Sammen i verden 2022: The only sustainable way is together

Guendalina De Luigi

By GRID-Arendal

October 24^th, 2022

For as long as I can remember, I have witnessed the collective unsustainability of humanity. News broadcasts show us endless human suffering due to drought or war, documentaries starring majestic animals in peril due to habitat destruction and pollution. This endless stream of devastation makes it easy to feel numb, to be desensitised to the decline of our natural world. So, we look for solutions to brighten our spirits. “One and done” answers, wrapped in disingenuous bows, give us a temporary feeling of relief against the crushing wave of climate apathy. Buy electric cars, reusable coffee cups, cotton bags, wooden toothbrushes, menstrual cups… the list goes on forever.

Guendalina documenting the SeaBee project's annual fieldwork campaign in Runde. Photo: Alexander Mitrofanenko.

While sometimes useful, the true and long-term solution to a sustainable coexistence between humans and nature cannot be bought in a store. Because you are the solution. Through the choices you make every day. The person you name on the ballot slip. The will to question your own choices, views, ideas, and accepting that sometimes these need to change. The empathy you give to our planet and the creatures that inhabit it. Falling into the comfortable trap of nihilism removes you from the wonders of the world, and you become the problem. It’s why you must trust in yourself, and work together with others to restore balance. Because the only sustainable future we have is together.

That’s what “Sammen i Verden” means to me. Together in the world, reaching toward a brighter tomorrow.

Earlier this autumn, Guendalina participated in a trip to Svalbard together with many of her colleagues at GRID-Arendal. Photo: Ted Hinkle.

This piece was originally published by Arendal kommune on the blog "Arendalsfolk" as a part of the communication around "Sammen i Verden Arendal" 2022.

Every year since 2005, Arendal Kommune and entities around Arendal, a UN City, get together to organise a week to celebrate United Nations Day and learn more about the Sustainable Development Goals through the event “Sammen i verden”.

"Sammen i verden" aims to inspire people from all walks of life to open their minds and consider how our town can be a part of the global solutions leading us towards sustainable development. We encourage you to come together, discuss, ask questions, and consider how we as a community can make an impact.