Do you ever wonder if the little things that you do to try and ‘save the environment’ actually make any difference?

Sometimes it can feel like our effort is too small to make a difference…especially when we are trying to send a message to the companies and governments with which we interact.

We’re making an effort (even if it’s a small one) but we don’t see any change in their behaviour or ‘the system’.  Are we getting any bang for our buck?

And in the meantime, the environment on which we depend, whose beauty we love, just keeps deteriorating or being wrecked.

We can feel pretty powerless.  🙁

Our mood plummets.  🙁

We wonder if it’s worth making an effort at all.  Wouldn’t it be so much easier and more pleasant to not think about what’s happening to our precious planet and, instead, just have fun enjoying life?  (Maybe that’s why Nero fiddled why Rome burnt…it was all too hard!)

Believe me, I’ve been there many times.

I’ve switched banks.

I’ve changed how I do countless things.  Now, for example, I have hardly any ‘rubbish’ to go in my huge bin for landfill. 

I’ve made numerous improvements to my home. 

And I’ve signed so many petitions and made so many submissions that I’ve lost count.

But, in the big scheme of things, does our individual efforts make any difference?

The answer is YES!

Every now and then, something happens that lets us know that what we do DOES make a difference.

Last week was one of those weeks.

Growing numbers of people have been unhappy about the way the big banks are funding coal, oil and gas projects.

We’ve talked to them.  We’ve written letters.  We’ve facebooked and tweeted.  We’ve asked questions at Annual General Meetings of shareholders.  And some of us have participated in publicity stunts.  We’ve even switched to other banks – and told them why we’re leaving.

But still, the big banks have continued to fund exploitation of fossil fuels.

At least, that’s the response of the big Australian banks to date.

But big banks in other countries are starting to take a different stance.

At last week’s Annual General Meeting, Deutsche Bank declared it would not fund the controversial Abbot Point coal port expansion in Queensland, Australia.  That followed a campaign from ordinary people in Australia and Germany. 🙂

And, after also facing public pressure, HSBC also said at its AGM that it would be ‘extraordinary unlikely’ that it would fund the project. 🙂

If that project to expand the coal port does not get major financial backing it won’t go ahead.

And without expansion of the coal port, it will be very difficult to expand local coal mining for export.

And that would mean that the coal in that area would stay in the ground…which is just what is needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

So, please, continue to make the effort to live more sustainably.

It DOES make a difference. 🙂

If you, or your business or other organisation needs help with seeing where you can make the most difference to being more sustainable, just contact me…or send me a voice message by clicking on the tab on the right.   I work with individuals, organisations and businesses to help transition to sustainability – especially moving from dependence on fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas) and increasing resiliency to climate change.

Till next time…be gentle to yourself and our world!