I realize my reflection of the past, current and future state of the environment paints a grim and pessimistic picture, but I feel optimistic in our ability to turn planet Earth’s fate around if we all work together and commit to making a change.

Sent on
February 6, 2018
by
Melissa Chavis
Send Your Own Message

To My Friends, Family and Future Grandchildren,

I write you this letter out of concern for the sustainability of planet Earth and the ability to sustain future populations for many generations to come. Over the past decades we have witnessed many undesirable environmental consequences to human activity. The population has increased by one billion since 2007. Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and water, air and soil pollution are at an all-time high. I often ponder what unforeseen problems past and current generations are leaving behind that will emerge and burden our future ancestors. The time to act has been long past due but I hold optimism in our ability to.

Oceans have shown a steadfast rise in water levels over the last century. In recent years we have witnessed the loss of millions of acreage in forests and the destruction and fragmentation of biodiversity rich habitats. We have seen atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide exceeded 400 ppm and ten of the highest recorded average annual temperatures in recorded history. Weather patterns have become more erratic and climate conditions have changed for many ecosystems. Many hectares of land have been lost to desertification and erosion and degraded shorelines are being lost to the oceans. The management of waste has become increasingly complicated and belts containing tons of trash have presented in the Pacific Ocean. Coral reefs have suffered bleaching and disease resulting in substantial loss in populations.  Global biodiversity of land and marine species are declining at a rapid rate, animal populations have migrated in non-historical patterns, invasive species have overwhelmed lands and ecological integrity has been modified at the hands of humankind in our need for space, products and services.

The future outlook is vexing at the current rate of population growth and environmental degradation.   If rapid changes do not occur I imagine a different world in 50 years that my children and grandchildren will be living in. Without change the future will be greeted with a deficient and non-salvageable place to call home.  Planet Earth could be void of most of it forests, usable land, clean water and biodiversity. The air could be toxic, the soil barren and the oceans could become warm and acidic carbon sinks filled with more trash than marine life. Global warming will affect hydrological systems and fluvial geomorphology. The hotter temperatures will cause larger evapotranspiration losses changing the amount, intensity, duration and timing of precipitation, which will affect and change river flows and groundwater recharge. This will force vegetation cover to respond to the changes in temperature and precipitation changes, and change land use. Increased atmospheric carbon levels may lead to changes in plant growth and physiology, which can lead to changes in transpiration. Higher atmospheric CO2 levels will change plant growth patterns and plant water contributing to transpiration and runoff. The warming temperatures affect soil properties further altering runoff generation processes. The hydrological system will undergo greater change in an effort to adapt to warmer climate in drought conditions for irrigation inhibiting affecting nature’s controls for flooding and erosion. The continued rise in temperature will alter frost free and growing seasons, precipitation patterns will change, more droughts and heatwaves will occur and hurricanes will grow stronger and more intense and the Arctic may become ice free. The declining cryosphere is vulnerable to being shifted into a warmer climate creating more liquid water and oceans will continue rising and rivers and lakes will expand.   The already stressed dry-lands are at ample risk of undergoing desertification. Hydrological changes and land loss will make agriculture and ranching highly complex to expand at the historic rate of population growth and food safety and security will be compromised.

Each concern is a problem in its own and a contributor to next problem that is instigating and escalating the degradation of the environment as a whole. The end consequences of an over exploited and overwhelmed planet leads to worldwide famine, disease outbreak and increased pollution related deaths and climate conditions that may impose a sixth mass extinction. The obstacles created from past activities are the push for future advances into creating a sustainable planet and stable economy. A global understanding of the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, preserve and conserve forests and biodiversity, reduce waste and clean up and prevent pollution is materializing. I realize my reflection of the past, current and future state of the environment paints a grim and pessimistic picture, but I feel optimistic in our ability to turn planet Earth’s fate around if we all work together and commit to making a change.

Sincerely,

Melissa Chavis

Share on:
 
Send Your Own Message

More Messages to the Future

 

A love letter to my son

I hope this year is a real turning point and by the time you’re a teenager, your life is powered almost entirely by clean energy like solar and wind.
 

Dear Tomorrow,

I promise to educate myself and others about how we can protect and nourish our 1 PLANET
 

To my dear son Zac,

I promise to raise you as a loving-nature human.
 

To my children – Chase, Maya and Harlan

I hope that we manage to change the system really soon, while there is still time. So that you are not left with the mess, and trying to fix something that you didn’t cause. I hope we figured out a way to be kind, and caring for others who will suffer more than us. A way to let go of the greed and look at ways we can help others rather than take from them.
 

Dear Students,

I imagine at this point we have dropped our addiction to coal, gas, and oil and that our environment has made a turn for the better with the solar, wind, and other unimagined (at this point) alternative energy choices are in place.
 

To My Daughter and Future Grandchildren,

There are so many more things that we can do together to help our Earth from the damage that has been done, and I am so excited to teach you.
 

Anya,

All you can do is your best. You can encourage the same in others. You can admit your mistakes and those of your ancestors. You can learn from them, and help however you can. I’ll do the same. I promise.
 

Dear Great Grandchildren,

If you are reading this, you probably inherited my fascination with ancestry, and the way it uncovers incredible stories of unlikely survival.
 

Dear Daughter,

I want you to be prepared for the world that the generations before you are creating for you. I love you Lucienne, and I will not give up. I will push you and teach you not to give up, either, even if others around you do.
 

To my dear son,

Last year most of the world’s reefs turned white at some point, but because it was underwater you and your friends didn’t see.
 

Queridas crianças do mundo inteiro,

Pedimos que vocês procurem fazer como nós e continuem essa luta de colaborar com nosso planeta: evitando o consumo exagerado, usando a tecnologia para o bem, plantando árvores, economizando água e poluindo menos.
 

Dear Tomorrow,

My climate promise is to use a refillable bottle, bring my own resusable spoon/form wherever I go, use clean personal care products (without chemicals).
View All Messages

Send Your Own Message