Throughout the implementation of the People & Planet project, we have realised that there are many reasons why we should take care of our planet and act actively to promote sustainability. One of the fundamental ideas is that the human being only has one planet to inhabit, and as such must be cared for as the precious and irreplaceable asset that it is. Humans also have a moral duty to protect it from other living beings and ecosystems that have neither the responsibility nor the power to act against climate change.
However, protecting the environment doesn’t just have to be based on an altruistic stance, as sustainability also contributes to our own comfort, well-being and quality of life. After all, climate change is making the environment increasingly inhospitable for humans – in the European Union, an estimated 238,000 people died prematurely in 2020 due to air pollution, and the UN reports a 30 per cent increase in deaths related to the rise in average air temperature over the last 20 years.
An effective practice to promote the connection between all these points is to encourage contact between people and nature. This contact allows us to experience first-hand both the origins of our connection with the natural world and the advantages of keeping it protected and balanced, thus realising what is at stake if we allow climate change to continue destroying the environment and habitats as we know them.
Livia, an Italian activist who took part in People & Planet’s International Bootcamp, exemplified this well. She mentioned that, for her, the most important part of the meeting was the “connection with nature, because everything starts from there. Why am I doing this? Obviously, because I care about the place where I live, and I should never forget that. We human beings shouldn’t see nature as an enemy, but as our best friend. It’s not something to destroy to create houses; it’s something we should live with. We need nature.”
That’s why People & Planet has promoted, throughout its activities, various moments for young people to have direct contact with nature. In a daily life that is increasingly urban and digital, it is extremely important to foster this connection. Beach and riverside clean-ups and workshops in urban parks and gardens are examples of initiatives that help us realise what we are fighting for: a healthy, vibrant and balanced natural world.
Stay tuned for more opportunities to connect with nature promoted by People & Planet on our website – waterofthefuture.org.
People and Planet: A Common Destiny is a pan-European project to mobilise young citizens and glocal authorities in the fight against climate change. It is funded by the European Union through the DEAR Programme, with co-funding from Camões, I.P., involving 17 organisations (local authorities and CSOs) from 8 EU member states and Cape Verde, under the coordination of Loures City Council. In Portugal, the project is being implemented by a consortium made up of Loures City Council, IMVF, RICD and FUEL.