Despite the lockdown and loss of tourism income due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the village of Kohonoma in India has been able to maintain a high level of food security for its people. Because of previous legal changes and grant money, villagers were able to change their lifestyle to support the community’s tourism industry and preserve its sustainable agriculture practices. Village leaders are hopeful that their conservation and sustainable development efforts will continue post-pandemic and will encourage other communities to do the same.

How might African farmers enhance their productivity and increase their resilience to climate change without compromising the health of their land? How might American companies play a role without short-term gains standing in the way of long-term sustainability? The two are coming together to create a solution for a sustainable future for the African continent.

Sustainability’s vagueness and scarcity orientation may be preventing the future it seeks to create. The time has come to adopt a new mindset: That of the Abundance Cycle.

Development work is evolving beyond short-term mission trips and one-off donations into a more comprehensive, in-depth model that addresses long-term sustainability of a solution paired with empowerment of those being served. MicroConsignment is a unique branch of micro-enterprise being implemented by non-profit SolCom in Guatemala that provides individuals in rural villages the skills and resources needed to start sustainable businesses.

To combat energy cost inequality while also helping the environment, Ali Dirul started Ryter Cooperative Industries (RCI) to bring renewable energy to his hometown of Detroit. RCI is working with local partners to install solar-powered lights in low-income communities, as well as building net-zero energy homes. With the support of the city, which is investing in sustainability initiatives, RCI hopes to make energy more equitable for all.

While many countries are committed to working towards goal set forth by the Paris Climate Agreement, not many individual states in the United States have taken noticeable action. New York is an outlier in this scenario, however. Grassroots efforts include creating an Eco Village and geothermal installations, while the government has acted as a leader and partner in helping to earmark finance for these innovative solutions.