A slide show on promoting environmental sustainability in an attempt to align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

1. ENSURING
ENVIRONMENT
SUSTAINABILITY
- Curtis Sigourney

2. Why Does Environmental Sustainability Resonate
With Me?
FORESTS ARE DISAPPEARING AT AN
ALARMING RATE. ACCORDING TO THE UN,
AN AVERAGE OF 5.2 MILLION HECTARES
ARE BEING DESTROYED ANNUALLY.
DEFORESTATION IS TAKING AWAY HOMES
FOR THE POOR, AS WELL AS INCREASING
GLOBAL EMISSIONS OF CARBON DIOXIDE
BY OVER 50%.
2.4 BILLION PEOPLE WORLDWIDE DO NOT
HAVE ACCESS TO CLEAN DRINKING
WATER. ALMOST 1 BILLION PEOPLE
WORLDWIDE DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO
IMPROVED SANITATION FACILITIES. THESE
PEOPLE FACE DISEASE AND DEATH
CONDUCTING EVERYDAY ACTIVITIES.
ANIMAL AND PLANT SPECIES WORLDWIDE
ARE BECOMING EXTINCT AT A
DEVASTATING RATE. LAND USE,
POLLUTION, AND CLIMATE CHANGE
BROUGHT ON BY HUMANS HAS FAR
REACHING IMPACTS ON THE EARTHS
BIODIVERSITY.

3. How Can Environmental Sustainability Be Applied
Locally?
There are a variety of ways that we can help promote
environmental sustainability here in the Pacific North-
West. From recycling to renewable energy sources,
going “green” in our everyday lives helps contribute to
the UN’s goal of protecting natural resources. Currently,
there are several programs and missions dedicated to
ensuring the longevity of natural resources in the Puget
Sound. Attached is a video of just one conservation
effort that is taking place in Western Canada.
Environmental activists are taking to the rivers and
estuaries to preserve the habitats of local fish.

4. Where Can You Personally Make the Greatest
Contribution?
There are several ways that I feel I can personally help contribute to
ensuring environmental sustainability. At home, my wife and I try to
incorporate ways to lower our carbon footprint, and to increase a
“green” lifestyle. Some things that we have implemented are:
reduced paper and plastic consumption, increased recycling, reduced
energy consumption in our home, started a compost pile, growing
our own vegetables, and reducing our water consumption. Little
things add up. For instance, switching to all energy efficient light
bulbs, and slowing replacing our appliances with energy efficient
models has dramatically lowered our electrical consumptions. I may
not have the ability to take on environmental sustainability as a full-
time job, but I do what I can to contribute in my every day life.

5. What Features of Social Media Can Be Uniquely
Applied to Environmental Sustainability?
The biggest advantage of social media is it’s ability to
reach millions of people, around the world, instantly.
People from all walks of life have different takes on what
it means to go “green.” Social Media sites such as Reddit
allow members to post on different boards, spreading
tips and tricks to help lower our impact on the Earth as a
collective. One example of this is the subreddit
r/sustainability. With over 150,000 members, there are
new posts daily, containing articles and blogs on topics
ranging from “10 Low-Cost and No-cost Ways to Help
the Planet in 2022” to “Food: greenhouse gas emissions
across the supply chain.”