A Valentines Day Love Letter: Gratitude for the Planet that Sustains Us

Valentines day is an opportunity to express love to people we care about. There may be no better expression of love than to strive to protect the conditions necessary for life on this planet.

While we need to come to terms with the obstacles we face we must also muster hope that we can do better. The crisis we face today is a crisis of love. Love for each other and love for the Earth upon which we all depend.

Climate action has been trumped by a dysfunctional American administration that is not only wreaking havoc with our planet but dividing us in ways that make progress seem impossible Although the malfeasance of the Trump administration is profound, this nightmare will end.

We have the capacity to resist hate and ultimately triumph over the forces of darkness. Hope, love and gratitude are a bulwark against the manipulative politics of intolerance.

We have many reasons to be hopeful that a better day will dawn. The US midterm elections included a number of environmental victories. Led by women, environmentally concerned Democrats flipped the House of representatives and returned science to its rightful place in the chamber. Women are also taking to the streets to demand environmental action and led by Greta Thunberg girls are leading young people to call for climate action in unprecedented numbers.

A broad spectrum movement has emerged and positive environmental narratives are gaining traction. A new breed of environmentally concerned citizens gives us reason to hope that we will finally get serious about our efforts to address the difficult issues we face.

Despite the ubiquity of divisive politics around the world we have seen progress in the area of conservation. Much of this progress is attributable to people who work tirelessly on behalf of the planet and its inhabitants. This includes companies like Patagonia which is at the forefront of efforts to protect America's wild places. We should be grateful to those who advocate for the Earth including the brave pioneers who championed sustainability long before it was fashionable.

The business community is getting on board. Climate change was the salient theme at the recent WEF in Davos and we are seeing growing levels of corporate advocacy, sustainability leadership and corporate goodness.

It is important to know that however difficult it may seem at present, as long as we love this planet and work to preserve it, there is hope for the future.