Rick Crawford
My New Year’s Resolution this year is to “Imagine a Sustainable Planet” because I believe you have to have a vision for the world you want to create. My vision includes: massive reforestation projects around the world to protect biodiversity and fight the climate crisis; keeping fossil fuels in the ground and moving to 100% renewable energy for all of our energy needs; cleaning up our rivers and oceans so that they are free of plastic pollution and that’s just scratching the surface. Why you might ask? Well, mostly for my daughter as we are reaching a critical time on the life of the planet, but also because I simply want to protect what I love.
One of my favorite quotes on sustainability and conservation is from author and angler, Tom McGuane:
“We have reached the time in the life of the planet, and humanity’s demand upon it, when every fisherman will have to be a river-keeper, a steward of marine shallows, a watchman on the high seas. We are beyond having to put back what we have taken out. We must put back more than we take out.”
Tom McGuane
McGuane couldn’t be more correct, especially when you consider some recent headlines, such as: “Temperatures leap 40 degrees above normal as the Arctic Ocean and Greenland ice sheet see record June melting” , “Ruptured Pipeline Spills Oil into Yellowstone River” and how “Warmer waters mess with the Northeast’s cod-given right to fish.” The bottom line is that with world population growing, we must act on climate, we must implement bans on items like single-use plastics, and unfortunately, increase environmental regulations because we will literally not be able to sustain ourselves without taking action and protecting nature.
That said, thinking about the world we will leave behind to our children is depressing, so I have decided to start a new blog series, called “Keep Chopping!” to highlight positive sustainability stories from around the world that shows the progress of the individuals, companies and countries who are making the world a better place.
Here’s some positive sustainability stories from around the world for the month of June:
- New York Passes its own Green New Deal with Aggressive Targets
- New Jersey just gave the Green Light to Build the Nation’s Largest Offshore Wind Farm
- Boston Announces City’s Zero-Waste Plan
- Vermont adopts the most comprehensive plastics ban in U.S.
- For First Time, Renewables Surpass Coal in U.S. Power Mix
- Businesses Would Gain $2.1 Trillion By Embracing Low-Carbon Tech
- This is a $15 trillion opportunity for farmers to fight climate change
- U.K. Pledge for Net Zero Fossil Fuel Pollution Is a First for G7
- Scientists in Iceland are turning carbon dioxide into rock
- Canada Bans Single-Use Plastics
Hopefully, these positive sustainability stories provides you with some motivation and inspiration for saving the planet! The world is ready for a sustainable planet and many companies and countries are moving away from plastic and fossil fuels, so please feel free to share the good news on social media and remember to Imagine a Sustainable Planet, Keep Chopping and Carry On!