How Concerned Should We Be For The Future Of The Planet?

There's no telling what the future holds for the environment, and we can't pretend to have answers. What we can say with absolute certainty is that some of the most brilliant minds of today are working tirelessly toward a brighter future. Climate change is the most important issue of our time, and as such it has garnered the attention of scientists and athletes, executives and artists, citizens across ideologies and party lines, leaders young and old. It requires every one of us to become our own activists, to make sustainable shifts in our own lives and encourage everyone around us to do the same. We'll be exploring how to do all of this and more on the revitalize main stage this year, and you can tune in from the comfort of your own home. Before you do, here's a primer on the issues our world is facing and what people are doing in response.

And yet, even with projections as paralyzing as these, a lot of us still have trouble springing into action. This standstill is actually ingrained in our psychology, as humans are programmed to underestimate their ability to take on such an overwhelming issue. In the end, though, we all need to remember individual action is the driver of all real change.

This massive problem is inspiring equally substantive solutions. mbg has spoken to a food waste activist turning old bread into beer, a family of adventurers demystifying our underwater landscapes, an executive changing the way we fly for the better, and an innovator turning trash into clothes—and that's all in the past month. That's what makes the sustainability field such an exciting one: It presents so much space for people to get creative and turn their individual expertise into solutions. We see a future rife with even more innovation and ingenuity. We also see the wellness world continuing to lead the movement with products that are as good for our bodies as they are for the planet. It's a daunting time, but it's an exciting one too.

Be sure to come to mindbodygreen.com Saturday, September 9, at 9 a.m. PDT/12 p.m. EDT, to watch our livestream, presented by INFINITI, and follow #mbgrevitalize on social! If you have questions about sustainability and the future of the planet, email them to editors@mindbodygreen.com. We'll be selecting some of them to be featured in the talk!