Dear British Government,
I am writing to express my concern about the climate and how it is changing. Since I am not old enough to vote, I feel that it is necessary that I remind you that you alone hold our fate and our future children’s fate in your very hands and that this fate seems like a destructive one. This leaves us youths in the position of asking the important question:
Are you willing to do anything about it?
I had a dream that I could be a hero and save the world but as time has gone forward I have seen that it is not possible. This is because the hero always works alone and as we have experienced, I am not alone; over 1.5 million people joined the campaign against global warming, which clearly shows that the whole world is keen to take action and become the hero to save this planet.
The earth is called mother for a reason. All the damage we have created is enough for the earth to hate us, but she still gives us the food and water we need. The evidence of this damage is as strong as brick: more than 2,000 scientists contributing to the IPCC have made it clear that cuts of at least 50 per cent to 70 per cent in global greenhouse gas emissions are necessary to allow our climate to re-stabilise. Therefore, the government should be making every effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions – now. If you take a step back and look at the damage already created, you would think there is nothing to stop it.
But there is. We already have the options, so why don’t you start using them?
If later in life, the increase of global warming carries on, I can look back on these days and I will remember why and who looked the sixth mass extinction in the eyes and denied it was happening. I will remember that the generation before me were too involved in ‘important issues’ such as Brexit to care about what was really going on. In Van Gogh’s words, ‘Conscience is a man’s compass,’ and if you, the government, has a conscience, you will lead us in the right path of change and action. Please give us hope.
Yours sincerely,
Luca Chantler, 15