Is this the decade of mobilisation?

In recent months I’ve found myself regularly reflecting on the work I’ve been part of over the past 10 years. There have been so many positive changes that I have been proud to oversee, and I truly believe real tangible steps towards a more sustainable future have taken place. However, I keep coming back to the same question, are we doing enough?

With a new decade now upon us, its hard not to consider what changes our planet has experienced over the last 10 years. Populations have grown rapidly, cities that were mere villages have experienced exponential growth. Temperatures and CO2 levels have reached the highest points in human existence whilst in contrast, ice from the poles has been lost at alarming rate, along with forests, mangroves, ocean, land life and 27% of the coral reefs globally(1).

Alongside all of the negative stories though, there are so many positive ones. The huge uptake of renewable energy sources, the fall in global poverty, the rise in life expectancy, the increased awareness around mental health and of course the wave of environmental activism that has continued to increase, particularly in 2019. With so many people working relentlessly to raise awareness of our unsustainable lifestyles and to make a positive difference, it finally feels like we are entering what can only be described as the decade of mobilisation, where real progress will be made.

The challenges are greater than ever, and we cannot sugar coat the large amount of hard work, resources, funding and commitment required to tackle them. However, with more and more organisations understanding that business as usual is no longer an option, I believe meaningful action and not just empty words will be really seen.

The change must start now. I am excited to see our own company’s progress towards Net Positive carbon and water, the rapid increase in renewable energy purchasing, the consideration of desalination, introducing circular economy principles to our operations with single-use plastics taking centre stage.

We are mobilising our suppliers and striving to engage with our customers, offering experiences with sustainability embedded into all elements. By taking to the stage at global events, we will be able to discuss our learnings, spread awareness and encourage collaboration across industries and governments to drive real progress.

We have a lot to do, but it is possible together. So here’s to the decade of real change, inspiration, action and progress!

1. https://coast.noaa.gov/states/fast-facts/coral-reefs.html