Dear child,

Hello I am writing this letter in the year 2016 and there are already many issues regarding the environment and sustainability, so I can only imagine the problems we will be facing in 2050. I imagine that companies such as Pepsi will have further monopolized the water industry by buying land with springs; this is already happening so I can only imagine that it will be worse in the future. Population and drought will have probably increased so water quantity and quality will likely decrease.

I believe the problem of climate change will become an increasing problem in the future. Droughts in some areas of the country and extreme rainfall/ flooding in other areas have made life difficult for people and many livelihoods. For example, droughts in California have it challenging for crop production. I think about the challenges associated with climate change often because it will not only affect my life but also the lives of future generation. Bringing water to dry areas has proven difficult because many bodies of water are drying up, this makes the already limited supply of freshwater smaller. Flooding will also be a big problem because there is too much water at once and nothing to do with it, destroying land, homes and cars.

Although I could do more to combat the issue of sustainability, I try to make small changes in my everyday so climate change does not become worse. I eat vegetarian, recycle, limit my water usage, and try to limit how many new clothes I buy. By eating vegetarian the amount of greenhouse gasses, water/ land use and diet gap is reduced. Recycling prevents plastics, glass, and paper from ending up in landfills and oceans- affecting the soil, human and animal health. I always take short showers and am mindful of much energy I use because both of these are nonrenewable resources and needed for everyday life.

Climate change is hard to combat because of the uncertainty of the issue, we do not truly know when we have passed a planetary boundary until it has been passed. It is also challenging to combat climate change because many conservative members of congress do not believe in climate change.

Although these challenges associated with combating climate change are a set back, these barriers can be overcome through more lobbying of congress members and educating people about sustainability.

Before my child reads this letter I plan to continue to try and live sustainably and use more sustainable forms of energy. For example, I would like to try to use solar power.

We can all do better by using renewable resources and trying to reduce our impact on the earth by eating less meat. We only have one earth so people should treat it with respect and reduce our impact before it is too late.

All my love.