The task of identifying the most crucial action for sustainable transition is a challenging one, as all the presented options are extremely important. But as one must rise above others, repairing the relationship with Nature and people must be the one most effective.
I begin my reasoning with the one thing people usually like to talk about the most, myself. While considering this task I realized my own relationship to nature is the spark that started my journey to this school and to change things in my life. The appreciation towards nature has been a key factor in how I have made my biggest life choices in education, profession, diet and transportation. Understanding, empathy and respect are key factors that motivated me to act.
Mending our broken bond with nature is an effective, meaningful and long term solution to the sustainability crisis. It provides real change to Society's long-term sustainability and not just short-term gains such as fossil fuels. With a deeper connection with the natural world, we can inspire profound shifts in human behavior and societal values. We need more than just a circular economy or technological advancements; we require a profound shift in our worldview, recognizing our connection with nature rather than our dominance over it.
Nature is not just about loving the living things but also the services it provides. Human life, as everything else, is connected to these ecosystem services that nature provides. We are all dependent on nature and that is why transition to sustainable societies is most crucial.
This transition to re-ignite our relationship with nature goes hand in hand with education. It must cut through all layers of education from kindergartens to universities all the way to working life and adulthood. Yet the key to change is the transformation in our thoughts.
While technology and the circular economy are key factors to a sustainable future, people have to seize these opportunities. The technologies and models for circular economy are already available, but they are not in wide use around the world. there is no real motivation or ambition to put them in use. This is because we first need the shift in the thought process.
We adapt and integrate innovations and behaviors that are in alignment with our belief system. That is why we must find the connection with nature to respect and feel empathy towards nature again. We must start to think about how we treat other animals, other species, other habitats that sustain not just us but life on this planet we live in. This realignment of values and behaviors is needed badly to stop the excessive use of resources and overuse of the planet.
All in all, repairing the relationship between nature and people is the key factor towards sustainability. It is the transformation we need to harness the will to change. It gives us direction to use innovations in technology in a more sustainable way and gives us the nudge to move towards a circular economy. Hand in hand with education we can start to shape people's thoughts about a way of life where we live in balance with our planet.