Sustainability challenges

Lynette McFadden Business Owner & Mentor, Harcourts gold @lynette_mcfadden

Our world is changing; our climate is changing, and slowly but surely, it looks like our attitudes are changing as we all come to grips with the need to think and act in a more sustainable way.

Sustainability takes many different guises. There are the massive trends being considered by the world’s leaders regarding climate strategies, renewable energy, practicalities and ethics around sustainable travel, the requirement for the world’s wealthier nations to look after others, and so much more. And there’s a quiet revolution that’s also happening at a grassroots level, where decisions are made by everyday people on how to give back, use less, and think harder about how to use the resources that are available.

That’s where I find myself quietly doing what I can to contribute to a world that has something more to offer the generations that follow. I’m told that if everyone does something, it makes a difference, but it’s the starting that makes the biggest difference of all. For me, it started with the thought of what I would say to my grandchildren (should I ever be fortunate enough to have them) when they ask me what I did to make the world a better, more environmentally conscious place for them. Was I not worried about the climate changes and momentous events that were happening year after year? Was it not obvious something had to be done?

Just think on that. Would you say: “Well, I drove about in a V8 car (which I’ve done!), consumed as much as I could, never gave a thought to recycling or reimagining anything, I just enjoyed my moment on this earth and thought nothing more of it.” www.blum.com/merivobox

When I’ve shared this little theory with others, they’ve mostly responded with a laugh at best or outright derision at worse, but it hasn’t shifted my intention.

So, I’ve taken some early sustainability steps, and they are mostly small. I’ve gone full electric with my motor vehicle in a family that still has a selection of petrol and diesel cars, and, yes, I know, there’s debate around the viability of battery packs and how helpful – or not – they are for the environment. I’ve become a pescatarian and given up meat, and I’ve also adopted numerous small steps around reducing waste and eating mostly organic and ethically produced food.

As a businessperson, I’m also working towards generating a smaller carbon footprint and reducing waste. One look at the cars in our car park, or our recycling bins, would identify it as an uphill battle, but we’re trying.

If we tried a little more, there’s the chance for us to all flourish, to live well, to lead healthier and hopefully happier lives, and for our beautiful planet to recover some of its special grace. I think that makes even the smallest of changes worth thinking about.

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