Sustainable stewardship

As my 26 years of Rotary leadership at the international level winds down, I’ve been reflecting on favourite memories and the extraordinary opportunities Rotary has given me. One stands out this month: the decision to establish the environment as one of Rotary’s areas of focus.

We had seen how Rotary members were already preserving waterways, planting trees, and reducing pollution. Environmental stewardship was clearly an essential part of our work. As RI president in 2019–20, I was proud to have proposed the addition of the environment as an area of focus, after years of advocacy by Rotary members.

I am even prouder of what that addition — and all of you — made possible. Since July 1, 2021, clubs and districts, supported by global grants, have expanded their work to protect our planet’s resources — restoring mangroves, saving forests, and cultivating coral reefs.

These grants hold endless possibilities, and I invite you to dream. Take inspiration from initiatives like Keep Mongolia Green, championed by past RI President D K Lee, President-nominee Sangkoo Yun, and Rotary members in Korea. This major reforestation is combating Gobi Desert dust storms and creating Mongolia’s largest green zone.

I am also proud of our new strategic partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme. This collaboration empowers Rotary members to implement projects such as river cleanups and plastic waste reduction, leveraging global resources and expertise.

In November, I had the pleasure of leading a delegation of Rotary volunteers at the United Nations climate conference in Azerbaijan. You can read my account of it on ‘Rotary 360’ at blog.rotary.org.

So many opportunities are waiting for us. We know how much we can achieve together, so team up with your district and apply for a Foundation grant to support an environmental project.

Stewardship of the environment is deeply personal to my wife, Gay, and me. That is why we have established a named endowment fund through the Foundation, helping to ensure that future generations working on these projects will have the resources they need.

As we celebrate Environmental Month this April, I invite you to consider how you can make an impact. Every action matters. Explore environmental project ideas in Rotary’s new Service Project Center, take part in an existing initiative, or support The Rotary Foundation through a gift. In this way, members worldwide can protect our shared home.

I thank you, as always, for all that you do for Rotary and our Foundation.

Mark Daniel Maloney
TRF Trustee Chair