A letter to future generations
– Steve Lee
Dear Future Canada,
If you are reading this letter, my generation has succeeded in solving climate change.
You see, back in 2017, the human race was on the verge of existential crisis. From our ignorant yet arrogant perspective, the sky seemed like an endless space into which we could dump our garbage without limit. So, we burned fossil fuels at irresponsible rates, which increased the global temperature.
By the dawn of 21st century, the energy trapped by man-made global warming pollution was equivalent to exploding 400,000 Hiroshima atomic bombs per day 365 days per year. Every year was hotter than the year before. The sudden increase in temperature caused people to die from heat waves.
The frequency and severity of extreme weather events increased every year. Families, cultures, and livelihoods were wiped away by violent storms. Entire people groups and cultures were disappearing due to chronic droughts. We cut our forests down, expanded our oil rigs, and fracked our water sources.
We have killed more than half of the animals on our planet in 40 years. Sea levels rose to engulf island nations and forced people to leave the lands of their ancestors. Almost 90% of our ocean was polluted by plastic debris. Air and water pollution turned cities uninhabitable. Roads and train rails were breaking down. Deserts were expanding the size of Ireland every year.
Rising global economic inequality and food insecurity brought political instability. Regional wars, insurgent groups, and extremist militias wreaked havoc. Political leaders worldwide questioned whether climate change is a hoax, blamed other countries, and delayed action until my generation became the final generation who could solve climate change.
If you are reading this letter, humanity has bent the moral arc of history towards justice.
We must have had the courage to move away from fossil fuels and embraced renewable technology to energize our world. We must have set aside our short-term differences and fulfilled our shared long-term responsibilities. We must have reduced global inequality and designed a financial system that works for people, planet, and prosperity. We must have created a more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable future.
If you are reading this letter, all the sacrifice made by thousands of brave women, men and children, who have invested their life towards fighting climate change, were all worth it.
I really do hope you are reading this letter.
With great hope,
Steve
