Today, there are two kinds of existential cry resounding in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), a central African nation synonymous with ecological and mineral riches.

Electricity is life-transformative. It can bring people and families from a literal “dark” age and open up for them an array of new possibilities in education, work, friendship, family, and health.

Avocados have become a staple in many US and global households over the past 30 years. It’s on toast, in sushi, and warming up in a pan as oil. The Mexican fruit has seen a rapid increase in demand, mainly from North American countries, because it’s considered a delicious and nutrient-dense food source.

Stand in front of your wardrobe for a moment and imagine every T-shirt, dress, and pair of jeans tracing its way across the planet after you’re done with it. Most of those garments don’t quietly “disappear” into a donation bin or recycling stream.

As wildfires rage, oceans rise, and extreme weather events strain vulnerable communities worldwide, the question is becoming increasingly urgent: Do people have a universal human right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment?