We’ve made it.

We’ve made it through 2019. I don’t know if anyone else can attest to it, but I’ve personally felt as though 2019 was a rough year. From the Game of Thrones series finale to the disappointment that was the CATS movie. There have been some serious tragedies.

On a more serious note, 2019 carried a lot of baggage. From the burning of famous landmarks and wonders such as Notre Dame and the Amazon Rainforest, to the tumultuous political climate, and the ever growing problem of plastic waste, we’ve certainly seen a lot of damage . Every time I scroll through my feed and see another statistic about the amount of plastic that remains in our oceans and increasing endangered species, I can’t help but feel afraid for the future of our planet. It seems as though every time you turn on the news, it’s always bad news. Every day it’s another shooting, another environmental crisis, or another politically charged feud. And it never seems to end. If I relied solely on news channels to update me on current events, I’d assume the world is a pretty bleak place.

However, in the midst of all the lows that 2019 brought, there’s still so much GOOD to be found. The news doesn’t highlight it enough, but the world isn’t as dark of a place as it’s typically made out to be. In terms of the environment, political leaders and activists are taking steps toward saving our environment. Here are just some of the new laws passed.

  • In January of 2019, Washington DC banned the use of plastic straws and started enforcing fines for businesses that violate this policy.
  • San Diego has banned the use of styrofoam food and drink containers. This is the largest city in California to ban styrofoam.
  • Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that Canada aims to ban single-use plastic by the year 2021.
  • Businesses are becoming more aware of the benefits and profitability of renewable energy. Major corporations such as Target and Walmart aim to be supplied by 100% renewable energy by the year 2030
  • In a recent report by the United Nations Environment Program published in March of 2019, As of July 2018, 127 out of 192 countries reviewed (about 66%) have adopted some form of legislation to regulate plastic bags.
  • Greta Thunberg has risen up to become a renowned environmental activist and worldwide phenomenon. She has led climate strikes all across the globe, has spoken to the General Assembly at the Climate Action Summit, and been named person of the year by Time Magazine. And she’s just 16 years old. If we’re going to talk about the next generation taking action, Greta Thunberg is your go to.

People are becoming more aware, the next generation is rising up and protesting, and leaders are taking action. You can’t change the world overnight, and there are certainly more steps that need to be taken in order to reverse the damage we’ve done. But any step forward, no matter how small, is still a step towards positive change. This is going to be the year of proactive change, I can see it clearly with 2020 vision, and so can the rest of the Hydr8 team. Contact us To find out how you can start to make a change today.

Photo Credit: https://unsplash.com/photos/Yui5vfKHuzs