In February, the U.S. Climate Action Network (USCAN) received a letter from Piper, a sixth grader in Colorado, who shared her essay underscoring the impacts of climate change. Here are some of her words:

Global warming is real and very impactful.

Global warming really can hurt and change us, the earth, and wildlife.

Think about all of the fields of crops that have trouble growing, or how our water supply is dwindling due to global warming. … Think about how much the sea levels are rising and about the people who live by the ocean and have to live and see that happening right before their eyes.

Lastly, think about the solutions.

Think about how animals will start thriving again and how humans will live in a safe healthy world. Think about how that could impact your life and make it change for the better.

Think about a better world.

Piper’s words arrive at a complicated moment for the climate movement. Across the country, environmental groups are being pushed into what can only be described as strategic retreat, with many pivoting away from federal advocacy to avoid becoming the target of a hostile audit.

38% of USCAN members report that they are currently modifying their organizational language, stripping away terms like “climate change,” “equity,” or “environmental justice.” Over a third of our network is now forced to invest in digital security, legal counsel, and audit avoidance — rather than the programmatic work that nourishes our communities.

At a time when it feels like we are in retreat, and when it could even make sense to give up, young people like Piper remind us that they aren’t about to give up on their future without a fight.

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