Global Environment Initiatives
By Kelsey Holmes, Greenheart Club Program Assistant
“We envision a connected Greenheart community of global citizens taking action to create a more peaceful and sustainable future for all.” – Greenheart Club International Mission
Environmental consciousness, or being aware of environmental issues and acting in a way that benefits rather than harms the environment, is essential in creating and maintaining a sustainable future for our planet. Sustainability is one of the core components of the Greenheart mission. Over the past month, the Greenheart Club blog has highlighted various environmental issues and the importance of living sustainably.
Greenheart Ibiza has been working towards environmental sustainability since 1996 as an initiative of Greenheart International. The goal of this program is to raise awareness and promote environmental projects focusing on seven key aspects ranging from off the grid living to sustainable markets and ecological preservation.
All over the world, people are coming together to raise awareness and work towards more sustainable practices. In the United States, organizations such as The Wilderness Society, The Climate Reality Project, and the Environmental Protection Agency work to highlight various environmental issues and find creative solutions for ensuring a sustainable future.
Check out this inspirational video highlighting the important work The Wilderness Society does to preserve national wilderness reserves and parks across the United States:
Many other organizations across the globe are also taking action. Last month, world leaders met in Paris for the UN Climate Change Conference to discuss a number of environmental issues facing the world today highlighting agriculture, cities, energy, financing, forests, industry, resilience and transportation. The discussion goes on as leaders continue to meet and debate these important issues.
The Global Reporting Initiative, an international organization that helps businesses, organizations, and governments function sustainably is hosting their 5th GRI Global Conference: Empowering Sustainable Decisions in Amsterdam in May 2016. Global leaders will also converge for the 2016 Berlin Conference on Global Environmental Change which aims to discuss international climate policy particularly in light of the issues discussed in Paris.
While initiatives like these seek to tackle environmental issues on a large scale, it is also important to remember grassroots organizations that are working tirelessly to spread awareness and promote a broader understanding of environmental issues within their local communities. These can range from organizations like Greenheart Ibiza to your local community gardens.
What are some ways that you can contribute to environmental sustainability in your community? Comment below!