When it comes to sustainability and environmental issues, there are many inspiring leaders and activists we can learn from. Today, I hand my blog over to the wisdom of these thought leaders by sharing 21 quotes on the environment.
Quotes on the environment
Waste reduction
There is no such thing as ‘away’. When we throw anything away, it must go somewhere.
Annie Leonard, Greenpeace USA
We don’t need a handful of people doing zero waste perfectly. We need millions of people doing it imperfectly.
Anne-Marie Bonneau, Zero-Waste Chef
I only feel angry when I see waste. When I see people throwing away things we could use.
Saint Teresa of Calcutta
It cannot be right to manufacture billions of objects that are used for a matter of minutes, and then are with us for centuries.
Roz Savage
Minimalism and consumption
The most environmentally friendly product is the one you didn’t buy.
Joshua Becker, Author
If we want to move towards a low-polluting, sustainable society, we need to get consumers to think about their purchases.
David Suzuki
Natural environment
We have forgotten how to be good guests, how to walk lightly on the earth as its other creatures do.
Barbara Ward
We just have to do what nature has always done. It worked out the secret to life long ago. In this world, a species can only thrive when everything else around it thrives too.
Sir David Attenborough
The truth is: the natural world is changing. And we are totally dependent on that world. It provides our food, water and air. It is the most precious thing we have and we need to defend it.
Sir David Attenborough
As we distance ourselves further from the natural world, we are increasingly surrounded by and dependent on our own inventions. We become enslaved by the constant demands of technology created to serve us.
David Suzuki
Take only pictures. Leave only footprints.
Chief Seattle, Duwamish Tribe
The Earth will not continue to offer its harvest, except with faithful stewardship. We cannot say we love the land and then take steps to destroy it for use by future generations.
Saint John Paul II
To make the changes we need to make and to reach a safer future, we will need the resources of everybody here — the scientists, the policy makers, and the industrialists — all working together towards a common goal. And that goal is a planet that can continue to support life.
Piers Sellers, American Astronaut
Climate change
We’re in a giant car heading towards a brick wall and everyone’s arguing over where they’re going to sit.
David Suzuki
Let’s keep in touch! Join my mailing list and I’ll email you when I add a new post.
Individual responsibility
You are never too small to make a difference.
Greta Thunberg
You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference and you have to decide what kind of a difference you want to make.
Jane Goodall
The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it.
Robert Swan
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.
Margaret Mead, Author
We are living on this planet as if we had another one to go to.
Terry Swearingen, Goldman Prize Recipient
Space travel made me feel I have a personal obligation to be a good steward of our planet and to educate others about what’s happening to it.
Chris Hadfield, Canadian Astronaut
I like to envision the whole world as a jigsaw puzzle … If you look at the whole picture, it is overwhelming and terrifying, but if you work on your little part of the jigsaw and know that people all over the world are working on their little bits, that’s what will give you hope.
Jane Goodall
Reduce your impact today
I hope these quotes on the environment have inspired you. If you want to reduce your impact in 2021, check out A year of monthly waste reduction goals for some tips and ideas to get started.
Which of these quotes on the environment was your favourite? Tell us about it below. Or, if you have other favourite quotes that I didn’t include, feel free to share them too.
These quotes are, indeed, inspiring! If it’s okay, I’ll pick some to use for my personal journal. I love writing inspiring/motivational quotes in calligraphy as practice. <3
Oh that sounds wonderful. I love calligraphy! Thanks for reading & taking the time to comment.
Wow this quote hit home really hard “It cannot be right to manufacture billions of objects that are used for a matter of minutes, and then are with us for centuries.”… It’s scary to think just how much of an impact some innocent things like straws and disposable cutlery do! Pinning this to share with others <3
Right! When you see that quote, it really makes you realize how ridiculous some of those single-use plastic items are.
These are great quotes. The first one was my favorite! “There is no such thing as ‘away’. When we throw anything away, it must go somewhere.” Very thought provoking.
Yes. That one definitely makes you think about the waste we see every day.
Some really thought provoking quotes here, Michelle, thank you for curating these. My favourite is, “We have forgotten how to be good guests, how to walk lightly on the earth as its other creatures do.” So sad but so true.
Thanks Lisa. Yes, it’s sad what we humans have done to the earth. When I watched David Attenborough’s documentary “A Life On Our Planet”, he spoke of how humans have been consuming the earth until we’ve used it up and that notion doesn’t exist in the animal kingdom. It really makes you think.
Excellent thoughts, Michelle. Thank you for the inspiration. We all need more perspective regarding environment and it is amazing how slow we are in making things happen.
Thanks for reading. I found some of these quotes really eye-opening. So much widsom out there that we need to tap into.
This is a great list of quotes!! This one “We are living on this planet as if we had another one to go to” real ly makes you think!
It does make you think doesn’t it? It reminds me of another quote I’ve seen “There is no planet B”. We all need to stop and rethink our behaviour and consumption.
Loved this! I really hope more people learn to be more sustainable. i’m slowly getting there. finding better replacements and stuff.
That’s awesome! Every little bit makes a difference.
Wow, what a fantastic list! Every single one of these quotes is incredibly thought-provoking, Michelle! I really like the quote by Roz Savage gave me an ‘aha’ moment for sure. Using something for a few minutes, only to toss it out and have it exist for eons past its intended use. Thank you for posting these, Michelle! Cher xoxo
Thanks Cher. I agree that the quote by Roz Savage is an eye opener. When you think about it, it makes no sense at all. Yet, it’s what we do!
It really doesn’t make any sense, does it, Michelle? But as you said, it’s what we do!
I LOVE the quote about not being too small to make a difference! Great words to get us moving in the green zone 😀
Thanks Christy. Yes, Greta Thunberg certainly has proved that to be true, hasn’t she?
I love the quote from Robert Swan! I feel like we sometimes get stuck on thinking science will cure problems like chronic illness or climate change, when really we need to make changes to slow or prevent these issues.
You’re right Brittany! We all have a role to play. We can’t just wait for someone else to solve things.
These are all so inspiring it’s hard to choose just one!!
Right now “The most environmentally friendly product is the one you didn’t buy.” By Joshua Becker is probably the one that I can relate to the most. After I stopped shopping as a hobby it was amazing how much less waste we produce as a family. Seeing an immediate result inspired me to challenge myself to see how small our trash bag could be each week. There have been zero waste options I have found to replace some of my wasteful things but most the time I simply have just cut out the fluff.
Great post!
I think that’s my favourite too Suzanne! It really makes you think about everything we accumulate. I question absolutely everything I’m tempted to buy and often end up not buying it.