𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲: 𝐀 𝐒𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐚 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐈𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐞

Sustainability can take many forms, some of which don’t require complex or expensive solutions. If we define sustainability as behaving in ways that leave the planet in a better state for future generations, then simple actions can have a profound impact.

During a recent diving trip to 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐤 𝐋𝐚𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐧 (𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐚𝐬 𝐂𝐡𝐮𝐮𝐤), I was reminded of both the scale of the problem and the potential for simple solutions. Truk’s economy relies heavily on subsistence agriculture and fishing, with much of its support coming from USAid. This is proudly displayed on the side of many buildings, yet this beautiful atoll is marred by litter. What’s more, there is currently 𝐧𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐲𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞. 𝐍𝐎𝐍𝐄.

A straightforward solution would involve introducing recycling education in schools (many of which already proudly display USAid stickers), alongside the investment in a local recycling facility. This could also create jobs, funded by USAid, at a fraction of the cost already spent on the six miles of asphalt road – a road with more craters today than in February 1944, when the USA launched Operation Hailstone against Imperial Japanese Forces in Truk.

Today, Truk attracts divers from all over the world, drawn to the dozens of wrecks scattered across the lagoon, which generate valuable tourism income. When visitors leave, they pay a $𝟑𝟎 𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐚𝐱 in addition to the $𝟓𝟎 𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐭 𝐟𝐞𝐞. With around 𝟑,𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫, this generates approximately $𝟐𝟓𝟎,𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲. If this amount were match-funded by USAid, the creation of a recycling centre could become a reality – one that could eventually be 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟-𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠.

𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬, 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬. 𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥, 𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐬 – 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐲𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐢𝐧 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐭 𝐚 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 – 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐚 𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞.