Are We Up to It?
Introduction Having a coffee with a business friend,we got onto the topic of global warming and climate change. Canadian targets to reduce Greenhouse Gas emissions, 30% by 2030 and up to 45% by 2050, he commented "really scare me." Now, he is not one to scare easily;but he explained. "Things have been left too late. 2030 is only 8 years away. Do you know what that means for business, capital, the environment and the people?" He continued, "to hit those targets, we will see major disruptions and we cannot make any mistakes." Are we up to it" he asked?
Are We Up to It? My friend's comments came as a result of his seeing many announcements about cars,farmers, oil and gas, carbon taxes,and the potential impacts on the economy, the people and the planet, to suggest just a few of his concerns. The Canadian federal government stated in a policy paper, "Canadians have been clear about what they want: clean air and good jobs, a healthy environment and a strong economy." The government then goes on to say, "Building on the actions of millions of Canadians, the Government of Canada is taking bold and immediate action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to fight climate change, while strengthening our economy with sustainable jobs and clean industrial growth."
The focus, the government states, is to: 1. Fight climate change. 2. Create Good Jobs. 3. Build a strong and vibrant future for everyone. It is difficult to think of anyone who could be against any of this. The question is, "are we up to this?" We are already seeing some of the impacts; greater food insecurity, inflation putting many things out of reach, huge job losses in the tech sector, fires, floods and other extreme weather conditions, the impacts of war and COVID,
The challenge at Sustainable Circular Economy as we individually and collectively work to address global warming and climate change is focusing on what we can do to assist people and businesses think about their choices to address global warming, helping to do the world a world of good, by offering a pathway through the circular economy which is principled upon people, the planet and sustainability. “If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs ... If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you..."(Rudyard Kipling) then there will be many opportunities for doing good individually and collectively. And that is what we must do.
What Can We Do Individually? Individually, there are many things
one can do. Even the small and seemingly insignificant things can make a difference. Add up all the small things individuals do and there canbe a huge impact on Greenhouse Gas emissions, global warming and climate change.
What are some of the thing’s individuals can do? 1. Change to a fountain pen. This eliminates the need to throw away used plastic pens and
they are wonderful to write with. 2. Reduce food waste by saving vegetable parts for puree's and soups - watch for our
cookbook coming out on this. 3. Use an Air Fryer instead of your oven as much as possible. This can save considerable
power. 4. Use a bike and/or public transit. 5. Convert lights to low energy LED and use a smart thermostat 6. In all that you do, look for ways to reduce consumption and waste, by reusing, re-
purposing, and recycling. This is a very short list of things we can all do, but consider, even the small and seemingly insignificant things can make a difference.
What Can a Business Do? Many companies are already on a pathway through the circular economy. They recognize that it is not just the right thing to do, but that it is good business For any company, addressing global warming and climate change is good for business. It is now an imperative, but one that can be daunting if not done right. Following are some ideas on how to approach the issue of what your business can do while "keeping your head when all about you are losing theirs."
1. Understand the opportunities a circular economy can bring to your business. 2. Bring your management and staff into the discussions. 3. Undertake an audit to determine the status of your global warming and climate change
activities. 4. Determine steps that you can take to reduce,reuse and re- purpose resources with the
goals of extending lifespans and savings. 5. In everything you do in your business, focus the decisions based upon the best for the
people, the planet and business sustainability. 6. Consider Sustainable Circular Economy as your partner in all of this. Our Mission is to
assist people and businesses think about their choices to address global warming, helping
to do the world a world of good, by offering a pathway through the circular economy
which is principled upon people, the planet and sustainability.
Conclusion The Canadian government says, it is "building on the actions of millions of Canadians, taking bold and immediate action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to fight climate change, while strengthening our economy with sustainable jobs and clean industrial growth." Fighting global warming and climate change cannot be left up to government. Individually and corporately we all have a stake in taking responsible action.
There is much that an individual, as well as a company can do. It is up to each and everyone of us. And, at Sustainable Circular Economy, we can help you assess how far you've come, which direction you should take and what your next steps should be. For a free sustainability check of your business and to find out how Sustainable Circular Economy can support your organization, please Contact Us.
Best wishes for a sustainable planet...
Vancouver, BC, Canada