The climate crisis and us - a reading

The climate crisis has gripped us. At the latest since flood disasters and forest fires have been taking place on our own doorstep, we know: "It is here, caused by us, the situation is bad, the experts agree, but," says environmental scientist Anthony Leiserowitz, "there is hope." What does this hope look like and how can we act?

One thing is clear: if we want to limit the rise in temperature to two degrees, we need to reduce our CO2 consumption. But how do we actually live with this? In everyday life? Is the stored organic apple more climate-friendly than the one from Chile? Pork or beef? Train or long-distance bus? Or are all efforts in vain because a single person can't make much of a difference?

Günther Wessel reports on the causes and consequences of the climate crisis. He introduces the scientific background, explains where the individual can make a change, why this is not a bad thing and can even make life easier and where politics is called upon because individual changes in behaviour alone have too little effect and overburden the individual. And he explains where he sees signs of confidence.