The present political/environmental situation calls to mind a folk tale that is well known in parts of Europe. The tale tells of a peasant who grows a splendid, enormous turnip, but the turnip is so big that the lacks the strength to pull it from the ground; so the peasant turns to asking help from family members, then from friends living nearby, and finally from various farm and field animals. The line of helpers grows longer and longer, but the turnip remains stubbornly in the ground—until, that is, the tiniest of creatures, a mouse, contributes his modest strength and the turnip is pulled free.

Laszlo Falvay

Our big turnip, if you will, has been planted by the world’s scientists, and coming up with a plan to uproot it just might be the biggest challenge that humankind has had to face. To make sustainable development a reality will require effort and contributions from people from all walks of life: to take stock, describe processes and accurately assess the situation; to define criteria and analyse data; to invent and develop technological solutions to maximise resource efficiency; to create viable economic and management alternatives; and to develop and negotiate political plans and agreements on necessary governance, including spending.

Breathing life into the ideas and decisions of the past decade and a half has been difficult work, indeed, but despite the spent energy and resources, the lost time and occasionally squandered inertia, it is important to consider just how much has been achieved—to recognise just how close we are today to reaching our goals!