November 19, 2020
What does climate neutral mean? Responsibility!
by Leonie Poppe
[Mr]
Climate. Such a comprehensive and burning issue.
This has been shown to us very clearly in the last few weeks and months. The bushfires and fires in Australia are not the only signs of climate change, but they show us more than clearly what is happening on our no longer quite so blue planet.
Since August, fires have been raging across the entire continent on the other side of the world. And there is no end in sight. Climate researchers confirm that this is an effect of climate change. Every year, temperatures climb one rung further up the ladder towards the sun. The result: hot and even drier summers - a vicious circle begins.
The dark clouds of smoke billowing over Australia do not bode well. The fires have already produced more than half of Australia's annual CO2 emissions. And like everything on our planet, the atmosphere that surrounds it consists of a balanced mixture of chemical substances. A complex system of different gases.
In this system, the so-called greenhouse gases (CO2, methane, nitrous oxide, etc.) are responsible for keeping our earth at an average temperature of +15 degrees. This is the only way we can live on earth, because only very few of us would be happy with a standard temperature of -18 degrees.
Thermal radiation from the interior of our planet, which would normally escape into space, is absorbed by these gases and a certain proportion is radiated back again. If these greenhouse gases increase due to man-made emissions, i.e. the release of large amounts of CO2, methane and nitrous oxide, the global temperature will ultimately rise. This is the so-called anthropogenic greenhouse effect.
How is CO2 created?
Carbon dioxide is produced, for example, when fossil fuels such as coal, petroleum and natural gas are burned. These substances are of organic origin and their molecular composition is made up of carbon. This is released in the form of CO2 when burned. People use this released energy in many ways and produce a considerable amount of additional CO2 for their needs. On average, 21% is used for heating and electricity, 21% for mobility and 15% through our diet. The fact that the diet is so "small" in this case is because we are talking about CO2 and not methane. The remaining consumption accounts for 37%. In Germany, that is 11.6 tonnes per capita! This puts us above the global average of almost 5 tonnes.
The Federal Environment Agency states that there is definitely a correlation between the level of income and the level of CO2 consumption. As a result of our consumption behavior and standard of living, we emit more CO2. This is due to frequent air travel and higher mileage due to the use of our own cars. But what really counts in the end are fundamental decisions on the topics of transport, heating, consumption and eating habits.
Our planet has a fever
Sometimes it seems to me as if our earth has a fever. When infected, the human body increases its temperature to get rid of and destroy unwanted invaders. However, if the temperature is too high, the body damages itself. Proteins and enzymes denature and lose their function. I see a similar process on earth. The vicious circle I spoke of earlier.
The increased temperature leads to drought and dryness, fires break out. The green lungs of our planet are destroyed and emit CO2 instead of using it to provide us with vital oxygen. The greenhouse effect is intensified and the global average temperature continues to rise.
[Mr]
The responsibility lies with us!
We must now do everything we can to bring the fever down. Because we have a responsibility! And we at junglück see this responsibility, which also comes with bringing a product into the world, producing it and shipping it. That is why we do everything we can to implement our activities in the most environmentally friendly way possible and to give something back to nature.
[Mr]
junglück is environmentally conscious!
Of course, environmental awareness means much more than "just" reducing CO2 emissions. With annual compensation payments, we support projects such as the Biomass Power Project in India, which generates energy from renewable resources using CO2-neutral fuels such as rice husks. In this way, we work to offset the emissions generated by our activities and can thus take action to protect the climate through various measures.
In order to reduce the emissions generated during shipping, we ship climate-neutrally in Germany, Austria and Switzerland via GoGreen from DHL , Post AT CO2 NEUTRAL DELIVERY and Post CH ProClima Versand .
We also want to give something back to the earth and show our gratitude. That's why we also donate to nature conservation organizations such as the tropical forest foundation oroverde . In this context, our long-term cooperation with Eden Projects should not go unmentioned. By donating a tree for every product sold, we try to keep the ecological footprint we leave as small as possible.
[Mr]
How can I live in a more climate-friendly way?
According to environmental expert Dr. Michael Bilharz, we should think about the big, overarching issues. So, do you want to reduce your own personal ecological footprint or take a closer look at it? Then ask yourself what kind of electricity you use, how often you use your car for short journeys, how well your house is insulated and what foods you are consuming more of.
To do your part, use green electricity, switch to walking or cycling for short distances, avoid unnecessary heating by using good insulation, buy mostly organic products and limit your consumption of animal products! Read more here .
It is also important that we recognize that climate protection is a task that can be carried out together. It can be very helpful to invest in larger climate protection projects and renewable energies. In this way, we can often reduce our per capita CO2 emissions much more effectively than we could if we checked every movement in our everyday lives for its CO2 balance. Nevertheless, we believe that rethinking starts with you! And rethinking is unavoidable. So we are called upon!
We are the ones responsible for the state our beautiful planet is in. A planet that shares so many of its treasures with us, but only if we are willing to give something back. If we appreciate and respect its beauty and, above all, its transience. We only have this one Earth. Just as we only have this one body.
Here’s to a new decade full of awareness, responsibility and respect for our earth and our fellow human beings!
junglücksgefühle for everyone...
Your Leonie