With Earth Month upon the University of New Mexico, some students have been reflecting on the importance of sustainability, as well as imagining how they could better serve our grassy plains and blue sky home.
Political science student Alex St. Classis Brown said he often thinks of environmental sustainability.
“When I think of sustainability, I think of more accountability for corporations primarily, and we all need to reduce our energy consumption,” St. Classis Brown said.
Noah Lujan, an environmental planning major, said one step in ensuring a sustainable future could be increasing the use of public transport and being more observant in our consumptions.
“I think sustainability is being mindful of what you use, and also up-cycling and leaving resources for future generations. Yesterday I didn't eat any meat products because that’s one of the biggest things that contributes to global warming”, Lujan said.
Overconsumption was another stain on our environment, mechanical engineering student Makenzi Nyquist said.
“In some ways, I feel like it’s easy to fall into over-consumption, especially when it’s cheaper. But, as long as (we) be mindful of it, we can make a difference,” Nyquist said.
Almost all of the students interviewed said they practice recycling, but felt like they could be doing more. Many students said that they compost or are starting compost piles this season.
American sign language student Luis Florez said he’d like to do more.
“I don't use sustainability too much in my life,” Florez said. “Just recycling, rainwater use, plastic, glass — I’d like to start composting more.”
Andy Gropler said that they try to exist in the least disruptive way for the environment by tailoring practices like waste reduction and food production to their apartment lifestyle.
“I think that if people were just more considerate of their tertiary impacts where it's not just buying a tomato out of season, individually that’s not a problem but on a mass level where it’s just so normalized in our food system,” Gropler said.
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Mario Serratos, a philosophy master’s student, said he thinks sustainability requires institutional changes.
“The only way to achieve real sustainability may require a really profound shift in the way we organize society, so it goes beyond just surface level practices like recycling,” Serratos said.
Camillo Cretara is a freelance reporter for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at culture@dailylobo.com or on X @DailyLobo
