OPL’s founder, Lorie Buckingham, reflects on the global setbacks of 2025, and rallies the OPL community to be stubbornly optimistic in 2026.
I am the founder of One Planet Life. I call myself a way finder —someone navigating these challenging times alongside you, looking for pointers and signs that can guide us toward a better world. A world that cares for our planet and all life on it. A world that values justice and equality.
Toward the end of last year, I began to languish. I felt adrift. I lost my way and went quiet.
We witnessed significant setbacks to renewable energy development and social justice in 2025.
Renewable energy policies were rolled back or reversed, weakening regulation and environmental protections and creating widespread uncertainty. Subsidies and infrastructure continued to support fossil fuel dependence. These challenges were compounded by grid capacity limitations, local opposition, and supply-chain constraints — alongside rapidly increasing energy demand from new data centers driven by AI and other emerging technologies.
Social justice, too, seemed to take a back seat. Federal support for justice-oriented programs was reduced, access to affordable energy became more inequitable as prices rose, and broad socioeconomic pressures undermined inclusive progress. All of this unfolded against the intensifying impacts of climate change: heatwaves, coral bleaching, floods, and fires. 2025 was among the hottest years on record, with heatwaves becoming an increasingly common and deadly climate disaster. This year proved again that climate change does not affect countries or people equally. Many vulnerable populations and nations experienced extreme weather conditions with little capacity to adapt.
And yet — after watching, listening, and reflecting — I realized something important: there is also an enormous amount of positive action underway.
Despite global setbacks, people care about the planet.
People everywhere are making a difference. There is a quiet, unstoppable momentum carrying us forward. Many care deeply and are still taking action.
Yes, loud and powerful voices are trying to shape the world in their image and persuade us that their vision is inevitable. But they are building a world that serves their own interests — not one that sustains a living planet or all the people on it. Their narrative may be powerful, but it is false. While it can feel underground at times, countless positive forces are working every day to create a better future.
One Planet Life wants to continue to be part of that greener future.
We stand by our original mission: to be a socially conscious enterprise dedicated to providing clear information, inspiration, and practical tools for action. We aim to be your trusted source of thoughtful content — without ads or noise — to help you navigate and act. Every small change we make can add up over time, creating a ripple effect that influences the world around us.
Recently, I began reading Inconspicuous Consumption: The Environmental Impact You Don’t Know You Have by Tatiana Schlossberg. It’s early days, and I’ll share more once I finish, but one idea already stands out. Schlossberg acknowledges the hard realities we face and the need for collective solutions—while also reminding us that doing nothing is a losing strategy. As Schlossberg writes:
We know what happens if we do nothing: things get worse. But we don’t know what happens if we decide to do something, especially if we decide to do a lot. The biggest variable in the trajectory of climate change is what people decide to do about it. So in that way, every little thing counts, because it’s all part of doing something.
My resolution this year is simple: to do something. And I hope you’ll join me.
At One Planet Life, we will continue to explore tough and complex issues — from climate change to its intersection with technology, including AI and crypto, and its deep ties to social justice. We’ll share meaningful books, spotlight inspirational leaders, and stay focused on the small, everyday actions that truly add up over time. Most importantly, we aim to keep you inspired and continue building a community rooted in care, courage, and action.
Together, we can find the way forward.
Happy New Year,
Lorie
Written by Lorie Buckingham
OPL Founder and Wayfinder
“Over the years, I was struck by how our lifestyles cause stress both on us and the planet. This led me to explore and learn about sustainability and wellness. With a deeper understanding, I began to make tangible changes in my life. One Planet Life LLC was founded to connect with others on this journey. I hope that together we can make a significant difference for people and the planet.”
