More than a hundred reasons to keep communicating sustainability
As Joaquín Sabina sings, together we could surely find “more than a hundred words, more than a hundred reasons” to keep communicating environmental care and progress on sustainability—despite the fact that sustainability has struggled to assert its relevance since Trump returned to the White House and now seems to be going through a period of reassessment, not only in Europe but across the rest of the world.
To reduce CO₂ emissions. To protect forests. To care for oceans and seas. To recycle more. To avoid generating even more plastic and to embrace the motto of this World Environment Day: #BeatPlasticPollution. To consume consciously. To avoid fast fashion. To protect agriculture and livestock farming. To restore the ozone layer. To safeguard biodiversity and ecosystems. To choose public transport or enjoy cycling. These are just some of those hundred reasons.
But also because when companies and organizations communicate their environmental and sustainability progress, they inspire others to follow. Because environmental communication helps inform society about the challenges we face and raises awareness around climate change, the circular economy, and climate justice. Because sustainability needs to return to the center of business management—as a compass that guides decision-making. Because it helps attract and retain talent, builds customer and consumer loyalty, and draws investment.
To give visibility to innovative projects that place social and environmental impact at their core. To encourage the emergence of more impact-driven entrepreneurs. To put an end to greenwashing and stop misleading narratives. To avoid greenhushing—or “green silence”—the idea that now is not the time to talk about sustainability efforts. Because even though the CSRD may turn out to be less demanding under the Omnibus package, a PwC survey shows that among large European companies that have already published their first reports under the new criteria, the areas receiving the greatest focus are those related to the environment, biodiversity, climate change (mitigation and adaptation), and energy consumption.
To trust the scientists of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), created in 1988, who have repeatedly warned us that we are already late in preventing global temperatures from rising more than 1.5°C by 2100 compared to pre-industrial levels. To aspire to Climate Summits that are as inspiring as Rio 1992 or COP21 in 2015, which culminated in the Paris Agreement—the first international treaty on climate change. For the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), whose progress makes us all better.
And also because we do not want Earth Overshoot Day to keep arriving earlier every year. In 2024 it fell on August 1, and in 2025 it has moved up again—this time to July 24 at the global level. n Spain, it was already reached on May 22, meaning that if everyone on the planet consumed at the same rate as Spaniards, we would need approximately 2.6 Earths to sustain that level of consumption. And if everyone lived like Americans, we would consume more than five planets a year. It doesn’t get much clearer than that.
Because, unlike Sabina’s refrain, these are “more than a hundred reasons—and not lies—that are worth it” to keep caring for the Earth. Everyone benefits—even the skeptics. And because every day should be World Environment Day. It’s worth it.
Article published in Diario Responsable
