Working through the resistance. Enduring a little pain for a good cause. Or changing your habits and adjusting your normal tempo. These are all things that we tend to avoid. Unfortunately, this behaviour not only applies to my running goals: I also see it reflected in other aspects of my life. Even when it comes to problems that are bigger than my athletic mindset.
For example, for the last few decades, we’ve watched our climate change. We have enough evidence to know that as humans, there is something that we can do about this problem. We know which transitions are needed to turn the tide, or at least which ones will help us to stay within safe margins. But all of these things cost too much time, money and effort... We’re stuck in self-constructed systems and, in the short term, we still feel pretty comfortable about where we are. At least that’s how we feel here in the western world. The fact that it’s been raining more frequently in the Netherlands and we’ve noticed that in the summertime our crisp Dutch landscape is starting to resemble the South of France repeatedly makes us aware of what’s going on. But how can we essentially tackle this problem at the individual level? Anything that we do feels like a mere drop in the ocean. The issues are vast, complex, and they exist on a global scale. I regularly hear people ask: “What can I do to help?”
This emotional inertia and sense of indifference are fortunately also being offset by some positive developments. Imagine if it wasn’t only the climate experts, sustainability managers, sustainable entrepreneurs and policymakers who were committed to change, but that we could exploit the potential of the entire labour force. And imagine if contributing to this huge shift towards a liveable planet was just part of your job. In this case we’d need the best lawyers with a knowledge of sustainability and law, the most creative chefs to win the next Green Michelin star, the smartest economists who understand how we can achieve a healthy balance sheet, healthcare professionals who contribute to a lower footprint, teachers who teach children from an early age about what is valuable, marketers who don’t greenwash, but contribute to a truly sustainable narrative, technicians who make the energy transition possible. I could go on and on.
Bringing a variety of professionals together has two major advantages. First of all, it means that we could work towards change much faster, much smarter and with greater coherence. Sustainability would then no longer be something that was added to an organisation’s aims, but it would be supported from within. Secondly, it would make a lot more people feel that they could not only contribute in a personal capacity, but also make a professional contribution. That they would feel empowered instead of feeling helpless.
Since most of the labour force probably learnt very little about this during their education, it’s vital that we start sharing this sustainability knowledge on a grand scale and that we continue to develop it with each other in all sectors and fields. And that we do this through continuing education, training courses, learning communities and research projects. This would emphasise the process of lifelong development in the major challenges that we’re facing together. When you take the first step towards this, it will hopefully feel as good as embarking on that first run. Because the fact is that I’ve finally started training for the run, and it feels great!
Take action yourself!
Develop your sustainability knowledge and skills and enhance your leadership skills for the benefit of sustainable change. See which courses, master classes and study programmes are available for professionals at Radboud University.
If you’d like to take one of Marije’s courses, sign up for Young Leadership for Sustainability, which is a five-day course that has been developed in collaboration with Radboud Academy.
You have a part to play
Our society is facing major challenges. Radboud University wants to contribute to a healthy, free world with equal chances for everyone. With 'Je bent nodig' (You have a part to play), Radboud University aims to reach people who want to contribute to that goal.
Would you like to actively contribute or read more about sustainability in our education and research? Visit www.jebentnodig.nl for more information.
