On Earth Day 2023, here’s how we can think globally and act locally | Opinion

While not created for Earth Day, the slogan “think globally, act locally” rings true this month as we are reminded to consider the health of our shared planet in our day-to-day activities. We are doing the same at The Nature Conservancy (TNC), the world’s largest conservation organization where I chair the Global Board.

Today our planet faces the accelerating loss of plant and animal species at an alarming rate, while rapidly shifting weather patterns and progressive climate change is disrupting human and natural habitats alike. As a physician, I view both crises – biodiversity loss and climate change – through a lens of their impact on the health and well-being of people.

The continuing loss of our planet’s biodiversity — such as birds, bees, butterflies, insects and other pollinators — jeopardizes food production around the world. The destruction of natural environments increases the likelihood of human exposure to novel viruses and other pathogens for which we have no cure. And increasingly volatile weather — from extreme rain events and subsequent flooding to lengthy droughts — places unprecedented pressures on our electrical grid, our nation’s aging infrastructure, our agriculture sector and on health systems responding to natural disasters.  With expanding flood zones, whole communities are at increased risk.

Based on today’s science, the World Health Organization has determined climate change is “the single biggest health threat facing humanity.”  And I, with no hyperbole, agree.

The good news is that much is being done.

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Make nature-positive solutions central

Globally, TNC, because of our large scale, is laser focused on conservation efforts in more than 70 countries and all 50 states to collectively reduce threats to our lands, waters and wildlife – and thus to human health as well. We have measurable goals, joining forces with partners around the world to protect 30% of the Earth’s land, freshwater, and oceans by 2030.

We are thought leaders in advocating nature-based solutions. In pursuit of this ambitious benchmark, TNC recently participated in two United Nations conferences aimed at solidifying a consistent, global approach to tackling climate change and biodiversity loss.

Our specific role was to ensure that nature-positive solutions to these global crises were front-and-center in these international discussions. This includes promoting innovative approaches to farming and forestry that science tells us will have a substantial beneficial impact on the quality of air we breathe, water we drink, and soils used for crops that feed communities around the world.

In the U.S., TNC played a key role, together with our partners, in influencing passage of two major federal bipartisan funding bills which benefited us in Tennessee. The Inflation Reduction Act allocates $167 million to Tennessee energy programs in addition to creating massive new energy-related tax credits and rebates for individuals and businesses.

And the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act invests in renewable energy, zero-carbon transportation, and nature-based climate and resilience solutions, including approximately $8.6 billion allocated to Tennessee through 2026.

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Tennessee is building a conservation friendly legacy

Here in Tennessee, TNC’s impact has been significant, permanently protecting more than 450,000 acres across the state since 1978. TNC uses cutting-edge technology to monitor fragile species like gray bats and bog turtles. And it has dedicated the 5,763-acre Bridgestone Nature Reserve at Chestnut Mountain as a living laboratory for managing healthy forests key to capturing carbon.

TNC’s Tennessee program is also collaborating with colleagues across 18 states to secure healthy and connected lands and waters throughout the Appalachian Mountains, a globally critical forested landscape key to connecting wildlife habitat for plants and animals migrating in response to warming temperatures and supporting lives and livelihoods that depend on the region’s natural resources.

Additionally, Gov. Bill Lee is fueling these efforts by building a conservation friendly legacy. In his recent state budget for Tennessee, he proposed infusing funds into expanding state parks, recreation areas, trails and greenways throughout the state to preserve the natural beauty and rich resources for future generations to enjoy and benefit from.

In spite of challenges, and there are many, I am optimistic. More people than ever are coming together around a unified cause — the health of our planet, which is inextricably connected to the health and well-being of our people. We build on science, partnerships, scale and the sustained health of nature and people. From United Nations conferences to conservation happening here at home in Tennessee, YOU are a partner in this vital cause. That is why I am urging you—this month, in honor of Earth Day—to carve out your “think globally, act locally” role. It matters more than ever before.

Learn more about supporting The Nature Conservancy’s work in Tennessee and other ways to get involved. Website: https://www.nature.org.

Senator Bill Frist is the global board chair of The Nature Conservancy.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Earth Day 2023: Here’s how we can think globally and act locally