Growing Up with a Love for Nature

 

I was born and raised in the city of Chicago by two full-time working parents in a beautiful 1900s bungalow in the historic neighborhood of Ravenswood Manor. I grew up less than 100 meters from the Chicago River.

We had a green canoe in the garage, and my dad taught me how to portage it on my shoulders, walk it down to the riverbank, and paddle up and down the river.

My dad was what I called “a water scientist.” He studied water quality, collected samples, and labeled them in little jars. In 2001, he started his own environmental consulting business called Baetis Environmental Services, Inc., and I became his lifetime intern. He even made us matching Wrangler button-up shirts embroidered with his company logo.

From Childhood to Motherhood: A Shift in Perspective

 

Fast forward to 2019, when my son was born, and everything changed. My focus shifted entirely to him and ensuring he had the best upbringing possible. In 2022, my firecracker daughter was born. By 2024, my husband and I became first-time homeowners in the south of France. And now, in 2025, I find myself asking, What can I do, as a mother of two young children, who runs a household and my own marketing operations consulting business? How can I make a difference?

The Climate Reality Project: A Wake-Up Call

 

These questions led me to the Climate Reality Project Training Conference, held in Paris at the Louvre Museum. I sat in a room with 800 people, listening to former US Vice President Al Gore deliver a two-and-a-half-hour keynote about today’s climate crisis. The urgency was undeniable, and the solutions were clear — yet they required action from each of us.

One moment that stuck with me happened the day before I left for the conference. At home in Toulouse, my children and I were going through our usual routine after school pick up. My three-year-old daughter protested that she couldn’t wash her hands on her own because she wasn’t tall enough to reach the light switch. I asked my son to leave the light on for her, but he confidently slapped it off and said (in French), “No, Mama, it’s not good for the planet!”

And there it was. Climate consciousness in action, learned at such a young age.

This small moment reinforced what I was about to learn at the conference: change starts at home, with small actions that add up over time.

Key Takeaways from the Conference

 

The conference reinforced some hard truths but also offered hope. Here are some of the most impactful messages:

• We need to rapidly phase out fossil fuels. We cannot delay this any longer. Over half of the greenhouse gas emissions are from our reliance on fossil fuels.
• Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. How can I limit the amount of waste in my home? Buying in bulk and shopping at stores that promote no-packaging solutions can make a difference.
• Educating children early leads to lifetime cultural change. My son’s small action is proof that change starts young.
• The future of sustainable growth is through education. If we want real, lasting change, we must invest in teaching the next generation.

“You should not let the old guys steal your future. It’s you (the youth) who have the right to a bright future.” — John Schellnhuber, German physicist and climatologist

• Consume less plastic. Eat local and seasonal. It’s about starting at the source.
• Speak up, use your voice. Every individual action matters, and collective action is even stronger.
• Community is key. Change happens at the grassroots level, not just in politics.
• Get uncomfortable. Stepping outside our comfort zones can lead to transformative changes.

Actions I Plan to Take

 

Inspired by the conference, I want to turn these lessons into action:

• Move to solar panels. Did you know that we can gather enough solar power in a day to power the entire world for a year?
• Reduce plastic use. Being mindful of packaging and opting for sustainable alternatives.
• Transition to an electric vehicle. Our gasoline-powered station wagon is still functional, but when it’s time for a change, we’ll go fully electric.
• Say no to fast fashion. Supporting ethical brands and second-hand clothing options.

Words That Stuck With Me

 

Throughout the conference, these quotes resonated deeply:

“Don’t look at the climate leaders. There is already one in your seat. It doesn’t matter what leaders do; it matters what you do.” — Agata Meysner, President & Co-Founder, Generation Climate Europe

“We need a change in consumerism, a change in thinking, a change in societal expectations.” — Al Gore, Former US Vice President, Founder & Chairman of Climate Reality Project

“There is enough on this planet for what people need. So rethink what you want vs. what you need.” — Levke Ceasar, climate scientist specializing in Earth system dynamics and planetary boundaries science, Potsdam Institute of Climate Impact Research

“The climate grassroots movement is becoming the largest global political movement in the history of the world.” — Al Gore

“Each generation undoubtedly believes that it’s destiny is to remake the world. Yet mine knows that it will not. But my task is perhaps greater. It’s to prevent the world from falling apart.” — Albert Camus, speech at the Nobel Banquet at the City Hall in Stockholm, December 10, 1967

“Change takes time. We don’t know what will tip the bucket. Real change always faces opposition.” — Clover Hogan, Climate activist & Founder, Force of Nature

“Use your voice, use your vote, use your choices like your world depends on it. Because it does.” — Al Gore

Tools to Help You Take Action

 

If you’re wondering where to start, these resources can help:

• ClimateTrace.org — Find greenhouse gas emission hotspots in your area.
• Ademe.fr — Calculate your carbon footprint.
• The Week — A deep dive into climate solutions.
• Banking on Climate Chaos — Find out if your bank is investing in fossil fuels.
• Change-de-Banque.org — Switch to an environmentally responsible bank.

Final Thoughts

 

I may not have a background in sustainability, but this conference has shown me that it doesn’t matter. What matters is what I choose to do next. We are all part of this movement, whether we consider ourselves environmentalists or not. As my five-year-old son reminded me, small actions add up. And as Clover Hogan said, “Real change always faces opposition.” But that doesn’t mean we stop trying.

The time for action is now. Let’s be the change.

Former Enablon colleagues who reunited at the Climate Reality Training in Paris, March 2025.