The environment is the single most important resource that sustains life on Earth. From the air we breathe to the water we drink and the land we cultivate, our survival depends on the delicate balance of natural systems. A healthy environment ensures food security, clean energy and overall well-being for society. However, recent events remind us how quickly this balance can be upended when we neglect environmental stewardship. Take what has come to be known as the Mai Mahiu Flash Flood of 2024. On 29 April 2024, devastating flooding struck when debris clogged a culvert beneath a railway embankment, an infrastructure failure rooted in poor drainage maintenance and disregard for riparian buffer zones. The resulting deluge swept through communities claiming over 60 lives and leaving dozens missing and injured. This tragedy underscores how mismanagement, whether blocked culverts, settlement in flood zones or inadequate maintenance, can turn nature’s gift into devastation. This newsletter explores how we can better understand and manage our environment. It looks at the different components that make it up, the benefits they provide and the collective responsibility we share in protecting them. By doing so we can build resilience, safeguard livelihoods and ensure a sustainable future for generations to come.