​10 Green Commitments 

in a nutshell …

Celebrate nature: Be inspired by her beauty. Listen to the birds sing, smell the scent of a flower, wonder at the artwork on a butterfly and the symmetry of a snowflake; sense the aura of a tree and marvel at the diversity of wildlife, the miracle of migration and the breath-taking cosmos.  

 

Educate our young to love the earth: Our cities have separated us from the earth. We need to educate our young to know where our food comes from; to bond with the soil; to walk barefoot; to understand our impact (or footprint) on the earth and to treasure our flora, fauna, land and sea. 

 

Protect nature: Natural habitat is under threat from development. Many animals face the threat of extinction: elephant for their ivory and rhinoceros for their horn; the blue whale and Maui dolphin due to overfishing; and the Sumatran tiger and orang-utan from loss of habitat. Hunt and fish responsibly; stop deforestation and start replanting. We must take care of nature, not destroy it.

 

Buy green: Our purchasing decisions are powerful. We could buy goods produced locally (if possible) and in an ecologically sustainable way. Consuming less meat is better for the environment and rather not buy fish species that face extinction. Choose organic goods if you can afford them. Select products that are certified to provide some protection for people and the environment such as those endorsed by Fairtrade and the Forest Stewardship Council. All goods should be rated on their compliance with environmental standards. Give preference to ethical companies. 

 

Live simply; conduct business ethically: In this world there is enough for everyone’s need but not enough for everyone’s greed. ‘To be’ is more important than ‘to have’. Do not be bullied into unnecessary consumption by unscrupulous advertising. Shop less and live more. Teach values like ‘sharing is caring’ to counter materialism. All goods, services, taxes and rents should be charged at a fair rate with zero tolerance for corruption. Companies should make fair profits and pay fair wages. Economic growth is only possible in a finite world if it is environmentally sustainable.

 

Use energy with consideration: especially if the source produces carbon dioxide and other noxious gases. Switch off power when not required. Choose cleaner power options such as solar or photovoltaic if you can afford it. Nations should embrace renewable sources of energy.

 

Travel wisely: Walk or cycle or take a bus or a train rather than drive. Think of buying a smaller car (to reduce emissions) or an electric one (if you can). Make flying the exception rather than the rule.

 

Watch our waste: Reduce, recycle, reuse, repair. Make sure pollution is minimised and contained.  Polluters should pay for the damage they cause. Composting reduces waste and feeds your garden.

 

Tread gently on the earth: Resources such as water are to be used with care. World population growth has a large footprint. Mining companies should remediate sites once mining has ceased and their materials should be rated in terms of their environmental impact. When building a house, allow space for a garden (if possible) to aid water absorption into the soil and reduce run-off. Try to keep the footprint of buildings and roads to a minimum. Development needs must be balanced with care for the environment. Education is crucial for the world’s poor to eradicate poverty and for the rich to understand their impact on our planet.

 

Support green endeavours and associations: This includes legislation that protects the earth.