One in eight Brits – or almost 13% of the population – is now vegetarian or vegan, with a further 21% identifying as ‘flexitarian’. Clearly planet-friendly diets are no fad. (Source)

We’re moving beyond tofu and seeing many more plant-based meat alternatives on the menu. (Source)

The obsession with protein is driving new exciting innovation. Insect snack bars and lab-grown burgers are reinventing protein for good. (Source)

People are taking an interest in how and where their food is produced. The UK market for organic produce has experienced six years of steady growth, and is now worth £2.2 billion. Locally-sourced produce has become a mark of quality and green-fingered foodies are reviving the vegetable patch. (Source) (source)

In response to the ocean plastic crisis, the European Government voted for a complete ban on plastic cutlery and plates, cotton buds, straws, drink-stirrers and balloon sticks by 2021. (Source)

Straws are out and reusables are becoming mainstream. Reusable water bottles and coffee cups have become status symbols. (Source)

Sustainability, and specifically circularity, has taken over the fashion landscape, and eco pilot projects are beginning to scale. 2018 saw the launch of ReGain, the first clothing return app, diverting old, unwanted clothes from landfill. (Source) (source)

With the rise of the sharing economy, we’re finding new use for old, unwanted stuff. (Source)

Nature is our biggest ally for reversing climate change. Conservation, restoration, and improved land management could deliver more than a third of the emission reductions we need to hit the Paris Agreement targets — as much as ceasing the burning of oil annually. (Source)

Projects promoting ‘natural climate solutions’ are already underway. From North America to Indonesia, natural lands are finally getting the help they need to support life on earth. (Source)

Tourist destinations are taking a stand for the natural world. The island nation of Palau introduced the Palau pledge – an award-winning tourism campaign to encourage responsible tourism that was so successful it became an official entry requirement to the island. Other tourism hotspots are now considering similar strategies. (Source)

In just over a decade the rights-of-nature movement has grown from one law adopted in a small community in the US to a movement which has seen countries enact laws, even constitutional protections, recognising the rights of nature. The emerging movement aims to give our rivers, mountains and forests legal rights. (Source)

In Britain, a re-wilded countryside is bringing back biodiversity (source). And it’s not just in the countryside. Urban rewilding is turning grey to green, helping people in cities to connect with the natural world. Completed in 2017, Walthamstow Wetlands in London is now Europe’s largest urban wetland reserve, spanning 211 hectares. (Source)

Consumers are becoming more aware of their impact on the planet. Public interest in palm oil reached a 15-year high in 2018, after Iceland’s Greenpeace-produced Christmas ad was banned from television. (Source)

As our nations’ leaders quarrel over climate change, local governments are taking matters into their own hands. C40 Cities is an initiative that connects 96 of the world’s greatest cities to take bold climate action, leading the way towards a healthier and more sustainable future. (Source)

Many of these cities, including London, are shifting away from petrol and diesel cars, in favour of ultra-low emissions zones or complete pedestrianisation. (Source) (source)

In Britain, sales of diesel vehicles fell by a quarter in 2018, in part due to these new pollution charges. And government grants continue to fuel the rise in electric and hybrid vehicle ownership. (Source)

The amount of people cycling in Britain is up 23% in 10 years. (Source)

People are getting wise to poor-air quality. Some are opting for masks whilst commuting, others are avoiding unhealthy air with tracking apps and personalised devices. Many people now use anti-pollution skincare products. And even the humble houseplant has been rebranded as an air-cleaning ally. (Source)

In the face of new challenges, people around the world are adapting and collaborating to live more sustainably. In 2018, during the worst drought in its history, the citizens of Cape Town in South Africa cut their combined water usage in half, with unprecedented speed. (Source)

Public support for the use of renewable energy in the UK is at an all-time high at 85%. Two in three people said they would be happy to have a large-scale renewable development in their area. (Source)

Experience beats stuff. Younger generations reportedly place more importance on experiences than they do on material possessions – as evidenced by the boom in the experience economy. (Source)

From “conscious consumerism” to minimalism, we’re reassessing the consumer habits that have come to define us. Lifestyle philosophies characterised by moderation, consideration and purpose are sweeping the West. (Source)

In 2015, the UN updated the Millennium Development Goals to incorporate environmental sustainability. The resulting Sustainable Development Goals, or SDGs, mark the first time in history the world’s governments have agreed that continued human development is dependent on thriving natural ecosystems. (Source)

Young people are mobilizing to protect the environment. Thousands of schoolchildren across Australia walked out of class in 2018 to demand action by the federal government on climate change (source). Whilst 21 kids in the US continue to make international headlines in their attempt to sue the US government over climate change. The pioneering lawsuit has won the right to a trial, overcoming the Trump administration’s efforts to cancel it in court. (Source)

Unlikely allies are emerging in the fight for a more sustainable future. In 2015 Pope Francis called on the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics to join the fight against climate change. The Pope declared that the science of climate change is clear and that the Catholic Church views climate change as a moral issue that must be addressed. (Source)

The same year, 50,000 people in London, and 600,000 worldwide, attended the People’s Climate March, the biggest public demonstration in history calling for bold and urgent action to address global warming. (Source)