With US leadership and continued EU political motivation in question, it looks like the sustainability agenda might be in for some tough years. Dr. Katy Stevens from European Outdoor Group shares what should be our first priority.

We are currently emerging from some of the most turbulent weeks in 2024, marked by political unrest and growing tensions around global sustainability goals. Former President Donald Trump’s renewed presence in U.S. politics has reignited debates over climate change and just last week the President of COP29 was exposed for agreeing to facilitate fossil fuel deals at the climate summit. Even as we are seeing more global weather events (will there ever be a time when we don’t need to write this sentence?), the world has never felt so divided and polarized. The reverberations from the heavy sighs across the industry are palpable.

Reactions have been mixed and judging from all the LinkedIn responses and the emails I’ve seen over the last days, the pervading message is “time to roll up our sleeves and fight back!” Personally, I think that this is too much too soon for many. Especially for sustainability professionals, whose sleeves simply don’t roll any higher anymore. Even resilience has its limits.

So what should we do? How can we deal with this? I am not going to suggest some complicated strategy. Instead, my advice is simple: Go outside. Step away from the screens and the endless noise of debate. Breathe in fresh air, walk through a forest, or sit quietly by a river. Nature has an incredible ability to ground us, to remind us of what we are fighting for. It can rekindle the energy and clarity we need to face these challenges. The planet needs us, but to give our best, we must take care of ourselves. Maybe the most revolutionary act is reconnecting with the world we are striving to protect.

To finish, I’ll share some words from Clover Hogan that I hope resonate with you as they did me: “Today we grieve. Tomorrow, we organize. And in a not-too-distant future … we win.”

Photo: Unsplash