Creating a better future

What will Critters future be like at my age?

I now have some really exciting if not a bit scary news. It is now official that I will be a first time Dad sometime in March next year. Like many of my friends and family who have become fathers this moment or calm before the storm can bring on some moments of reflection mixed with a sense of panic. Thoughts such as how are we going to survive on one income? Baby names, we need a bigger apartment, I have no idea how to change a nappy, (I remember well the conversation I had recently with my brother who has three children “If you can change a nappy without needing to have a shower afterwards then you are doing well”) and finally the big question how am I going to go as a dad?

It also brings into a bit of focus to what kind of world will “Critter” grow up in (Critter being the pet name of our unborn child) I am now 35 so when Critter will be my age the year will be 2045.

A scary thought, Critters old man will be 70 and probably still trying to play cricket and waiting for the All Blacks to win a second world cup. The big question I have is “what will the world look like?”

Will we see runway climate change? Will we manage to wean ourselves of the dependence on fossil fuels? What will the sea levels be at? Will there be any polar ice caps? Was the recent dust storm in Sydney now a regular event? What will the house insurance premiums be like?

Will critter be able to go to places like I have such as the Serengeti and camp with lions and see wild elephants, how about climbing on a glacier with crampons? Diving in the Maldives or snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef?

Will I end up like a very older version of Pete Postlewaite in my own version of the “Age of Stupid” type movie and look back on the moment when critter was born and say what was I doing? Did I do enough?

Will I be able to face my future son or daughter and say I did everything I could? Could any parent for that matter be able to say that to their children in 2045?

Or maybe, just maybe everything will be ok. In December the world leaders will come together and set some real goals and time frames that start looking after our planet. The politicians may stop arguing with each other and start seriously looking after our future. Large and small companies will continue to strive to be more environmentally conscious and the new generation of Critters will be able to enjoy the life that I have had.

Really are we leaving too much to chance? Can we all be doing more? I would be really interested to get your thoughts.

PS: One small thing that I just did was sign up to Hopenhagen. It takes a couple of minutes and my name along with thousands of others will be presented to the leaders attending the Copenhagen conference in December. I just hope they are listening.

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Comment by Lee Stewart on March 31, 2010 at 6:15pm: Just a short note that Critter is now known as Jade. Jade Stewart was born on the 15th of March and Mum and baby are doing really well. Dad however is struggling a bit from lack of sleep!

Having a child does bring more emphasis to what we all do and a sustainably professional mentioned "Congratulations! you will now really get sustainability!" How true is that.

Comment by Turlough Guerin on November 13, 2009 at 8:56pm: Congratulations Lee. Challenging questions......and a good piece. Keep up the blogging

Comment by Steve Fanale on November 12, 2009 at 10:31am: Congrats Lee and completely agree. As a father you will discover that there are many things that will concern you that weren't even on the radar before. The planet's future is obviously a big one.

One thing that children also bring is hope. My first daughter who is now eight is VERY aware of the environmental issues we face and is hopefully a generation that has the the health of our planet as THE number 1 priority. BBoomers, Genx and Y and noughties aren't absolved from their responsibility but with the education our children now receive on the subject matter hopefully we are creating the change we need to ensure a sustainable future

Comment by Lothar Hinsche on November 11, 2009 at 1:13pm: Congratulations that you will be a dad soon. This is always one of the best news ever. Every new born child is one reason more to be good to and careful with the planet.

Comment by Lee Stewart on November 11, 2009 at 8:02am: Thanks Stuart, I missed the four corners the other night but caught a bit of it on the news. Pretty disappointing to be even debating the issue. I guess if you don't believe in it now I am not sure what more the scientific community, UN along with the IPCC and hundreds of other credible groups can do.

Comment by Stuart McComb on November 10, 2009 at 3:49pm: Congrats Lee!! I'm going through the same scary stage of life! Our first is due first week of April! I know what one person could do for our kids is- Barnaby Joyce could shut his ugly gob and attempt to grow a brain!!! If you didn't catch 4 corners last night, it's well worth checking it what an imbocile this guys is!

We all need to keep on the case of all our poli's, to keep them on track and not let them get distracted by joker sideshows such as Barnaby. Remind them of the bigger picture, we don't want our critters to be asking us "what were you thinking? how did you let this happen? you had and opportunity to minimise the fall out and you let it slip by"

Comment by Ivan Goloborodko on November 10, 2009 at 3:46pm: By 2045, one would hope that efforts to wipeout each other will be transformeed into a more creative stream, solar sailing, planetary defence program to minimise 2% chance of being pinballed by a Near Earth Object (5000 and counting) and in general more scientific approach to problem solving. Open debate, with ability to be right or wrong, but avoid fighting over the point, whatever it may be. All of its up to people, and I think they are inherintly human kind.