Survival through knowledge

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Sustainability is becoming increasingly important for people of different ages. The governments implement energy efficiency and carbon reduction systems. Many people aim to lower their carbon footprint in their everyday lives and household. We fight with animal cruelty, refuse to wear skin or fur, buy electricity-driven cars, recycle and reuse products that we already own. All of the aspects listed above are a great strategy that definitely reduces an individual's footprint. However, is it what sustainability means? Is it all we can do? Are these the most important issues? What else could be done to make a larger change? What is going to last in a long term perspective? 

Unintentionally, we only focus on the environmental side, forgetting about economic and social dimensions

Defining sustainability, we usually understand it as “an ability to sustain our resources and help our ecosystems”. Unintentionally, we only focus on the environmental side, forgetting about economic and social dimensions. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) design 17 global goals that are aligned with and depend on each other. Instancing poverty, zero hunger, gender equality, decent work and economic growth, it becomes clear that there is so much more to sustainability than what we usually think. 

As long as an individual is not educated on the topic of sustainability, they would not understand the scale of the environmental crisis consequences.

All of the goals are equally crucial and need to be balanced for a better and, possibly, faster result. However, commenting on the topic, in a subjective opinion, that might be accepted by others, education comes first. 

As long as an individual is not educated on the topic of sustainability, they would not understand the scale of the environmental crisis consequences. They also would not know about different aspects that a sustainable lifestyle includes. This is why education might be key to raising awareness and engaging more people to work on finding more solutions to existing problems. 

We need everyone to know at least the basis of ecology, what current issues are, and how we can contribute to a better future

Higher education globally proposes courses on a topic of sustainability and young adults, who are interested in it, are most likely to find a type of education that they are interested in. However, it is not enough. We need everyone to know at least the basis of ecology, what current issues are, and how we can contribute to a better future. Having certain steps to follow, the knowledge will pass on from our generation to our children, as well as our parents’ generation. Therefore, proposed steps are: 

1. Implement sustainability in all higher education institutions and courses;

2. Start teaching our friends, children, parents, grandparents about how they can contribute to lowering carbon emissions;

3. Teach the basis of sustainability in kindergartens, middle schools, and high schools;

4. Adapt workplaces for an internal/external education on the topic and have meetings about what new aspects can be introduced in the working environment;

5. Educate each other on various habits that can be changed with ecological alternatives; 

6. Write articles, texts on social media, newsletters, websites, in magazines about various issues that result due to the climate crisis. 

At the moment, the Green Office VU is working on introducing sustainability to all of the faculties. However, our community’s opinions are extremely important for us! The most recent GOVU’s campaign asks for everyone to submit their thoughts about the GO’s current progress, as well as advice on future projects. We would love to know what you think the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam can implement on sustainability in the nearest future. Feel free to text us on Instagram/Facebook/LinkedIn/TikTok: @greenofficevu or email: community@greenofficevu.nl