Ever since I can remember from my childhood, nature has been an integral part of my life. Due to my father’s work as a Macao Customs officer, which involved frequent contact with the sea, I have been exposed to many stories of marine life that he has witnessed firsthand.
Million years ago, our ancestors foraged wild plants and hunted wild animals. Everything was kept simple. However, as technology advances over centuries, humans have introduced an uncountable number of inventions into life, some of which, for example, plastic bags, may contribute to the destruction of the environment. This is a price we pay for the modern livelihood.
Under humanity’s stewardship, we have fortuitously unearthed the concept of sustainable development on this naturally beautiful planet. This concept presents a future vision where prosperity and growth harmoniously coexist with preserving our irreplaceable natural environment.
We mature through time and experiences, forests grow with ample resources; we live our life in cycles—to wake in the morning and rest through the night, nature regulates itself through cycles—water shifts between different states as it circulates the world; we are rich in a wide array of cultures, beliefs, values, and abilities, and strengthen as a society when embracing it, nature is rich in a plethora of different species, its biodiversity vital to building the resilience of an ecosystem.
Nature holds a deep significance in our lives, providing us with nourishment, awe-inspiring beauty, and a profound sense of peace. As a high school student, I’ve come to realize just how important our connection with nature is, especially within the context of The 2030 Agenda.
Nature is the source of all life, the cradle of human existence, and the wellspring of our spiritual nourishment. It is the foundation upon which our lives are built, and it is the canvas upon which our stories are painted.
The natural world encompasses a remarkable diversity of ecosystems, with each inextricably linked to the other. Francis Bacon, an English philosopher, once said: “Only by obeying nature can we control nature.”
My palette has always been blue, yellow, and green, but I inevitably notice them shading into black, white and grey.
How can we create a future in which both nature and we can thrive? Look around us. The dying ecosystem is screaming for attention, the biodiversity is fading, the acidifying oceans are running out of breath, the choking smoke and rising sea levels are suffocating us, and the desertification of land and extreme weather events are threatening our lives.
In my fuzzy childhood memories lies pictures painted with blossoming flowers and verdant landscape. My brother would be sprinting through the woods, playing hide and seek with me, all while indulging in the beauty of nature.
