I hope that things have cooled down. I hope that people and governments have come together to save our earth. I hope that everyone is able to breath clean air, drink clean water and see the beauty in nature that I do. I promise to do my best to take part in repairing the damage we’ve done so that my hopes may come true.

Past generations took all the trees, polluted all the water, fished all the fish, and hunted all the animals so that there’s almost nothing nice left.

I hope, as your father, I’ve done enough to instill within you how science is a wonderful adventure.

Maya, my love, I promise to be courageous. I promise that when I face a decision, I will think of how it will impact you and your future. I promise that I’ll also step outside my individual decisions and add my weight to the forces that shift culture and systems.

I now feel less overwhelmed and powerless, and I am determined to fight for our planet and your future.

Right now you are only a little over 5 weeks old, but you have truly changed my whole world. Your Mom and I always say that we thought we loved before you were born, but now that you have come into the world and we met you, our ability to love just expanded exponentially.

I am often faced with the question: why do I care so much about this pale blue dot that we inhabit?

Remember how passionate you felt at 20, I hope you keep that passion in you and are still working on climate 30 years from now.

I see a world full of hope fueled by the desire for change.