10 minute read
Just a Pale Blue Dot
An Annual Overshoot
Have you heard of Earth Overshoot Day? It’s a report that marks the date when our use of resources in a given year exceeds what earth can regenerate in that year. In 2016, that date was August 8th, in 2017, it was August 2nd. We are borrowing resources from future generations. In 2015, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, featuring 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that seek a balance between social and economic development. Essentially, a blueprint for both developed and developing countries to adopt in order to meet the demands put on our Pale Blue Dot 1 .
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Bumps on the Road
One would think that the Nordic countries would be at the top of the class when it comes to this. As it happens, the Nordic Council of Ministers have produced an honest report called Bumps on the Road to 2030, which highlights that things aren’t so rosy in Scandinavia after all, and that there is no room for complacency. The report plainly articulates that when things are not going right, it’s better to own up and face the problem. A refreshing and distinctly Nordic approach to governance. ‘Sweden and Finland score very poorly for SDGs 14 & 15 relating to land-based conservation and the rate at which their forests are disappearing’. Regarding aquatic and terrestrial conditions, ‘the entire Nordic region needs to find more sustainable ways to engage with its natural
environments 2 ’. Scandinavian countries rank consistently high in the Transparency International Corruption index, with Sweden, Finland, Norway and Denmark in the top 10—essentially, the most honest countries in the world.
We trust that the Scandinavian nations are green, yet there is no Nordic country in the world’s top ten recyclers list 3 . Waste-to-Energy (incineration), in which Sweden and Denmark are leading Europe, is a fraught, complex and emotional topic. Trash is being shipped from around the world to be used as fuel, a constant consumption of resources that eats into any recycling efforts. Every incinerated tonne requires extraction of new raw materials, depleting resources in other parts of the world and adding to the total of carbon emissions. In Denmark people generate more than 759 kg of trash per year, compared to Estonia at 357 kg 4 . Living standards are rising, and there seems to be a correlation between wealth and garbage, but we can fight that with composting, recycling and reclaim schemes. Germany produces around 660 kg, a number which hasn’t increased in 20 years, while
in Denmark it has increased by almost 50%. Denmark is highly invested in Waste-to-Energy, a leader in global incineration rates, annually importing 800,000 tons of waste. During the last few decades, the huge expenditures in incineration have caused a ‘lockin’ situation, whereby the need to secure waste for incinerators hampers many efforts for separate collection. An incinerator costs around 500 million euros, and once is lit it has to be kept burning. The resulting dilemma is why Denmark or Sweden are not among the top recyclers.
Whom Do You Trust With The Future Of Your Grandchildren?
For some it will be about developing technology for cleaning up the ocean, or banning plastic drinking straws, saying no to single use plastic bags, buying a bamboo toothbrush—placing their trust in the belief that doing something is better than doing nothing and that someone somewhere is also working on these global problems. On May 5th this year, more than 45,000 people turned up for Beach Cleaning Day in Norway, double the amount in 2017. Millions of people are engaging in similar activities around the globe. Perhaps, when you have bent over to collect the hundredth plastic toothbrush or single use packaging from your favourite beach, you start to question your own lifestyle. The pursuit of ‘sustainability’ can and will reshape society. There is now potential and, arguably, an imperative to create a whole new paradigm about resource use and management as we approach 9 billion souls on this earth. What information and news sources can we believe? Trust is a big factor when it comes to sustainability.
Not since the 1960s have there been as many young people and concerned older generations exploring new options and discovering fresh ways to become more sustainable: such as a community cleanup, where a deeper awareness may blossom. We interviewed luminaries in the field of environment and sustainability, champions of the Circular Economy, Norwegian entrepreneurs, Estonian ecologists and a Swedish grandfather activist who want to usher in a new era of people, planet and profits. We can all agree that we want to live in a fair, safe, and clean society but is it compatible with the way we are accustomed to living? NWIND asks: ‘Whom do you trust with the future of your grandchildren?’
The Gothenburg Garbage Man
Sustainability—the avoidance of the depletion of natural resources in order to maintain an ecological balance.
