---
title: Speak in generations, not years
description: A reflection on COP30, climate action, and why thinking in generations not years can inspire everyday choices that protect a liveable future for our kids.
---

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# [Speak in generations, not years](https://www.mynoke.co.nz/blog/speak-in-generations-not-years)

 Written by [MyNoke](https://www.mynoke.co.nz/blog/author/mynoke) | Nov 27, 2025 3:30:51 AM

#### **Because what we do today matters - even after COP30**

Last month I attended *[Future Voices: Leading Change](https://envirohub.org.nz/event/climate-action-festival-future-voices-leading-change/) - *part of the Climate Action Festival hosted by [EnviroHub Bay of Plenty](https://envirohub.org.nz) and [Tauranga City Council](https://www.tauranga.govt.nz). The room was full of young people speaking with purpose, clarity and conviction about protecting the planet they’ll one day inherit.

I left the event with one phrase echoing in my mind:  
**“Speak in generations, not years.”**

When I think of my nine-year-old son, it hits differently. It’s not just 2030 or 2050 that matters any more -  it’s his lifetime, and the lifetime of his children.

***A beautiful illustration of the concept of speaking in generations, not years, from Kaewa Savage's inspiring story.***

#### **A complicated result from COP30 - hope and disappointment**

The world recently turned its eyes to [COP30](https://unfccc.int/cop30) in Belém, Brazil. The summit ended with a mixed outcome - a reminder that while global climate diplomacy is important, it isn’t sufficient by itself.

**What COP30 delivered:**

- A major commitment to ramp up climate finance: countries agreed to [mobilise](https://www.ungeneva.org/en/news-media/news/2025/11/113234/belem-cop30-delivers-climate-finance-boost-and-pledge-plan-fossil) **US $1.3 trillion per year by 2035 **to support climate action. 
- Adaptation funding to help communities vulnerable to climate impacts was [pledged](https://www.theguardian.com/environment/live/2025/nov/22/cop30-climate-talks-deal-overtime-live-news) to be **tripled by 2035**.
- [New mechanisms for implementation](https://www.ungeneva.org/en/news-media/news/2025/11/113234/belem-cop30-delivers-climate-finance-boost-and-pledge-plan-fossil): a “Global Implementation Accelerator” and what’s been called the Belém Mission to 1.5 °C - designed to help deliver on existing commitments.
- [Initiatives](https://www.euronews.com/green/2025/11/24/from-deforestation-to-fossil-fuels-what-did-countries-actually-agree-on-at-cop30) beyond the core UN text: e.g. the launch of a fund aimed at protecting forests globally, and a renewed spotlight on water, health and adaptation for vulnerable communities.

**What COP30 failed to secure - and why it matters:**

- There was *no* explicit, binding [roadmap](https://www.thenationalnews.com/climate/2025/11/22/final-deal-at-cop30-stops-short-of-commitment-to-phase-out-fossil-fuels) to phase out fossil fuels. Attempts to embed fossil-fuel exit language into the final text failed, largely due to opposition from fossil-fuel–producing nations.
- Similarly, while deforestation and forests protection came up in side-agreements and initiatives, COP30’s main decisions provided no strong, binding, global commitment to [end deforestation](https://thinklandscape.globallandscapesforum.org/100433/what-happened-at-cop30/).
- For many observers, including Pacific climate-justice groups, the outcomes were described as “[extremely weak](https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/579958/cop30-ends-with-extremely-weak-outcomes-pacific-campaigner-says),” insufficient to prevent global warming beyond safe thresholds.

In short, COP30 helped unlock more money for climate adaptation and resilience, but it fell short on the most critical structural changes: ending fossil-fuel dependence and reversing deforestation.

#### **Why everyday choices still matter - maybe even more**

Because the summit did not deliver what many hoped for, the urgency for grassroots, individual and community-level action becomes even clearer. If we can’t rely on global agreements alone, then what we do day-to-day matters.

That’s where the idea of “speaking in generations, not years” becomes a personal commitment. It’s a belief that real change happens not only through treaties and summits, but through collective small actions - repeated, multiplied, sustained.

#### **Small acts, lasting impact — what we can do now**

Even with COP30 behind us, these everyday shifts still carry weight.

1. ** Travel with intention**

- Walk, bike, use public transport when possible.
- Combine errands to reduce needless trips.
- When needing a vehicle, aim for low-emission options or rethink whether you really need one.

Fewer car trips over time helps reduce carbon load and clean the air our kids breathe.

1. ** Rethink what and how we consume**

- Lean into more plant-based meals; eat local, seasonal produce.
- Cut down on waste - food, packaging, single-use plastics.
- When buying, pause to ask: *Will this last? Or will it end in landfill?*
- Prioritise **experiences **when gifting (nature trips, bush walks, surf lessons) or lasting items (durable tools, quality outdoor gear) over disposable junk.

This sends a message: we value longevity, experiences, and a world worth inheriting.

1. ** Make our homes resilient - and more efficient**

- Use LED lighting.
- Unplug devices when not in use.
- Improve home insulation.
- If possible, support or switch to renewable energy sources.

These changes save energy now and over decades, reduce the strain on the planet.

1. ** Use your voice - and raise others' voices**

- Talk about climate with your kids, friends, and community: normalise climate-responsible habits.
- Get involved locally: support councils and community groups pushing for green transport, waste reduction, conservation, better urban design.
- Bring your children into the conversation: show them their actions matter.

Because unless we build a culture that values future generations, top-down agreements will only take us so far.

#### **Why “generations, not years” still matters - especially now**

COP30 showed that even a global summit loaded with intensity, urgency and public pressure still struggled to deliver the big structural changes science demands.

That means the hope for a liveable future relies not just on world leaders, but on **all of us**.

When I think of my son - and perhaps one day his children - I imagine them walking along familiar coastlines, exploring forests, breathing air that still feels clean. I want them to grow up in a world we fought for, not one we let slip away through inaction.

That’s why I’m working to live by the mantra:  
**Speak in generations, not years.**

Because what we choose today may define their tomorrow.

[View full post](https://www.mynoke.co.nz/blog/speak-in-generations-not-years)

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