But when you are reading this years from now, by the light of a solar powered lamp, know that your dad, mom and millions of others who burned brightly with love for our kids did what we could, when we knew the stakes.

I look at my baby niece today. The newest member of our family, just 3 days old. What will be left for her and her grandchildren?

I promise that I shall continue to do all that is within my capabilities to leave you a world where there is fairness and justice.

I don’t know your name
or even if you’re alive,
but I’m doing all I can
to make sure you survive.

I’m your great- great grandmother
who lived a century ago
in a world far different
from the one you must know.

This is our house.

All you can do is your best. You can encourage the same in others. You can admit your mistakes and those of your ancestors. You can learn from them, and help however you can. I’ll do the same. I promise.

“I knew you would want to know how the future turned out. You got so anxious about climate change as we grew older.  By coming back, I thought I could help you with that.”

I am witnessing climate change in a way that I do not like, and I do not know how can I stop it.

When you look at me with those big beautiful eyes and that innocent smile, you make me want to fight harder. And I do.

I realize my reflection of the past, current and future state of the environment paints a grim and pessimistic picture, but I feel optimistic in our ability to turn planet Earth’s fate around if we all work together and commit to making a change.