FACES – They Belong To All Of Us

There are 6.67 billion humans on planet earth; and 2.2 are between the ages of 0 an 18 years! These figures came up in a recent conversation with colleagues on climate change and sustainability. I was intrigued: What does or what will this mean? Thinking, as opposed to feeling, about these numbers, my reflection was eerily intellectual. I found myself trying to remember the formula on how to arrive at a percentage, and wondering how many of the 2.2 lived in the USA. As the conversation continued, my eyes wandered to a photo of my grandchildren on my desk. There they were, from 3 months to 10 years old, all smiles, except for Riley, who with a pretty pink bow in her hair sat crying. It was at that moment that the numbers and the conversation became clear and took on a level of urgency that I wasn’t connecting with. The most important people in my life are part of those 2.2 billion faces, and they, along with all the other faces, will not be excused from the consequences of climate change.

My reflection shifted from my head to my heart, as the faces of Lexie, Jaxson, Luke, Henry, Riley, Hopper and Owen came into my heart and head, and the number 2.2 billion was no longer an abstraction. By seeing the faces of “my” kids in the portrait of the 2.2 billion faces, I felt how intimately connected we are to all the faces in the world. At this moment, before my grandchildren can even comprehend the meaning of the words, millions of children are experiencing the devastating and life-changing affects of climate change.

I’m old: hopefully I have another 20 to 30 years of life. Not a lot of years when you think about it. In contrast, our children and grandchildren have, if life treats them kindly, 70 to 90 years of living to navigate. What will they experience and what will be the quality of their life? Gordon Brown, prime minister of Great Britain, at a recent conference shared a glimpse of their future:

“According to estimates from the intergovernmental panel on climate change, an extra 1.8bn people – a quarter of the world’s population – could be short of water by 2080 as a result of climate change.

And the threat was not confined to people in the developing world, Brown said.

“The extraordinary summer heat wave of 2003 in Europe resulted in over 35,000 extra deaths. On current trends, such an event could become quite routine in Britain in just a few decades’ time.”

“And within the lifetime of our children and grandchildren the intense temperatures of 2003 could become the average temperature experienced throughout much of Europe. In Britain we face the prospect of more frequent droughts and a rising wave of floods.”

I’ve heard the views of those who believe that climate change is not real, or the minimzers who say that the consequences won’t be as severe as predicted, or that it is just a natural evolution of the earth. I’ve also watched and listened to the legions of the self-interested, who claim that the actions needed to reduce the causes of climate change will hurt their businesses financially. Can they not see or allow themselves to see, the faces of their children and grandchildren when they advocate for dollars over their children’s well-being? Maybe they think wealth will protect and excuse them from the consequences.

I’ve heard the majority of world leaders and scientists who say that Gordon Brown’s vision is not a probability, but a reality. And the only questions are how soon and to what extent will the consequences of climate change impact our lives and the planet.

Growing up, I was advised that parenting was the most important and responsible vocation I could ever aspire to. And as a parent, I’m well aware of the sacrifices required to nurture and educate children. I believe most parents agree that the health, safety and well-being of their children is their most important adult responsibility.

For a moment, envision that your child has been ill, and after a series of diagnostic tests a highly respected doctor from a well known children’s medical facility informs you that your child has a rare and progressive life threatening disease. She indicates that the treatment recommended for this disease has been effective, but not in all cases, and with the treatment your child has a better than 65% chance of recovery. Any delays in treatment will reduce its effectiveness and risk a full recovery. After researching the Internet, you find that the preponderance of information supports your physician’s diagnosis. However, you do find a minority of physicians who disagree and recommend withholding treatment until additional symptoms emerge. What decision would you make? I would proceed with the treatment.

In essence, the threat of climate change and its effects are very similar to the terminal disease dilemma. We can choose to risk our children’s health and well-being on the basis of minority views or choose to be courageous, and honor our primal parental responsibility and fight for their right to live on a planet that is healing and moving towards a sustainable future.

In every parent’s heart there is space for enormous love and fear - emotions that can move mountains when our children are threatened. Let’s call upon the power of our love and fear to confront the challenge of climate change, which threatens our children and grandchildren’s future.

Our children and grandchildren hold the keys to creating and perfecting a healthier and sustainable life for their children and our planet. Don’t risk denying them and our planet of their unique presence, contributions and stewardship of our world.

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