World Environment Day has been celebrated annually on 5 June since 1973 and is aimed at both celebrating our natural environment, and raising awareness of the destruction of the environment and the impact that it is having around the globe. This year’s theme is #OnlyOneEarth, a campaign that calls for everyone to come together to help celebrate, protect and restore our planet. The focus of the campaign is “Living Sustainably in Harmony with Nature”.

To live sustainably has become increasingly important as the effects of climate change are felt around the world. Large entities such as governments, corporations and international organizations need to lead the way in transforming towards sustainable living. Each sector can play a role in ensuring more sustainable practices and encouraging more sustainable choices. Below are some examples of the steps that different sectors can take to improve sustainability.

Agricultural sector

The agricultural sector is one of the largest contributors to deforestation, biodiversity loss, air and water pollution, and waste. Natural habitats such as forests and wetlands are destroyed to make space for farmland. The pesticides and fertilizers that are used to increase the yield of agricultural crops, also pollute the soil and underground water systems. Agricultural livestock produces enormous amounts of methane, a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. Additionally, current marketing and consumption patterns have led to both high levels of food waste, and plastic pollution.

To reduce the negative impact that agriculture has on the environment, governments need to ensure that policies are in place to support the production and consumption of smart crops, implement approaches to integrating pest, nutrient and soil management and invest in research that is focused on sustainable agriculture and agricultural practises. Large agricultural corporations need to find ways to support the growth of local communities and use their resources to change the perspectives of consumers towards reducing meat consumption and increasing the consumption of indigenous crops. International organisations involved in trade need to drive sustainable practices in agriculture by increasing sustainability standards and supporting a policy that integrates environmental protection into their objectives.

Financial sector

Financial institutions play a big role in driving sustainable development. They determine the focus of investment and are powerful stakeholders in large companies. They also have a considerable influence over governments, pricing risks and rewards.  They have the ability to leverage their power to encourage sustainable practices, by investing in green technologies such as clean energy. They support and reward companies and individuals that are making a positive difference in the environment, and incentivise companies to make better choices. Banks, for example, can incorporate environmental risk assessments into credit decisions. Currently, there is also a huge opportunity in green financing, which links financial systems to sustainable development.

Energy sector

The linkages between the energy sector and the environment are well known. Traditional methods of generating electricity, such as burning fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas) are not only unsustainable but also contribute to the destruction of the environment and climate change. Fossil fuels are found underground and require some form of mining, which destroys natural habitats. Once mined, power plants burn these fossil fuels, and this emits significant amounts of greenhouse gases, making up approximately 60% of all carbon emissions. Other methods of generating electricity such as solar energy, wind energy, and hydropower are significantly less harmful to the environment and are the only choice for sustainable development. Unfortunately, 789 million people around the world still lack access to electricity and rely on fossil fuels to generate light and heat. For these and most communities, renewable energy is unaffordable. The energy sector, together with the government, needs to ramp up the diversification of energy resources and generation methods and needs to focus on reducing the costs of renewable energy. Businesses and individuals who have the capacity, should switch to sourcing 100% of their energy needs from renewable sources. Additionally, governments need to invest in research and technological developments to contribute to sustainable development and incentivise the use of renewable energy.

Education sector

The education sector is responsible for preparing the youth to tackle the challenges facing the world today and in the future. It is also the sector responsible for research and innovation. Schools, higher education institutions and research labs need to dedicate the work they do to improving the future through sustainable development. They need to target industry areas that are lacking behind, such as the energy sector. They also need to make sure that they integrate sustainability into everything they do, from curriculum development to information dissemination.

It is evident that all sectors play a role in protecting and improving the environment, through sustainable development. As individuals, we need to hold leaders accountable for their actions and use our voices to demand a shift towards sustainability. We also need to make sure that our own actions are not harming the environment and that we lead by example. This includes switching to renewable energy, investing in environmentally and socially responsible options, reducing plastic waste, and consuming locally grown food products.

We all have a role to play. There is #OnlyOneEarth. Let’s take care of it.

Find out more about what you can do here.