Most people care about the planet and each other. Yet we watch in dismay as moneyed and powerful forces destroy the natural systems our health and lives depend on. Addressing global heating and biodiversity loss — which affect everyone but disproportionately the marginalized and vulnerable — requires those in government and industry to act with urgency to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
That’s a challenge but, thanks to enlightened leadership in many governments and some sectors outside the fossil fuel industry, nations have made commitments and signed climate and biodiversity agreements. And many jurisdictions are shifting to renewable energy much faster than expected as technologies improve and costs plummet.
But because we took so long to act, and our actions are still inadequate, we must focus on adaptation as well as slowing and reversing climate change and biodiversity loss.
Although we may feel powerless given the enormity of the climate and extinction crises, what we each do in our lives matters — for the planet and our wellbeing.
We understand the environmental benefits of reducing and recycling, using energy more efficiently, driving less and eating plant-based foods. But many eco-conscious actions also help us connect with others, get outside and have fun — often sparking widespread positive change.
Take pollinator gardens. Thanks to programs like the David Suzuki Foundation’s Butterflyway Project, gardens throughout the country are blooming with native, pollinator-friendly plants — from balconies and boulevards to backyards and schoolyards. These create corridors and habitat for butterflies, bees, birds and more, at a time when many face precarious declines. They also build community, beautify neighbourhoods and can supply food and herbs.
Local reforestation projects also provide tremendous benefits to communities and the planet.
In 1999, Armando López Pocol gathered volunteers and community members in Pachaj, in western Guatemala, to plant trees in an area devasted by decades of deforestation. The Chico Mendes Reforestation Project — named for the Brazilian eco-activist who fought for Indigenous rights and rainforest preservation until he was murdered by a cattle rancher in 1988 — has planted as many as 25,000 trees a year and expects to plant 30,000 this year. Unfortunately, some have been destroyed by increasing wildfires as the planet heats, unlike previous years when trees were cut down for fuels, timber, mining and agriculture.
In New York, a non-profit founded by the multi-talented Bette Midler is enlisting volunteers to plant native chestnut saplings. Chestnuts were plentiful in the eastern United States until a blight from Asia killed billons in the early 1900s.
Trees sequester carbon and help stabilize climate, and cool and clean the air. They also provide food and shelter for insects, birds and other life, retain water and prevent erosion, flooding and landslides.
“Rewilding” projects worldwide have benefited ecosystems, climate and people.
Getting involved in environmental or rewilding initiatives can be fun. The Foundation’s Butterflies in My Backyard, or BIMBY, program has teamed up with iNaturalist to track and photograph butterflies and their habits, allowing “Rangers” to spend time outdoors exploring the world of these fascinating insects while contributing to a wider volume of knowledge. This also builds public awareness about pollinators, the threats they face and solutions.
Other community science projects include apps that identify birds, mushrooms or plants, with information added to a geographical database. Again, the user gets out into nature, learns about animals, plants and fungi and contributes to increased knowledge.
Any of these activities, but especially those that get us outside and connect us with others, are good for our wellbeing and can be part of the antidote to the despair, grief or anxiety that many understandably struggle with in the face of ecological emergency and other greed-fuelled local and global crises.
Sometimes, like a tree or flower seed planted, a small idea can bloom into something beautiful and strong. If we continue to plants seeds, literally and metaphorically, and encourage others to join us, we can grow a movement, restore nature, beautify our communities and use our growing numbers to push those in power to lead the way to a cleaner, better future.
Getting outdoors and connecting with others are just a few of the personal benefits we can enjoy while being part of a greater cause. What’s good for the planet is good for us all.
David Suzuki is a scientist, broadcaster, author and co-founder of the David Suzuki Foundation. Written with David Suzuki Foundation Senior Writer and Editor Ian Hanington.
Learn more at davidsuzuki.org.
