Our Definition of Environment, From Senior Director of Impact Programs Mark Steinbuck

When you think of the word “environment,” do you picture plants or animals? Maybe your mind wanders to grassy plains, rushing rivers or vibrant forests. Those are just a few pieces of the puzzle that makes the environment what it is—and humans are another piece in this grand, complex ecosystem.

People are part of nature. Our health and well-being are deeply intertwined with the health of our planet and the species that call it home. 

As our CEO, Kate Williams, puts it, "Humans have always been a part of 'ecosystem Earth,' and the reality is that our economy, our health and our future are all part of one interconnected system. A thriving future is only possible when we care for the whole system. That's why 1% for the Planet's definition of environment encompasses the connections between people and planet. Focusing on Rights & Access, Resilient Communities, Just Economies and Conservation & Restoration as our four impact areas, this is the movement working for ecosystem Earth."

We sat down with Mark Steinbuck, 1% for the Planet’s Senior Director of Impact Programs, who holds a master’s degree in human-environment anthropology from Colorado State University, and asked him a few questions about what “environment” means at 1% for the Planet.

What is 1% for the Planet’s definition of environment? 

Our official definition of "environment" is: An integrated social and ecological system. Because the environment is not just nature isolated from culture, economics or political power, environmental solutions address how ecological realities are often driven by social forces, and conversely, how social realities are impacted by environmental degradation. This intersectional approach encompasses solutions that both center conservation for the inherent value of nature, and sustain, heal and/or empower the broader socio-ecological fabric of our planet. This range includes diverse topics such as food sovereignty, marine protected areas, green urban infrastructure and just market transitions.

Put differently, the environment is the web of relationships between all of the living things to each other and to the nonliving physical aspects of the planet. I think a lot of people imagine “the environment” as a fairly simple natural system, like a forest stand that cycles nutrients and provides habitat for critters, which exists in something of pristine state until disturbed by humanity. But you can also see the environment as the ever-changing adaptation of a space to the physical, biological and social forces that shape it, which includes things like the economy, politics and culture. Because there is a long history of seeing people and nature as two separate ideas that tend to clash with or exist outside of each other, it's easy to miss the idea that the environment is not just biological and physical resources “out there” that need saving, but is actually something that people actively create on a daily basis through mundane activities like eating to complex ideas like industrial production.

How do 1% for the Planet’s four impact areas address both people and planet? 

Our impact areas are a way to create meaningful categories out of the complexity and diversity of environmental issues. If we understand the environment as a relationship, we can’t just talk about conserving biophysical nature without understanding where people fit into it. “What people live within a natural space?,” “How do people interact with the life and resources around them?,” “How do people sustain themselves?,” and “How do people make decisions in response to the economy, climate change, technology and the law?,” are all environmental questions that the 1% for the Planet Impact Areas consider.

For example, we lead our four impact areas with Rights & Access, itself led by the theme of Environmental Democracy and followed by Land & Water Rights. One might think that an environmental action framework might start with “marine conservation” or something more iconic or strictly biophysical, but understanding and attending to the power dynamics that not only create environmental degradation, but also define the history of “environmentalism,” is necessary to understand how to better solve environmental issues. And, it starts with asking the questions of who has rights to relate with, own, use, access, live in and speak out about nature.

We’ve used this mindset to be holistic across our impact areas and themes, ensuring that we have adequate space to attend to legacy environmental issues like biodiversity and species preservation within the Conservation & Restoration area, from toxic substances remediation to how environmental knowledge is generated through the sciences and indigenous knowledge in Resilient Communities, to renewable energy policy, green jobs, and circular design in Just Economies.

What are some examples of impact partners that demonstrate the interconnected nature of the environment?

The Wave Project is an amazing U.K.-based impact partner that connects youth mental health to nature access. Nature-based therapy programs like this show just how integrated human and environmental health are. It’s becoming increasingly understood how the growing pandemic of depression, anxiety and suicide in children across the world is correlated with an increasingly isolated, screen-focused, indoor childhood. As a parent myself, I’m very concerned about the next generation’s decreasing familiarity with nature and its ability to drive creativity, adventure, healing, friendships and care for the living world. The Wave Project’s programming focuses on surfing as the gateway to appreciating nature, even for children who need adaptive support to get into the ocean. 

Native American Fish and Wildlife Society is a U.S.-based nonprofit that works across 451 federally recognized Tribes to advance the protection of fish and Native community rights to access fish (and other wildlife populations) and preserve cultural traditions that embed Indigenous knowledge and stewardship. I most appreciate that the organization doesn’t just attend to species conservation directly, but also works on capacity building at the individual and tribal community level that elevates tribal members to attain gainful employment that simultaneously supports the environment. This is a perfect example of how the economy is part of the environment, and developing pathways to non-extractive jobs in under-resourced areas hits at the nexus of the complexity of human-environment interactions.

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