Ultimately, Maathai’s message invites a choice about legacy. Either we continue on a path where prosperity is built on hidden ecological debt, or we deliberately design economies that live within planetary boundaries. By integrating long-term environmental impacts into everyday decisions—from urban planning to personal consumption—we begin to align the interests of the living with those yet unborn. In doing so, the generation that holds power today can transform from a force of destruction into a guardian of possibility, ensuring that children and grandchildren inherit not a crisis, but a livable and vibrant Earth. [...]
