2 minute read
When we talk about sustainability, we usually mean the protection of plant and animal species, recycling, reducing carbon dioxide emissions, and other issues related to nature. However, sustainability does not only cover the area of environmental protection. According to this year’s speaker at the Future Tense business conference, Daria Krivonos, “we cannot disconnect sustainability from the financial and behavioral point of view.” This means that any change in nature can cause substantial consequences for the economy and society, and vice versa.
Reducing food waste and educating girls are top solutions for climate change
Perfect examples of the connection between society, economy, and nature in achieving sustainability are the reduction of food waste and the girls’ education in developing countries, which Daria Krivonos pointed out as leading solutions in the fight against climate change. “Whenever you and I throw away an apple, it is a snowball of CO₂. The apple has been produced, harvested, transported, sometimes manufactured, packaged, and transported again. I bought it, it has been in my fridge, and the moment I throw it into the bin, it is a CO₂ snowball. Every third product is wasted. If food waste was a country, we would be the third biggest polluter in the world.”
When it comes to girls’ education, she pointed out that “if we educate the girls and keep them safe, they are going to know more about personal hygiene, childcare, and financial stability, which means they will have fewer children and in the end, we will produce less CO₂. It is a very unpopular point, but it does not change the fact that it completely surpasses any solar, wind, or any other technology that we have today.” This refers to the fact that girls’ education in developing countries is essential for the improvement of local communities, countries, and the entire world.
What is the future of sustainability?
“Limiting global warming to 1.5˚C will require a rapid change, more far-reaching and unprecedented changes in all aspects of society.” More precisely, “we are going beyond sustainability” according to Daria Krivonos. “This is about being sustainable across different parts of sustainability – from society to culture. It is not just about the climate anymore.”
In the words of a futurist, founder of Kjaer Global agency and a keynote speaker at the Future Tense 2022, Anne Lise Kjaer, „the principles are simple; once we balance people and planet with a purposeful ethos to match, we are feeding into our environment rather just feeding off it – which is key to sustainable performance and good governance of our common future(s).“
Join us at Future Tense 2023 and discover new sustainable models and practices.
