Four positive moments for sustainability

A lot of extreme weather.

No sign of the US rejoining the Paris Climate Agreement.

The uncertainty around Brexit. 

2018 probably won’t be remembered as a landmark year for sustainability. But it wasn’t all bad.

So to restore faith in humanity (and for a bit of post-festive cheer) here’s a look back at some of the more positive moments for sustainability.
 

1. Sir David Attenborough urges the world to act on climate change

Just over a year since Blue Planet helped make ocean plastic a headline issue, Sir David Attenborough, one of the world’s most recognised voices on the natural world, made an impassioned speech at the UN Climate Summit, urging leaders to act to protect humanity from disaster.

Getting so many nations (each with different agendas) to agree to a common framework is never going to be easy. And like me, you may find all this more than a bit depressing.

But on a more positive note, the appearance of public figures at these high-profile political events does remind us just how much the narrative has changed. 

What was ‘tomorrow’s problem’ is now widely seen as a ‘global emergency’ in which governments, businesses and individuals all have a role. 

Let’s hope it translates into action on the ground.

2. Nepal becomes the first nation to almost double its wild tiger population

According to the Nepalese government, there are now 235 wild tigers in Nepal, an increase of more than 90% since 2009. A small but significant victory for conservations working to save these beautiful animals from extinction.

3. Colombia approves the world’s largest rainforest conservation zone

Colombia has announced the expansion of the Serrania del Chiribiquete, now the world’s largest tropical rainforest national park; home to almost 3,000 animal and plant species.

4. Iceland’s Christmas Orangutang Advert

Having seen first hand the devastating impact of palm oil on a trip to Malaysia in 2013, I have always been troubled by the never-ending drive to reduce pristine rainforest to dust in the name of cheap snacks and silky-smooth shampoo.

So I can’t help feeling Iceland deserve some credit for breaking the silence with their brilliantly executed Christmas advert, which uses clever story-telling and animation to raise difficult questions for businesses and consumers.

The company has also made (at least a start) in demonstrating that the problem is entirely avoidable, pledging to remove palm oil from its own brand products by the end of 2018.

Unfortunately, some focused more on why the advert was banned, whether it had some hidden political agenda, and who actually created the original footage, rather than the more positive news that a major UK retailer had taken steps to reduce the impact of its products.

While the move away from palm oil sounds simple in principle, the reality is far more complex, involving global supply chains with multiple stakeholders.

Add to that a climate of significant uncertainty and it is no wonder Borneo’s orangutans aren’t ‘top of the tree’ for many businesses. Sorry, I’m a writer – couldn’t resist! 🙂

Wishing you all a Happy New Year!

Ben

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All views are my own.