MORE than 80 per cent of mothers surveyed in the USA said they were worried or very worried about the climate crisis.

More than 90 per cent said that “we have a moral responsibility to create a safe and healthy climate for ourselves and our children”. Would any reader disagree?

We protect what we love. As global temperatures rise, ecosystems collapse and extreme weather events become the norm, it becomes clear that rational facts alone are not enough to inspire action. What drives people to fight for change is not simply knowledge but emotional connection.

When we love something, a path through the woods, our local river, the cliffs and beaches, we feel compelled to safeguard it. This is evident across the world. From indigenous land defenders in the Amazon to youth climate strikers in urban centres, people are rising to protect what they cherish most: their communities, their environments, their futures. How about you?

Here in Cornwall, the climate crisis often feels distant or abstract because we are buffered from the worst effects. Yet, scientists warn we are reaching irreversible tipping points.

Love is a powerful motivator. When individuals are connected to the Earth, not solely as a resource, but as a living system, we begin to act out of care, not fear. Schools that teach climate literacy, art that evokes ecological grief as well as love for what we have, and local projects like tree-planting or regenerative farming or sustainable fishing all strengthen our bond with nature.

Ultimately, the climate crisis is not just a technical challenge; it is a crisis of relationship. If we are to build a liveable future, we must cultivate empathy, not only for each other, but for the planet that sustains us. We protect what we love. Now, more than ever, the Earth needs our love to turn into action.