Daytime TV vs. ‘Ecodrivel’: Which is Better for Your Viewing Pleasure?
Mrs F excitedly interrupted my peaceful afternoon with a job opportunity she had found. As I reluctantly tore myself away from my Homes Under the Hammer marathon, I couldn’t help but wonder if this could finally be the break I had been waiting for after numerous failed job applications.
The job in question was for a “nature-based solutions officer”, a title that immediately raised my eyebrows. The job description called for a “dynamic, passionate professional” to play a key role in addressing the challenges of nature depletion and climate change. However, as I delved further into the details, it became apparent that the role involved more sales tactics than environmental activism.
The South Downs National Park Authority was behind the job advertisement, aiming to raise £1 billion annually from the private sector to fund nature’s recovery. This ambitious goal required a sales-savvy individual to lead their voluntary biodiversity credits sales initiatives, a far cry from the image of a modern-day environmental activist living in the forest.
Funded by grants from Defra, the Environment Agency, and Natural England, the role offered a salary in excess of £40,000 a year. The successful candidate would be responsible for driving private finance towards nature conservation efforts and establishing a new nature market focused on corporate investment in nature.
After dissecting the greenwashing jargon and corporate-speak, I realized that I was not cut out for this role. Lacking the passion, sales skills, and tolerance for eco-babble, I retreated back to the comfort of my sofa and daytime television, where sanity prevailed.
In a world of confusing environmental initiatives and corporate greenwashing, sometimes it’s best to stick to what you know best and avoid getting caught up in the buzzwords and empty promises of the so-called “nature-based solutions” sector.
SOURCE
Maria Sanchez completed her Bachelor’s degree in Plant Sciences from the University of California, Davis, in the USA. Her studies focused on plant genetics and biotechnology, with an emphasis on developing disease-resistant crop varieties. Maria has contributed to several research projects aimed at improving crop resilience to climate change and is now pursuing her Master’s degree in Plant Breeding.