During the past 200 years, humans had a substantial and not very positive impact on biodiversity. Our modern lifestyle, with sprawling cities and infrastructure, with our lighthearted production and consumption attitudes, pushed biodiversity to the brink.
With this, we produced substantial risks. Even our and the planets’ survival is at risk. Burning fossil fuels and spreading around millions of tonnes of chemical poisons jeopardize our existence as a species.
The biggest problem in traditional agriculture is monoculture. Fields full of only lettuce. Orchards with only one type of fruit.
And that while so many plants do very well next to each other. In fact, help each other stay bug-free or grow better.
Yet it is important to pay attention to which plants you put next to each other. Because just as some plants stimulate each other, there are also plants that can’t stand each other. So which plants should not be planted together?
How to feed 10 billion people on the earth sustainably? This is a question of concern for all of us. Not just politicians and the food industry should decide what we will eat in the next 50 years.
The speedy population growth puts the responsibility for a sustainable planet and economy in the hands of us, the people. Our scope to control such huge ambitions is however limited.
This is why we need to improve our confidence when it comes to the answer to the question ‘How to feed 10 billion people on Earth in a sustainable way?’
We were on a terrace having tapas with an acquaintance, talking about sustainability. At some point, he remarked he didn’t plan to do anything sustainable because “you either do it 100% or you don’t do it at all”.
It hit a nerve. Such nonsense, a statement like that. If we all do a little bit the world will turn into a better direction than where we are heading now.
Inspired by posts I saw with the title Old Me versus New Me, I have collected and come up with all kinds of ideas of old me/new me. There is bound to be an idea in this list that can inspire you as well.
To walk or to cycle, which is better? There has never been any doubt in my mind that cycling and walking are the 2 most sustainable modes of travel.
However, the more we discuss sustainability issues in our articles, the more the question pops up in my head which of the 2 is the most sustainable. To walk or to cycle, which is better?
From the example of the city of Copenhagen and our own experiences, I tried to construct an answer to this question. As it happens, both walking and cycling are the most sustainable modes of travel and transport.
One of the ways to sustainable living can mean we live a minimalist lifestyle. I have to admit that although I am truly trying to have a sustainable lifestyle, I am not good (yet) at being a minimalist.
As an artist, I see value in almost everything. A piece of package paper can be used in collages; leftovers of fabric will probably come in handy as a pillow cover; a beautiful stone or crooked branch is beautiful in itself.
And so things pile up.
How can shopping be sustainable? I will discuss 14 subdivisions in this article, but in the end, they all belong to one of three things: People, Profit, Planet.
In 1987 the Brundtland Commission investigated the concept of sustainability. The focus of their definition was firmly on the long term. Sustainability is the most effective and beneficial system for all species and ecosystems, serving the needs of today without compromising those of tomorrow.
The best sustainable footwear is no footwear. Don’t think this is not possible. There is a huge movement out there of people who walk barefoot all day. Barefoot is not without risks, but in general, it’s better for your feet.
However, many of us wear shoes all day. By custom, or because we have to.
Buying shoes is always a challenge. What to look out for? What’s best for my feet? Do the shoes also support the rest of my body? What to wear in which season?