Built by Repetition | C. Prathapmohan Nair | TEDxFISAT

Sustainability Challenges & Perspectives - Sustainability perception varies globally, focusing on shoreline preservation in Pacific islands, land desertification in Africa, and land degradation in Western Balkans [3] - Disconnect from sustainability's larger effects is increasing, exemplified by individuals not linking their actions to environmental consequences [5][6] - Climate change impacts are escalating, with projections indicating that by 2070, 15 million people may need relocation, requiring a USD 52 trillion investment [8] Individual & Collective Action - Individuals can drive change beyond government policies, as demonstrated by people creating forests and planting millions of trees [9][10] - Small actions can lead to significant changes, emphasizing the "butterfly effect" where individual efforts contribute to broader sustainability outcomes [12][13] - Groups can adopt "handprint thinking," focusing on contributions to the world's well-being through practices like slow consumption and repairing items instead of immediate purchase [26][27] Institutional Role & ESG - Institutions can provide platforms, support, and training for sustainability-related activities, fostering community engagement and capacity building [31][32] - Private sector increasingly required to provide ESG reports, integrating sustainability into their operations [17] - Companies can achieve significant water savings through water treatment plants, inspiring other companies within the supply chain to adopt similar practices, resulting in 50 billion liters of water being taken care of every year [18] Call to Action - Individuals, groups, and institutions should take immediate, imperfect but authentic actions for sustainability, creating a ripple effect [38] - Actions should align with Sustainable Development Goals, such as SDG 4 (education), to maximize impact [35][36] - The next generation will evaluate current actions, emphasizing the importance of collective responsibility in addressing sustainability challenges [33][34]