Salutations, 2019,
It is acknowledged that recent years have presented significant adversities. An onslaught of extreme heat events has characterized this period, with global efforts to mitigate the dire consequences of climate change proceeding at a glacial pace.
Despite a comprehensive understanding of climate change and the impact of greenhouse gases persisting for over a century, the actual reduction of carbon emissions has, at best, been largely symbolic.
You now stand at a critical juncture; sustained “business as usual” for another few years would inevitably lead to substantial losses of biodiversity, habitable regions, and indeed, human lives.
The profound toll that prevailing temperatures are inflicting upon the planet is already evident.
However, the Earth is more cohesive than you might presently perceive. A substantial majority of the global population recognizes the reality of climate change, and a considerable number are apprehensive about its future ramifications for you.
All optimism has not been extinguished.
The present circumstances are the culmination of years of escalating pressures, positioning you on the verge of a transformative shift.
Following a particularly alarming report from the IPCC and continuous worldwide demonstrations, global leaders finally conceded that the prevailing reliance on fossil fuel combustion was unsustainable.
The preservation of our modest azure sphere, and all its inhabitants, was contingent upon this realization.
As transformative changes commenced in Europe and subsequently disseminated outwards, the adoption of renewable energy sources accelerated with increasing efficacy.
While the initial technological implementations were not flawless, sustained investment and dedicated research facilitated continuous improvement. Ultimately, our planet’s energy demands were met through a synergistic integration of wind, solar, hydroelectric, and select nuclear installations.
Through this concerted push, humanity succeeded in confining the global temperature increase to just under 2 degrees Celsius, albeit by a narrow margin.
The Paris Agreement, once widely perceived as an unlikely endeavor, ultimately materialized into a tangible success.
The final coal-fired power station ceased operations in 2068—it now stands as a historical artifact, akin to the steam engine or the traditional telephone booth.
Our vehicular transportation is now propelled by hydrogen fuel, and the atmospheric quality across the globe is the purest it has been since the era of the industrial revolution.
Nevertheless, even with a temperature rise limited to two degrees, a considerable array of challenges remained. Entire island nations succumbed to rising sea levels, and a significant influx of climate refugees emerged. Species faced extinction at an unprecedented rate, and a substantial portion of the Great Barrier Reef was irrevocably damaged.
However, without the decisive and swift interventions implemented during the 2020s, the predicament would have been immeasurably more dire.
Your descendants owe you a profound debt of gratitude for those crucial actions.
Now, in the year 2089, new challenges and struggles persist. Even future generations are not devoid of imperfections. Yet, our recollection of how you navigated the climate crisis serves as an exemplary benchmark and inspiration.
You possess the capacity to achieve this. We are all steadfastly in your corner.
Sincerely,
2089
This feature is a component of ScienceAlert’s dedicated climate edition, published in solidarity with the worldwide #ClimateStrike scheduled for September 20, 2019.
