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.

Past generations took all the trees, polluted all the water, fished all the fish, and hunted all the animals so that there’s almost nothing nice left.

I promise to do my part. I promise to be the change I want to see in the world, and I hope that you, reader, will do the same.

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

You should’ve reduced your carbon footprint, should be using some source of renewable energy and be a vegetarian by now.

It was 2020, the year I realized that life is fragile—not just mine, but the entire planet—through immense consumption, pollution, greediness, ignorance, false bliss. This wasn’t the way I wanted to live my life, so I promise to actively make the change.

Right now I want to be hopeful. Right now I want to think that we took action to ensure this beautiful future for you.

I am writing this message to you guys. When I look outside my window today, I see a beautiful world that others and myself call “home sweet home.” The trees glimmering in warm sunlight, the air stirring a cool breeze, and the water flowing down rivers are parts of our home Mother Earth.

I will fight for this cause and I will never ever give up because we, the youngsters, are the hope.