Multiplications. Everywhere, multiplications.
We have heard a lot about exponential change. That sounds good: since exponential growth got us into this mess, exponential reductions should be the way out. Makes sense, right? But here’s the catch: exponential change can also become a distraction. We start believing that someone else—some other force in society—will fix the mess. Technology. Governments. Markets.
While we wait for that magic, we already know something that works: multiplications. Individually, your impact is a drop in the ocean. On its own, what you do hardly matters at all. It only becomes a problem when your actions are multiplied by billions. And they are.
So what can we do, what’s the solution? Thankfully, in this case, the solution is the same as the problem. Multiplications. What you do, others will too. You, to the power of x. It really is that simple. Who will get rid of all the plastic pollution? You will (multiplied by billions). Who will eat less meat? You will (multiplied by billions). Who will vote for better policies? You will (multiplied by billions).
Your role is to do your small part — and to encourage others to do the same. If that seems hard, try to half the negative, and double the positive. Simple enough.
And yes, it really isn’t fair to blame the individual. It is big companies that drive biodiversity loss through destructive production methods. But we keep buying those products. We create the demand. We share the responsibility for overconsumption and then careless waste that comes with it.
This target wants to make it easier for you to make sustainable choices.
This target wants to encourage you to make sustainable choices.
This target wants better policies and legislation.
This target wants better education about sustainability.
This target wants more accurate information.
This target asks us to halve food waste.
This target asks us to reduce overconsumption.
This target asks us to reduce all our waste. So we can live in harmony with nature. Go make that small step. And tell others about it.
Enable Sustainable Consumption Choices
Ensure that people are encouraged and enabled to make sustainable consumption choices, including by establishing supportive policy, legislative or regulatory frameworks, improving education and access to relevant and accurate information and alternatives, and by 2030, reduce the global footprint of consumption in an equitable manner, including through halving global food waste, significantly reducing overconsumption and substantially reducing waste generation, in order for all people to live well in harmony with Mother Earth.