Dear Future Generations,

Whether you are my children, my grandchildren, or just anyone that is living in the world my generation has left for you, I have mixed feelings for your future. I am caught between being pessimistic about our current population’s disregard for our planet and being optimistic of the scientists working hard to find solutions and alternatives to our bad habits.

Right now, our culture consumes without thinking about our impact on the planet. Some people even deny that the changing of our climate has nothing to do with our impact and some just don’t care because it won’t affect them, but it will affect you and other generations to come. Our culture is filled with disposable coffee cups and take out containers, fast fashion, and meat consumption. All of which have a huge impact on the planet and all of which are very central to a lot of people’s lives.

But despite all the negative impacts, sustainable projects are on the rise. People have invented electric cars to reduce carbon footprints. Ecological conservation has become a huge effort to restore lost habitats and deforestation. Gender equality is being achieved in more and more countries. The United Nations have put together a list of 17 sustainable development goals to achieve by 2030 that are very ambitious and are becoming more well known. The Food and Agriculture Organization has supported the sustainable development goals and is looking to achieve them in that industry as well.

I’m hoping that by the time you are alive the earth has become a more sustainable place and the impacts on the environment have reduced significantly. There are two paths that our world can go down one that leads to a decaying planet and one that leads to a restored planet. Despite our current political leaders, I am hoping that our population advocates for restoration and a sustainable future for the generations after us.