I first met Päl Martenson five years ago in Tallinn at the Let’s Do It!—Clean World Conference. Activists, environmentalists, philosophers, politicians and business people from around 100 countries gathered for 4 days of lectures, debates, panels, workshops and group exercises to spread the message of global cleanups and raise awareness about resource depletion, mismanagement and the cost to communities. Päl Martenson: 6 foot 4 with a silver mane and a twinkle in his eye, larger than life. Sporting a Zero Waste—No Burn No Bury banner in every photo opportunity, Päl sits on the Zero Waste International Alliance Board and is a regular speaker at Zero Waste Youth events around the world. Just who the hell is Päl Martenson, and why should people trust him?
Paul Emmet (PE) What was your role in Gothenburg and what is your key take-away from that time?
Päl Martenson (PM) I was the Coordinator of the Department of Sustainable Waste Management in Gothenburg, Sweden and in charge of 5 recycling centres. I was also the creator of the world’s first and largest recycling/reusing park in 2006, a concept that has since been copied all over the world. The whole idea was to prolong the life of all kinds of products and have fun along the way. I love the city of Gothenburg—the Recycling park was my vision and gift to the world, all in the spirit of waste prevention.
PE How do you define sustainability and how is this word being used—how can we trust anyone who throws this term around?
PM I always stick to the Brundtland Commission’s definition of Sustainability, ‘avoidance of the depletion of natural resources in order to maintain an ecological balance’. Many companies across the world are involved in raising awareness and have a sustainability agenda, a lot of words, documents, agreements, codes of ethics, conducts, etc. We must constantly monitor what they do, how they act in different world markets, they may have an agenda that looks good on the paper, but does this reflect in their behavior? We
have to work with them, make them understand their actions, get consumers to act, maybe even threaten to boycott. Nestlé, Unilever, Coca-Cola, Procter & Gamble are the ‘elephants in the room’, we constantly find their products on beaches. So, we begin with naming the ones that are always in the top ten with the most ‘junk on the beach.’
PE Sweden has a great reputation for sustainability, what is done well and what can improve?
PM We are mostly famous for our ‘very high recycling rate’… 99%, it is very impressive. This statistic to promote ‘The Swedish Way’ has been successful, but it’s not a totally true story. How can you count incineration as recycling or renewable energy? Actual recycling in Sweden is very low, around 40%, a very poor percentage for such a rich and technologically developed country, and far from the recently approved EU targets (65%) stipulated in the Circular Economy Package. We have more than 32 incinerators in Sweden, and we are the largest waste importer in the world of waste. Sweden needs to improve in reusing, recycling and waste prevention to be the model country we are quite capable of being. We have a great logistic system, a fantastic infrastructure, almost zero corruption and a strong EPA, if all this would work together we can make miracles. We have reduced taxes on repairs and reuse, we have subsidies for electric bicycles, electric cars, solar cells, but also energy taxes of various types that in some cases counteract circular thinking. One company that impressed me is Pling Transport—a logistics, delivery and removals company that do everything via bicycle.
PE If people care about their environment and want to make a positive difference, what can they do?
PM My motto is, ‘everybody counts’, it means every little step you make has an impact. Look under your sink—can I do better, recycle more, waste less food. Think before you buy stuff. Think about the end of the life of the product you plan to buy, what is going to happen when I’m done with it, how will it disappear, can it be recycled, reused, etc. My life has been great, and I now do this for my grandchildren, so they also can enjoy a clean world and all the benefits of nature. Just start thinking about your own actions. If you don´t do the right thing, then don’t expect others to. Change your mindset, be smart, be active, make an impact, be stubborn, be an activist and never give up.
—PÄL MARTENSON
All You Need Is…Knowledge —with Kadri Kalle
Kadri Kalle is a young Estonian ecology graduate working with Let’s Do It! World, an initiative which began in 2008 when 50,000 Estonian citizens organised a national cleanup of their country. The movement spread rapidly around the world and is now coordinating World Cleanup Day on September 15th. Kadri is part of the Knowledge Team working hard to determine ‘facts we can trust’ about resources and waste. Freelance sustainability educator and occasional chef Kadri outlined what is going on.
