Collectively, we spend only 45 minutes daily on the activities that produce the most pollution

By studying how much time is globally devoted to certain activities, a picture emerges of how we collectively use time. (Shutterstock)

Why do we feel stuck in our efforts to solve the great sustainability crises of the 21st century? Between the dire need to successfully mitigate climate change while making progress on human-focused Sustainable Development Goals, the challenges of the Anthropocene — the era in which we now live — can appear insurmountable.