Should sustainability be a personal goal?

“The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it”. In his numerous speeches Robert Swan, the founder of 2041 - a company dedicated to  the protection of Antarctica warns of the dangers the Earth faces as said in the above famous quote.

In 1996–97, Swan organised a team for One Step Beyond, the South Pole Challenge. The mission was to remove and recycle 1,500 tons of waste that had been left at Bellingshausen station in Antarctica after decades of scientific research. The team worked for eight years to raise the money, plan, and execute the mission. The rubbish at the Russian base of Bellingshausen, King George Island, was cleared and the native penguins reclaimed their beach for the first time in 47 years.

Sustainability has gained significant attention in recent years, as concerns about climate change, resource depletion, and social inequality have grown. Making sure that the existing mentality of "someone else will do it" transforms to "what can I do" is crucial. Sustainability is that ability to maintain or improve a certain level of economic, social, and environmental well-being for present and future generations. Being borrowers from the future generations, the economic and social benefits of development should be shared equitably across society.

In 2015, the United Nations created 17 Sustainable Development Goals and aimed to achieve them by 2030 to end poverty, ensure prosperity, and protect the planet. The nations of the world are putting their best foot forward to achieve this – but it's still unclear if this has permeated every aspect of society. It doesn't hurt if it's not personal, they say. Therefore it is crucial that sustainability is taken across – and down – to all the stake holders and that includes every human being on this earth irrespective of caste, creed, and nationality.

Uncertainty for future generations

Experts worldwide predict uncertainty for children, youth and future generations, who are most vulnerable to the impacts of resource depletion. As per a UN report 2021, if the current trajectory is to be changed - the triple threat of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution and waste needs to be tackled.

Environmental hazards poses greater threats to children from poor, vulnerable and marginalized communities and to enable a sustainable future we must involve them in designing and implementing solutions. Sustainability education and adapting lifestyle changes to care for the planet is vital for the existence of future generations.

Best practices of consumption – be it utilising water, energy resources or utility services  contributes towards a sustainable future.

Sustainable development requires a long-term perspective, and it often involves balancing competing interests and priorities. It also requires collaboration and cooperation across different sectors and stakeholders, including government, business, civil society, and local communities. The goal of sustainability is to create a world that is more resilient, equitable, and prosperous for all.