Only this one planet

People. You, me, us. 

We humans leave traces on this earth. Not only in the places where we move, but also where our lifestyle leaves its mark.

If we just look at our smartphone or turn on the television, we are directly confronted with a daily issue whose consequences are becoming increasingly serious: climate change.

Before I start with potential solutions, I would like to explain the meaning to you.

You might think that the term climate change simply means the climate changing its temperatures. That's not wrong, but the term includes much more than that, because since industrialization in the 19th century, which is mainly due to human activities, the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas has resulted in greenhouse gas emissions.  These cover the earth like a blanket, trapping the sun's heat and, as a result, causing temperatures to rise.

It is no longer a secret that we humans are the main cause of climate change. 

The largest emitters include the energy sector, industry, transport and agriculture. Methane and carbon dioxide are of particular importance here. They are not only produced by petrol, but the clearing of land and forests can also release carbon dioxide. Landfills are also one of the main emitters of methane.

The consequences are devastating and pose an enormous challenge to us humans, as glaciers are melting, sea levels are rising, oceans are becoming more acidic, groundwater levels are sinking, desert areas are expanding and biodiversity is decreasing or is threatened with extinction. 

Each of us should have thought about this problem at some point and probably also pondered what we could do to help.

How can we counteract all this?

Just start your day more consciously!

Maybe do without the car every now and then and take a bike, or go for a short walk in the fresh air. It would also make sense to reduce the consumption of meat and dairy products. After all, meat should be something special and not end up on our plates in large quantities every day, because butter and beef are among the most climate-damaging foods.

Another positive effect would be to eat only seasonal and regional vegetables and fruit, not only for the environment but also for your health.

Organic food is produced without chemical-synthetic pesticides, which means the soil is cultivated more sustainably. Just one portion of strawberries from the south causes many times more CO2 emissions through transport alone than domestic strawberries, which are ready for harvest in Germany in early summer.

It would not be wrong to give it a deeper thought, because if everyone contributed just a little bit, the world would be a completely different place.