I commit to demanding that politicians that want my vote, my time, my substantial help and expertise are people who seek to address climate change seriously and talk about it boldly.

Sent on

October 13, 2015

Georgia Hollister Isman

Send Your Own Message

Dear ACS, LG, CM, MCD, AH, MS, AS, GL, and ERD,

I am writing this letter to you because a commitment to you feels more real than one to my own future children, who are, for the moment, imaginary. You are kids that matter to me right now. You all have excellent parents who are among my favorite people on the planet. I know they will do just about anything to keep you safe and give you’re a prosperous, fulfilling future. But I also know that climate change is so big and so scary that the love and sacrifice of your individual parents will not be enough. If you are going to live in a world as beautiful as the one I grew up in and at least no more precarious and unjust, all of us grown ups need to create a public solution.

I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about writing this letter. That is because it is hard. I am near tears every time I start. I cannot quite believe how much risk we are putting you in with our country’s inaction and how slow we are to change.

Thinking about this letter has changed my behavior already. I think about it whenever I am choosing to recycle a bottle that would be easier to throw away—really, that often. I thought about this letter when Erin and I made the choice to have one car instead of two. And I try to think of you whenever that choice is inconvenient and frustrating. I commit to keeping your future in my mind when I make those individual choices even after this letter is sent too.

But I commit to more. I know more is needed. I commit to taking action politically and urging others to do so. I commit to demanding that politicians that want my vote, my time, my substantial help and expertise are people who seek to address climate change seriously and talk about it boldly. I commit to standing up, literally with a sign or more figuratively, to demand that our government take action. You cannot yet tell our leaders what you need, although I suspect for some of you it will not be long, so I commit to standing with your parents for public policy that will address climate change for real.

If we do nothing or do too little or wait too long, you all will have life tougher than I did. And I want just the opposite for you–a world more just, a world renewed. So I commit to being in your corner in the fight to make climate change a public priority.

My love to you all,

Your Auntie/Buddy Georgia

Send Your Own Message

More Messages to the Future

To My Future Children,

Most importantly, I hope you live in a world where science is taken seriously and fact is clearly distinguished from fiction.

Dear Tripp,

I promise to do my part, supporting federal legislation to protect our earth while starting small with projects at home.

Dear Future Self,

I hope you got your dream job of using your business degree to reduce co2 emissions and promote sustainable energy.

To my grandchildren,

Ahora vivo en la ciudad de México y cuando debe de llover no llueve… cuando hace calor de verdad hace calor.

Dear Tomorrow,

I promise to use a water bottle.

Dear Finn and Cy,

I think a lot about what you might be like when you grow up and about what kind of world you will live in.

Dear Future Grandchildren,

I hope I can look you in the eye and tell you I honestly did everything I could to protect our planet.

Dear Sander,

I pray that you are having a happy life and that you have contributed each year of your life into helping to make our planet healthy, cleaner, thriving and greener- a better place for all people and animals to live.

Dear Beloved Children,

As time progresses, there is hope that value will be placed on all living organisms, including humans, plants, and animals. Life will move at a slower pace, and being on your own time and moving at your individual pace will be the typical way of life. I consider this way of life good living, and I hope that future generations will live on this earth as it was once intended to live in peace and harmony.

Pick up your trash wherever you go!

Dear tomorrow,

If there’s one thing young people have learned while quarantining, it’s that Gen Z holds so much power and is capable of a lot more than we think. We’ve created a community that has united us all and started to bring about change for the good of our futures. Now, with the help of Gen Z (and of course, people of all ages), we have the power to save our home, the Earth.

To My Future Children,

I hope by 2050, our society has taken initiative to be producing energy solely through renewable sources.

View All Messages