Dear my babies,

Right now, your Mumma is 16 years old and is worried about the future. She is worried about the pending election between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, and that the results of it may send our society flying backwards in many aspects. One of these aspects, is climate change.

I live on the Great Barrier Reef, a huge coral reef full of life that is dying very quickly due to boating in the region, mining, mass fishing and the release of carbon dioxide emissions. I also live near the sea, and am faced with the challenge that some time as early as the next 20 years, my hometown may be flooded by rising sea levels.

I just came back from visiting New York City, where it snowed in April and is now facing an extremely hot Summer – hotter than Australia. In my state of Queensland, there have been two devastating floods – the largest ever seen in the area – in the past 5 years. This is because of global warming, and the devastating and extreme weather patterns that are following it.

The Earth is warming, and my biggest worry is that you and your children will not get to experience the world the way that I have as a child – free of the burden of extremely polluted air, trying to find clean water, constant flooding, the extinction of animals that were once in abundance.

We are already beginning to see these consequences in poorer parts of the world. Yet, rich companies and many world leaders are refusing to accept climate change, let alone do anything about it.

I want you to know that some people are trying. We are not entirely abandoning you. There are many good people who are fighting for your future, right now. I have solar energy grids installed on my roof, I ride my bike and will not own a car – public transportation works just fine and is a more effective use of energy, anyway. I will go above and beyond in my every day life to ensure that your future is secured. I am currently studying very hard with the goal of majoring in International Relations and maybe one day making it to the United Nations in New York. This occupation will put me in a position to fight for you. To make change for things such as war and indeed, climate change.

Please do not abandon hope – humans have an extraordinary talent of going above and beyond when in times of crisis. I hope that I am not wrong and above all, I hope that I am living proof of having achieved all of the above.

Your Mumma loves you so much already. And she is fighting for you – her pretty little rings are going to make scars.