2 minute read
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
In its most native form, the word sustainable refers to “the ability to be maintained at a certain rate or level.” Over the years, especially over the last decade, the definition has evolved to encompass the idea of “avoiding the depletion of natural resources in order to maintain ecological balance.” We’re willing to bet that for most of us, when we hear the word sustainable, it’s the latter definition our minds jump to. If we pause for a moment and consider the first one, however, we wonder if, as a town and as individuals, sustainability is what we truly desire to be shooting for.
If we take a snapshot of where Jackson Hole is as it relates to eco-conscious practices at this very moment, we are just above average. That is, doing fairly well but with room for improvement. This rating is based on the feedback we received during EarthCheck’s assessment of Jackson during our application for global sustainability certification. You can learn more about this process and the findings on Pages 3 and 4, in the article entitled Jackson Hole Goes for Sustainability Certification. If our desire is to satisfy the first definition of sustainable that we mentioned above, then as a community we need not change our practices, implement new tactics, rally behind better policies, and hold ourselves to higher standards of living and conducting business. But that’s not the Jackson that we know.
The Jackson we know doesn’t settle for just above average. That’s why throughout this issue, and the ones that follow, you’ll consistently find ways to contribute to the improvement of our score as a community. We’ll share with you new ways to understand the impact of wasted food via timing your shower, and we will show you how to use your wardrobe (or lack thereof) as an educational tool for consumption literacy. You’ll also learn more about why we single sort our recyclables and where they go once you drop them into the big blue bins, and we’ll even offer you 5 simple steps to follow to make your next event more green.
We believe that, together, we can actually move past both definitions of sustainability, and strive to neither “maintain a certain level” nor “avoid the depletion of” our natural resources. Rather, we believe we can replenish, rewild, and regenerate our region, adding value and leaving it all better than we found it.
Because that is the Jackson we know.
Tim O’Donoghue, Executive Director, Publisher
Crista Valentino, Editor
