mayor of London and C40 Cities Co-Chair, Sadiq Khan, and Mayor of Freetown and C40 Cities Co-Chair, Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr.

In an open letter addressed to world leaders, more than 150 notable parents from across the globe are calling for an end to the world’s “dangerous dependence on fossil fuels” ahead of the UN Summit of the Future on 22-23 September. 

The letter is released against months of wrangling over whether and how to include a crucial reference to fossil fuels—the primary driver of the climate crisis—in the Summit’s key document, the Pact for the Future.   

The parents’ letter says: “The burning of fossil fuels drives the climate crisis, harming children now and stealing their futures. It is crucial that the Summit makes an unambiguous commitment to a just and fair transition away from fossil fuels.” 

The letter has been spearheaded by Our Kids’ Climate, a global network bringing together parents and grandparents from over 55 countries to take action on climate. It is part of an effort taking place during Climate Week NYC supported by Groundswell (Global Optimism), Save the Children International, Potential Energy, C40 Cities, Climate Crisis Advisory Group, WE ARE FAMILY FOUNDATION,  and the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, which seeks to harness the power of love-led climate action and share the parents’ letter under the hashtag #ProtectWhatWeLove. 

Parents from entertainment, sport, science, religion, civil society, literature and business have added their names to the letter. Further signatories include: actors Alison Steadman, Alysia Reiner, David Lyons, Jessica St. Clair, Krista Kosonen, Lucian Msamati, Piper Perabo and Shabana Azmi, artist Olafur Eliasson; authors Lily Cole, Paul Hawken, Romesh Gunesekera and Sergei Urban; broadcaster Gary Lineker; business leader Paul Polman;  children’s writers and illustrators Beverley Naidoo, Britta Teckentrup, Chris Riddell, Debi Gliori, Jackie Morris, Jim Field, Ken Wilson-Max, Margarita Engle, Michael Rosen, Yuyi Morales and Zillah Bethell;  climate activists Farhana Yamin, Jill Kubit, Lidy Nacpil, Maya Mailer, Omar Elmawi, and Tzeporah Berman;  economists Kate Raworth, Dr. Guido Schmidt-Traub, Dr. Mariana Mazzucato; faith leader Pastor Henrique Vieira; health leaders Dr Maria Neira from the World Health Organization and Rosamund Kissi-Debrah; models Amber Valletta, Arizona Muse and Cameron Russell; scientists Dr Arunabha Ghosh, Sir David King, Dr Fatima Denton, and Michael E. Mann. 

The letter was released alongside a powerful video produced by the Potential Energy Coalition, which was informed by the organization’s research that found the number one reason people around the world care about climate change is to protect children and future generations.

Today (Saturday 21 September), on the eve of the Summit, a colorful and family-friendly street action, outside the UN, organized by Climate Families NYC and Our Kids’ Climate will see the letter being read out by parents to coincide with the letter’s release. Parents and children from New York together with climate leader parents from around the world will attend.  

The letter continues: “To be worthy of its name, the Summit of the Future must be a reset moment. We want our children to inherit a world in which they can breathe clean air, enjoy nature, and meet their potential without threat from ever-worsening climate disasters.” 

On the eve of the Summit,  the organizations supporting the letter are urging high-income countries and historical emitters to take the lead in driving a just and equitable transition, calling on these nations to provide critical support to low-income countries, ensuring that children’s rights and needs are prioritized at every step. 

The public supports robust climate action. According to research, 77% of the global population want their government to do whatever it takes to limit the effects of climate change. Next year, countries must present updated climate plans to the UN. These plans are a once-in-a-generation opportunity to respond to this global mandate for action.

Parents and grandparents across the world are being invited by Our Kids’ Climate to join forces with the eminent parents by signing the open letter themselves. 

The letter to world leaders ends: “We, the parents, simply wish for a decent future for our children, and all children. You have the power to protect what we love. For the children of today and tomorrow, we are counting on you.”