20 Sustainability Learning Resources

FOOD FOR YOUR BRAIN. These are some of the sites where you can learn and dig deeper on sustainability. Whether you’re an employee, business owner, professional, or even executive and career changer, the information available through these sites is priceless. The best part is, most of the resources it’s either available for free or for a small subscription fee.

The resources below provide you with the knowledge, the kind of information that includes things that would affect the sustainability of your business, i.e. climate change, energy efficiency, nature conservation, biodiversity, water efficiency, and more.  It is by no means they are the only twenty sources out there. There are literally more than hundreds (probably thousands) sources globally! However, for the purpose of learning, we’re going to start one chunk at a time. It’s good enough to spin your head.

Green is the World’s Trend

I found that green is a growing trend. Saw in a number of places how green products and services (including slogans) are popping up here and there. Organic. Natural products. Recycled, biodegradeble packaging. Fair trade. And more.

Attitude and behavior not there yet. But at least products are becoming commonly available on some supermarkets’ shelves, though still selling at premium. Anyone, any business, who can come up with affordable organic products could (potentially) capture market share. Asia has almost two-thirds of world’s population.

There’s an old saying ‘a picture is worth a thousand words.’ So, below you’ll see pictures I took at random places in Jakarta, Indonesia and Bangkok, Thailand. 

Problems are Opportunities

I just got back from a two months trip visiting my home country, Indonesia, and Thailand. I should say, this trip was different, because I allow myself to be in the moment. Observing things around me. And let some things sink.

During my visit I had the opportunity to have an in-depth conversation with my uncle, Prof. (Emeritus) Dorodjatun Kuntjoro Jakti, who’s created a ‘space’ in his field. He gave me one of the best advice that I’ve ever got from anyone! He said that I should look at ‘problems as opportunities.’ Because if you frame your mind that way, you’ll always look at things differently. Instead of problems, you see how and what can you do to help solve the problems.

This is not new stuff, I’m sure. Because you can look around and find good examples. Here’s an example: Singapore. They lack water resources. Currently, Malaysia (its neighbor country), supply them with clean water with contract expires in 2016. It’s a risky proposition. What about the geopolitical risk? We just saw how oil prices spike up because of turmoil in Egypt recently. What-if things happen in Malaysia that caused them to cut off their supply? So what Singapore does on the road to self-sufficiency (and less dependent on outside supply) is that they come up with a 50 year plan.

Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean said: “With water demand forecasted to double in the next 50 years, Singapore plans to collect every drop of rain by expanding our catchments to 90 per cent of our land area. Water reuse and desalination will play a bigger role as key sources of water supply.” 

via ChannelNews Asia

That said, things that could pose a problem for some, like government’s regulations, world’s population growth, migration, global warming, etc., are opportunities either to be ahead of the game and/or innovate. The good thing about it is, all you need is an open mind, willingness to learn new things, and be creative.

Think about that for a second…