What heats up the climate?
The climate is warming due to the greenhouse gases that we humans release into the atmosphere. These gases keep more heat in the atmosphere, which causes temperatures to rise.
Greenhouse gases are mainly produced by burning oil, coal and gas, but also by deforestation, sealing and draining peatlands. Industrial livestock farming and the use of artificial fertilizers also play an important role. Fluorinated gases, which are used in cooling systems, for example, also have an impact on the climate.
Why is the climate so 'sensitive'?
When German astronaut Alexander Gerst flew into space for the first time, he was impressed by one thing: how wafer-thin the atmosphere is. Just a shimmering blue, thin veil around the globe. It looks as if it could easily be blown away. If the earth were an apple, the atmosphere would only be as thick as the skin.
No wonder that the large quantities of greenhouse gases that we are blowing into the air are quite damaging to this life-giving 'shell'.
How 'hot' is the earth already?
On average, the earth has already warmed by over 1°C. That doesn't sound like much, but from a climate perspective it is a lot. Europe is warming more than any other continent. Due to its northern location, large land mass, etc., Europe has experienced the hottest years on record in the last 10 years.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is urgently calling for global warming to be curbed as quickly as possible so that it does not exceed the critical 1.5°C mark. Not just every degree, but every decimal point determines the survival of ecosystems and where on this planet a comfortable life will continue to be possible. Above 1.5°C, so-called tipping points could be exceeded and entire ecosystems (e.g. the Amazon rainforest) could collapse. Such changes cannot be reversed.
How bad is that?
In many countries, people are already feeling the effects of our changing climate. Sea levels are rising steadily because the warming oceans are expanding and ice masses are melting. In many places, coastal and island dwellers are already experiencing how rising sea levels are making their drinking water saline and undrinkable.
As the oceans not only warm up, but also absorb CO2, they become more "acidic". The pH value drops. This causes corals and important fish stocks to disappear. The Australian Great Barrier Reef is particularly badly affected.
Many areas that are already hot and dry could soon be uninhabitable. Over the next 30 years, 200 million climate refugees are predicted.
We are also feeling the effects of global warming more and more clearly in Europe. Extreme events are becoming more frequent and more intense, as the floods in Germany and Belgium in summer 2021 showed. Heatwaves are affecting us more and more, especially in cities. Droughts are causing hardship for farmers. Our forests are also not (yet) adapted to rising temperatures and increasing drought.
Scientists fear that the Mediterranean region in particular could become a "climate change hotspot" due to even more droughts, fires and heatwaves.
Does climate protection prevent everything that is fun?
If we want to curb global warming, all areas of our society must be made climate-friendly. Scientists talk about "transformation", by which they mean far-reaching changes in our society.
The way we live, travel, consume, etc. must not pollute the atmosphere with further man-made greenhouse gases. However, this does not mean that we will have to do without everything that is important to us in the future. Or even go "back to the Stone Age".
A climate-friendly society brings with it a high quality of life. The "prosperity" of Western countries, which some see as threatened by climate protection, also has clear downsides. Never before have so many anti-depressants been taken as today. Never before has the burn-out rate been so high. Never before have so many people been overweight or lonely.
This is offset by the "desirable side effects" of climate protection: Cleaner air, less stress, healthy people and soil, clean drinking water, safe school and cycle paths, more birdsong and bees buzzing, more independence and social cohesion. And last but not least, the joy of leaving a planet worth living on for our children and grandchildren with sufficient room for maneuver.
What can I do personally?
It is not just politicians who urgently need to become more active; we all have a part to play. The most effective levers are the areas of energy, food and transport.
Switching to heat and electricity from renewable energy sources is a simple first step. Cooking in a climate-friendly way too
is much easier than many people think. Numerous cookbooks and climate cooking courses provide new culinary experiences.
However, many people find it difficult to say goodbye to their private (first, second or third) car. Especially when there is a lack of attractive public transportation. However, even in rural regions, more and more options are emerging, e.g. through car-sharing services.
If we also learn to only buy what we need and to repair things instead of throwing them away, we not only save a lot of money, but also a lot of time. True to the motto: reduce - reuse - recycle (buy less, reuse, recycle).
And fortunately, all climate scientists agree on one thing. We humans can do it, we can still turn the corner. So let's get going!
