I'm following the 2011 United Nations Climate Change Summit, and here's my question: In the midst of a million ideas to make Earth sustainable and reduce carbon emissions, did the United Nations leave out the most important sustainability concept on the entire Planet? If you care about the sustainability of Earth or the human race, then this article is for you. If you eat McDonald's, watch FOX News, drive a Hummer, or embrace an Android phone, then you should stop reading immediately, because (and this is a WARNING to proceed with caution) you are not reading an article, but a personal, Survivor-level challenge, and a delicious mental injection of...you guessed it, 100% organic sustainability extract. So, grab yourself a cold kombucha, or other pure essence beverage, and let's go...

I think it’s time for a ‘new’ concept of sustainability. People matter. You matter! The sustainability X Factor missing at the UN Climate Change Summit is amazingly sustainable people, and recognition of individual sustainability. Yes, that's right, let's talk about the individuals and how to help each and every one of them. You wouldn't hire a group of folks that weigh 400 pounds each to tackle the global problem of malnutrition and fast food, so why ask unsustainable people to make the Planet a more a sustainable place? For the past seventeen years, UN Climate Change Summits have attracted some of the world's most brilliant scientists, activists, politicians, and business innovators. The time is now for us to ask: How sustainable are the individuals that wish to create a more sustainable Planet, and how sustainable would they need to be to have a real impact?

The 2011 UN Climate Change Summit is in Durban, South Africa

In South Africa, the science of sustainability is in season. The country's mangoes sweeten as the air heats up, and climate change experts and activists accumulate in the diverse port city of Durban. On Saturday, thousands of protestors rallied outside the Summit's primary conference venue as part of an organized citywide march. Bishop Jeff Davies of the Southern African Faith Communities Environment Institute explained their purpose. "It's calling for a sustainable future...and we've actually got to act urgently, so that we put this planet back onto a sustainable path."

How can we make our Planet sustainable? The voguish marketing of 'sustainability' evokes powerful images of windmills, electric cars, and solar panels. A Twitter search reveals that every company, special event, celebrity, politician, and hipster on the Planet wants to associate with the #sustainability movement.

How many times have you seen companies use an image like this to promote their products and services as sustainable? Are they invested in their own?

The problem is that few of the people and businesses attached to 'sustainability' actively invest in their own. Yes, here’s where the personal challenge begins...

Two months ago in London, Christine Figueres, Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, delivered a powerful presentation to Al Gore and other climate change business leaders. "In our battle toward sustainability," she said, "we too must be principled leaders. Your leadership is essential to pave the road toward sustainability." In this case, principled leaders must be sustainable leaders, if they are to affect global sustainability. Here is the challenge that presents itself to Ms. Figueres, attendees of the 2011 United Nations Climate Change Summit, and people everywhere that want to increase the sustainability of our Planet: Accelerate global sustainability by increasing your personal sustainability and the sustainability of your associates.

Here are the Top 7 UN Sustainability Secrets that could catalyze a dramatic shift in personal and planetary sustainability, and reduce carbon emissions worldwide:

  1. Eat Organic and Local Food: Organic, local agriculture is more sustainable than conventional agriculture, and organic food contains more nutrition. Take organic, plant-based vitamins and supplements specific to your body.
  2. Wear Organic Clothes: Conventional cotton, like that grown in India and China, is highly toxic, unsustainable, and kills many of the people that farm it. Organic cotton, wool, and hemp are excellent choices. Some of my favorites are Ibex, Livity, and Patagonia.
  3. Resistance FlexibilityTM to Remove Excess Fascia: The sustainability of the body is paramount and affects all other aspects of a person. Removing excess fascia from the body can cause extraordinary physical, analytical, spiritual, and emotional personal upgrades, and can dramatically enhance a person's ability to lead and affect global change. At the Genius of Flexibility Studio in Boston, we specialize in using Resistance FlexibilityTM to develop people in all ways. SEE VIDEO: Founder Bob Cooley presents some foundational concepts of Resistance Flexibility.
  4. Drive Electric Cars or Take Public Transportation: Send a message to the oil companies that they can't kill the electric car. Let’s do our part to move toward sustainable transportation systems.
  5. Environmentally Friendly Living: Make our houses and apartments as eco-friendly as possible and stay in eco-friendly hotels when traveling.
  6. Invite and Collaborate with Organic and Eco-Innovators and Entrepreneurs: Some of the most environmentally conscious entrepreneurs are brilliant idea people, and they should be supported to attend the UN Climate Change Summits.
  7. Prohibit Unsustainable Businesses and Individuals from Sponsoring or Attending the Summit: Let's cut out the individuals and companies that are holding us back and driving sustainability in the wrong direction. We should work to introduce disruptive, useful, and successful ideas that shut them down, and not allow the holders of old ideas to hang around- even if they bring financial support.
Let's create a Planet filled with amazingly sustainable people. We are the X Factor.
The Genius of Flexibility