We’re just about to end another year and we wanted to take this time to thank you for all of your visits to the Planet Forward ‘Sustainable Scribe’ blog over the last 12 months. It’s been an interesting year for all of us who are concerned with the environment and understanding our part in changing the future. On the plus side I think it’s safe to say that eco-awareness is higher today than it ever has been and I’m sure a year from now that trend will continue. There are so many different ways that we can each contribute to improving the environment and the decisions we make on a daily basis really do have an impact. Whether it’s making sure we do we can to reduce our energy consumption by switching off lights and adjusting the thermostat, or doing away with plastic bags by grabbing yourself a reusable one – each gesture carries significance and will continue to snowball the positive change that we all need to be part of.

The recent climate conference in Cancun ends the year on a high note with governments agreeing in principle upon the emissions standards that will take us through the next 10 years. Consumers are becoming more savvy and aware of how their buying habits can change not just the local community but also the environment thousands of miles away. Environmental disasters such as the BP oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico hopefully woke up many people to the fact that new sources of fuel that are renewable must be more than a dream but a shared ambition for the next generation. Corporate Responsibility has never been so highly valued. Technology continues to provide fast track advances to electric and hybrid vehicles, wind-farms, solar energy and biofuels – each of which gradually move a greater percentage of us towards a carbon neutral environment. Meat consumption is being more carefully considered by millions due to the environmental impacts. Scientists are working round-the-clock to give us more information about global warming, deforestation and pollutants in the environment and the impacts that they hold. Schools are beginning to teach environmental programs as standard curriculum, while a six-year-old points at me and says ‘can we recycle this?’.

The information is there if people care to read it, politicians are understanding that a green policy must be part of their platform and be paid far more than lip service. The green economy that we’ve all heard so much about is beginning to make a difference not just in revitalizing old industry but in creating jobs and helping the environment. The understanding of and concern for the environment has come so far in recent years but we are still just pioneers on the global stage. 50 years from now the decisions that were made in the first 20 years of this century will either be providing inspiration to those who are benefiting from the changes that we made, or cursing our lack of progress when we still had time to make a difference.

I hope you’ve enjoyed each of our 250 or so posts in 2010 and we look forward to spending time in 2011 with you also.

Here are our 5 most popular stories from 2010 in case you missed them. Happy New Year! Don’t forget our special holiday sale of 50% off our entire product line is still ongoing in our store.

1. Eva Longoria Parker Manages an Earth Friendly Business and a Green Home

2. Eco-friendly Kids Craft – Recycle Plastic Bags to Make Jewelry Beads

3. Calgary tops new Mercer ‘ecology ranking’ for cities

4. Inspirational Eco-friendly Quotes From Actors, Activists and World Leaders

5. Trick Or Treat With An Eco-friendly Halloween