Types of Sustainability Action

One of the main questions we all have to ask ourselves regarding sustainability is: If we all know what’s happening, why doesn’t anything ever change? Why have we known about the issues and science for decades, but yet it hasn’t resulted in real, societal action? There are a few reasons for this, but today we are going to do a brief dive into one idea.

Creating a sustainable, fair, healthy and happy planet is a pretty big undertaking and one that needs everyone to be on board. It requires collaboration, international partnerships, community and collective action towards the same vision. The goals are long-term and so require a sense of delayed gratification to see the best results. Future happiness, life for the next generation, a thriving planet? None of these things make the priority list when we are constantly fighting fires. A new crisis. Instability where there was once peace. New crimes, new threats. The constant need to respond to new and emerging issues at frequent intervals leaves no time for the kind of well planned and collaborative action we need, and leaves many of us feeling mentally drained from responding to different appeals and petitions all the time (a luxury of a problem considering many of us are not living on the front line of these issues). Therefore, here are my categories for sustainability action. Some you can get involved in, others are just helpful reminders…..

The Preventables

These are things that were not a problem before, but that have been added to the list. They use up energy, money and time that could be spent on solutions focussed work. Absolutely no need for them, no benefits and should be first to go so we can focus on the good stuff. These are my tips for things we could do without:

• Not starting a war. Or getting involved in one.
• Not starting unnecessary fires outside that you can’t control.
• Not creating new unnecessary industries or investing/supporting them ( e.g. cryptocurrencies, AI, space tourism). We have enough problems with energy usage without creating new and demanding industries just for fun.
• Disposable vapes
• Harming wildlife. No excuses.
• Litter. Just use a bin
• Building developments for the sake of profit, rather than enjoying the natural environment of the Earth.
• Not opening anymore fossil fuel mines. Anything remaining must now stay in the ground.

The improvements

These are the day-to-day, individual led changes that we all can get involved in. Changing daily habits won’t save everything, we need business and government to take responsibility, but these are things everyone should be doing to make their negative impact minimal and maximise life:

• Eat more plant-based, the right portions and use up food supplies
• Create a wildlife friendly garden and rewild your space
• Take public transport wherever possible
• Reduce flights
• Buy less, and buy quality
• Try to switch your energy supplier to a renewable one

The Big Ideas

These are the juicy ones. These are the changes that would propel us into a future to be excited for. Where we meet our sustainability goals, live happier and healthier lives, and may not be squashed by existential dread about planetary health. Just an idea.

• Second hand shopping, repairing and reusing being the norm. We already have an excess of products in existence that will satisfy us and future generations. Shopping could change from linear and profit-based to circular and community-based.
• Local, regenerative farming, working with rather than against nature. Delicious and nutritious food, grown local to consumers and in balance with nature.
• Thriving green spaces. Both wild, protected areas for biodiversity and beautiful, integrated urban spaces. Better air, cooling effects and wellbeing benefits, happening side by side with residents.
• Honest, truthful and effective political systems. We can but hope.
• Shift from individualism to collectivism. Replacement of capitalism with more circular and collaborative systems change. Going back to our roots, but with all the progress we have made now.
• Efficient use of renewable energy generation, making use of key solar hot spots and sharing this around the world.
• Environmental education embedded from a young age, so all children grow up understanding the natural system they are part of and becoming active, generous adults.

This is just a silly little list, but the point is still important. If we spend all our time, energy and carbon budget on fighting fires for things that don’t improve our lives and in many cases make it much, much worse, we won’t be able to make the progress we want or need. Say no to the preventables, make the improvements and advocate for the big ideas. There are quite a lot of us humans so collective thinking and action can make all the difference 🌍🌎🌏