A love letter to our planet: to be opened in 2050

For Valentine's Day this year, I had a go at writing my own love letter to our planet, fancied doing something a bit different.

To our beautiful planet, the year is 2023, it’s the year of fracture, and I am sorry we didn’t drop everything to help you. 💌

I hope, that we didn't shrug off the science, but reimagined our future, became resilient movers and shakers, and took action. 🌍

I hope, the polar bears, penguins and arctic foxes still have somewhere to call home. ❄

I hope, that the coral triangle is blooming. 🪸

I hope, our economic system is no-longer fixated on greed and competition, where our planet is treated as a mere commodity, but we are moving together and cooperating. 🛞

I hope, that we were resilient and adapted to the climate emergency before it destroyed us. 🌡

I hope, that our leaders woke up and their escapist, calculating and complacent mindset was disrupted. 😶‍🌫

I hope, that 70% of young people no longer are scared to confront their future. 🫥

I hope, that we can still bathe in the forests listening to the birdsong and observing the dappling of light on the leaves. 🌳

I hope, we can still swim freely in the sea alongside marine life without microplastics latching on to us. 🌊

I hope, that if I ever have children that they will be able to witness your majesty. 💫

I hope, that extreme weather events, drought and famine didn’t force us to flee our homes. 🏚

I hope, that we woke up to the fact that climate change impacts everyone, but not equally. 👐

Hopefully, it wasn't too late for us to act and unite behind the science. 💚

By Ellie Meredith, 18