Owen and Molly,

I’m writing this to you because I don’t have my own kids (yet?) and you two are a couple of the most important peanuts in my life. When it comes to my work and the things I think about in cities, I think about you – what your neighborhood might look like, how you might walk to school, or what parks you might go to with your mom (or me or your Aunt Kelley). As I think about the cities of the future, I think of what your world will look like and how you’ll live.

And with that, I have to tell you: things aren’t great now, but I’m doing what I can to make things better. I’m trying to help cities so that the environment is healthier, and so are you. Owen, I want you to be able to run around everywhere and bike all over the place. Molly, I want there to be beautiful wildflowers everywhere just for you, with great paths and benches for people to enjoy them.

I’m trying to make the world a cleaner place so you won’t get sick. I’m trying to make it so people drive less so the fumes from their cars don’t make you cough and so you can safely play on the sidewalk. I’m trying to make cities more livable so the beautiful places you’ll visit on trips are kept pristine for your enjoyment. I’m doing this because I want the beautiful world I’ve been able to grow up in to stick around for you. I want to take you to the glaciers in New Zealand and know they’ll still be as big as when I saw them. I want you to make your own memories on this beautiful planet. This place isn’t just for me, it’s for you guys too!

I love you both so much, and I’ll continue to fight for a cleaner Earth for you.
– Your Aunt Erin

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More Messages to the Future

For a child I am yet to know,

We are fighting for a shared cause, inspired by our strong and unwavering dedication to preserve the beauty and wonder of our natural world for our children, our grandchildren and their children, and for countless generations to come.

Filha,

Saiba que enquanto eu tiver vida, minha voz não calará para alertar o mal que estamos fazendo agora para as nossas gerações futuras…

Dear Jack,

Right now you are only a little over 5 weeks old, but you have truly changed my whole world. Your Mom and I always say that we thought we loved before you were born, but now that you have come into the world and we met you, our ability to love just expanded exponentially.

Para minha querida filha, Vitória,

Consegue compreender que estamos aqui de passagem e que temos por obrigação apenas tomar emprestado, evitado excessos e principalmente agradecer.

To My Dear Grandchildren,

Be assured that in the upcoming election, I will cast my vote for your future – for elected officials that recognize climate risks and are willing to promote and vote for legislation that will stop environmental damage and begin to heal our planet.

To My Children and My Future Grandchildren,

People are an amazing race and, if we have the will, I believe we have the ingenuity and resources to fix the harm we’ve done.

Dear Matthew, Sam, and Sophie,

There is a promise in the Bible: ‘I shall restore the years that the locusts have eaten’ and that points to a promise of complete healing and restoration. But until that comes I intend to do my best to ‘save the planet’ in whatever way I can, and I encourage you to do the same.

To My Future Children,

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

Caro Giovanni,

Dobbiamo aiutare nel conservare il bello che c’è nel nostro pianeta.

Hallo Clara,

Was wohl der Klimawandel im Jahr 2050 macht? und wer gerade in der Politik ist? Bei uns macht der Klimawandel gerade Vollgas und an der Macht ist Angela Merkel, seit 16 Jahren
What will climate change do in 2050? and who is in politics right now? Climate change is at full throttle here and Angela Merkel has been in power for 16 years.

A love letter to my son

I hope this year is a real turning point and by the time you’re a teenager, your life is powered almost entirely by clean energy like solar and wind.

Dear Sadie,

You are young and have a rich future ahead of you. I am retired and aiming for a high quality of cultural life and comfort with whatever time remains to me. I do not want to see a world whose elders sacrifice your future for their short-term needs and personal gain. So it’s up to you and me to speak out.

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