Dear Maxine,

In the year 1990, we already knew our climate was changing due to humans, but at that time many scientists were shy about raising the alarm, outside of academic publications and conferences.  We were also naive in thinking that if we showed everyone our evidence of the human connection, and more importantly the projections for 2030, 2050 and 2100, we’d start to see real change. We were wrong. People didn’t pay much attention, in part because they didn’t want to. Change is hard.

Two decades later, change was beginning. Scientists started talking to the general public and some policy makers suggested reform in how we generate energy. The People’s Climate March in 2014 demonstrated to the world that climate change was becoming an issue for everyone who cares about people and our planet.  A movement had started, although there were many challenges ahead.

I met your Mom in 2007 – she was a star student in my climate change course. We shared an optimism for making a difference, for using education to improve the environment, and for joining science and business for the good of the planet. In 2016, we started Green Ninja (www.greenninja.org), an educational enterprise that aimed to use formal education to create climate change solutions.

It’s now 2017 and we’ve got an amazing team of scientists, educators, artists and designers who together share a common goal – to reduce the impacts of climate change. Every day I’m inspired by the passion of people to create real change. And every day, I’m also inspired by your Mom, who works two jobs so she can help ensure a sustainable world for you.

Maxine, please know that there are many people, including our team at Green Ninja and your Mom, who are working hard to ensure a safe and healthy planet for the future. I hope we are successful.