I was asked by LinkedIn to share an article or video on what sparked my interest in sustainability and how individuals can contribute: #GreenerTogether #LinkedInNewsIndia.
So, here it is; this is why sustainability sparked my interest and how I think individuals can contribute to the agenda.
Quality of life is rapidly deteriorating, with declining availability of good air quality, nutrition, and other essentials. While many accumulate luxurious possessions and enjoy extravagant experiences, the majority of the planet suffers from a lack of basic needs. Our health is at increased risk, and as we become aware of the implications of global warming, climate change, and pollution, we realize that our very existence is also at stake. Animals, who cannot advocate for themselves, silently endure the consequences of our excesses, perishing in forest fires, oil spills, and warming oceans. This reflects an alarming trend of increasing selfishness and insensitivity in society. Pair this with the rise of extreme climate events and chronic and zoonotic diseases, alongside reduced biodiversity inside and outside the human body, which is essential for survival, and we are faced with an ecosystem in crisis. There is an increasing number of fatalities because of these crises each year. This trajectory cannot continue; escalating selfishness threatens our ability to live peacefully, as evidenced by high crime rates, intense competition, stressful workplaces, rampant opportunism and corruption.
What we are witnessing is a result of unbridled capitalism, which has driven us toward a culture of one-upmanship and conflict among individuals, groups, and nations. To counter this downward spiral, we must develop a post-capitalist, environmentally friendly, and people-centric economic model. Those in power, who benefit from maintaining the status quo, are unlikely to propose genuine solutions. Therefore, it is up to individuals and groups to unite and propose well-developed ideas at both micro and macro levels to address this unsustainable way of life. This will require creative thinking, problem-solving, and building awareness on a large scale. We need to mobilize a critical mass and ensure that people with the right value-set aligned to sustainability occupy decision-making positions to drive meaningful change.
While we acknowledge that a genuine solution to the sustainability crisis remains elusive, many piecemeal ideas exist—both expressed and unexpressed. These include legislation (like banning single-use plastics, limiting oil drilling, preventing deforestation, and enhancing effluent treatment), educational initiatives, (such as free environmental and sustainability courses and student eco-projects), alongside concepts around the circular economy (like recycling and rainwater harvesting). However, many initiatives remain ineffectual, often undermined by insincere implementation, leading to accusations of greenwashing. What we need are earnest platforms to enable these initiatives and identify actionable incisive ideas and ingenious individuals to develop meaningful solutions for local and global deployment.
Governments will not act unless it serves their interests, so citizens in democracies must demand more from their leaders. Those businesses and governments that harm the planet will continue to spread misinformation for their benefit; conscientious individuals must counter these narratives. Addressing these challenges requires collective action; otherwise, there is little chance of any meaningful confrontation with
the powerful, who wield more money, resources, and control. We should also recognize the potential for individuals to expose transgressions by businesses and governments, inspiring others to earnestly pursue sustainability.
I have several ideas that can contribute to the solution, but I have yet to find a defined channel for gaining serious stakeholder attention. I can envision countless others with brilliant, workable ideas facing similar obstacles in expressing them and gaining traction. To address this, in addition to platforms for discussing solutions, we must ensure green financing is more accessible at the grassroots level. This includes increasing funding options for impactful and scalable initiatives while protecting our green entrepreneurs, encouraging them to share their ideas and fully commit to their implementation.
I firmly believe that the problem is surmountable, even with the urgent timelines. However, we need substantial backing from committed groups, along with the necessary resources to maintain independent control over these initiatives and prevent them from becoming lost in bureaucratic processes associated with crony capitalism.
Individual and collective activism is central to addressing the sustainability challenge. Unless changes are adopted by the majority of the global population to counteract harmful practices, we will struggle to find solutions. Every individual and initiative therefore matters, and we must treat them as such. So while we work to encourage participation through education, and enablement, the key questions we have to get everyone asking themselves are: Am I aware enough? Am I on the right side of this? Am I doing what is needed? And can I do more? So, as a reader of this, why don't you give it a go?
#capitalism #sustainability #climatechange #biodiversity #climate #globalwarming #greenwashing
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