Q: What does the Knowledge Team do?
A: We plan the steps towards improved waste management solutions, and offer guidance and clarity in the world of waste. As with other environmental questions, there are a lot of grey areas and misinformation.
Q: How can more information provide a solution, especially when people are too busy or too overwhelmed to take in more information unless it affects their livelihood?
A: Actually, that’s the point. We need to connect the information to their livelihood. If we manage to create this connection, they will ask for information themselves. People pick their own priorities. I think it’s already happening with plastic. The topic is everywhere. You need enough people to push for some change (a regulation, for example) and the rest will adapt.
Q: How can people trust information from the Knowledge Team?
A: Our team is bunch of nerds and geeks. We are fascinated by waste, and, above all, by science. Most of us have some background in environmental sciences. You could say it’s our code of honour to provide correct information and get to the bottom of things. We are aware of all the greenwashing and know that the devil is often in the details. We wrote a paper on biodegradable plastics, which highlights both the detailed approach and our role supporting the Let’s Do it! network in orientating in the complexity of the world of waste. We have people in the team with decades of experience in waste management, people who have borne witness to countries evolving in their approach to waste. We are also constantly communicating with the Let’s Do It! network, asking teams where they are and what kind of help they need from us, thus creating a feedback loop.
Q: What is your dream for World Cleanup Day Sept 15th, and what will happen in reality?
A: I want people to start thinking about waste, how much there is, where it comes from, how it gets where it shouldn’t be, and what can we do with it. As geeks, we would like to know all the different materials that were collected and send as much of it as possible to be recycled and composted, but we are also aware of the very different situations in different countries and the fact that it is not possible everywhere. In the end it’s about regaining the hope that we can do something about our surroundings and that everyone can be part of it.
Q: What can the people who are interested in a cleaner world do right now?
A: Download the World Cleanup Day app on your phone, start geo-mapping all the trash you see where it shouldn’t be (on the beaches, in the forests, etc.). This info not only helps the cleanup organisers to prepare for cleanup day, but also feeds data into the World Waste Platform, a huge piece of tech we are building in order to have a better overview of the mismanaged waste around the world. Later on it might help us predict where trash tends to pile up and why. You can always consider reducing the amount of waste you create. It’s quite easy—use less or no single-use items. And finally: share this article and info about World Cleanup Day. Mark September 15th on your calendar and participate in a cleanup. Invite your friends. You can contact your national cleanup team and sign up as volunteer. All of us have talents that can be useful—be it marketing, logistics, connecting to partners or local communities etc. Offer your help in making this initiative a real success.
—RUDYARD KIPLING, IF
Well done, you made it this far on a complicated, emotional and controversial topic. The government certainly has its role, but can we really trust our fickle elected officials? Or business, with bold promises about sustainability 20 years away. Achieving sustainability inevitably points to reducing the amount of consumption and this terrifies most politicians and corporations. Fighting over resources is often the cause of conflict and a huge use of resources in itself. The European Union imports over 70% of raw materials from overseas, simultaneously burning resources which could be recycled or repurposed. If we can’t trust ourselves to make the right decisions, how can we trust others? Can we trust our partners, colleagues and fellow citizens, our scientists, advertisers, and lobbyists to strive for a sustainable future? The unavoidable fact is that it is our decisions—that next coffee, trip to the store, the contents of our garbage bags—that shapes and influences our world, bit by bit. Trust and confidence are vital in our actions now. And while the Pale Blue Dot will always keep on spinning, it will be our grandchildren who will inherit the world in twenty years where either sustainability is the norm or everything has gone up in smoke.
Paul Emmet: ‘What does trust mean to me? It is a heart crushed, reputation in flames, ego in turmoil, paranoia, a laughing stock, betrayed, despised, forgotten and usurped—and trusting that it’s only dead wood burning, that I'm gonna cool and rise, because what anyone ever wanted was for me to be the best I could be.’
