Wishes for a Living Planet

I wish that our leaders would finally incorporate the full, long-term costs to our planet into their current decision-making. Until they do so, the planet, wildlife, and our descendents will experience escalating problems that could so easily have been avoided. We have the science and the know-how, but we just don’t seem to have strong leaders to make all this happen. The history books will hold them to account, but it will be their grandchildren doing so. – Pete Ewins, senior officer, species, Canadian Arctic Program
My wish is that all Canadians know the watershed that they live in. When people know where their water comes from and understand they are part of a watershed ecosystem, they are more likely to take personal action on water stewardship, and collective action on protecting our rivers, lakes and wetlands. – Tony Maas, director, Fresh Water Program
To stop overfishing globally and help fish recover, [I wish that people would] buy only seafood with the blue checkmark when shopping for seafood in 2012. – Bettina Saier, director, Oceans Program
 
My wish is for the world to take effective steps to shield the Arctic from the disastrous effects of runaway climate change. The Arctic is warming twice as fast as the global average, and action to address Arctic climate change needs to happen globally. We need to take steps now to conserve habitat for ice-dependent species like the polar bear, walrus and narwhal.  – Martin von Mirbach, director, Canada Arctic Program
The best change we can hope for is sometimes no change at all.  The Beaufort Sea is home to two fabulous whales: the snow white beluga (known as the canary of the sea for its musical talent) and the enormous bowhead whale that boasts the biggest mouth on the planet. My wish is that these species—and many more—will be left in peace. I never want to witness a repeat of the BP Gulf of Mexico disaster in Canada’s north.  Rob Powell, director, Mackenzie River Basin Program

(c) Richard Stonehouse/WWF-Canon
 
I wish for renewed five-year federal funding for the Species At Risk Act, to help ensure recovery programs rescue hundreds of endangered and threatened species across Canada. – Steven Price, senior director, Conservation Science and Practice
Our federal government agrees to a strong global deal to keep the planet from warming more than two degrees Celsius, and Canada becomes a global leader in fighting climate change by meeting all our energy needs through renewable sources. – Joshua Laughren, director, Climate and Energy Program
I wish for  the media spotlight to shine on cognitive scientists who are working to show  us how being outside in the natural world  carries  huge health benefits, such as  less stress, an increased ability to focus, improved memory, happier mood and greater creativity. By changing the way we think about “our brains on nature,” we’ll finally be motivated  to take all the steps needed to fix our planet: we’ll strengthen laws; transform corporate culture; revolutionize consumer behavior;  produce visionary international treaties; and embark on a new era of planetary conservation with people living in harmony with nature. – Linda Nowlan, director, Pacific Conservation Program
My wish is that Canadians from coast to coast join us this year to help protect the Great Bear region of northern British Columbia. The Great Bear is the only place in the world where intact temperate rainforest, wild salmon rivers, and healthy seas come together. It is home to astonishing animals including endangered whales and porpoises, all five species of Pacific salmon, and the rare white Spirit Bear. I wish for a healthy and prosperous future for all of these creatures, and for the communities and economies that depend on them. The Great Bear is Canada’s chance to demonstrate real leadership in meshing conservation and good management across land and sea, and to safeguard a global treasure. – Darcy Dobell, vice-president, Pacific Conservation Program