Nichts als heiße Luft/Just hot air

By Maike Jebasinski

Supervisor: Dr. Gesa Lüdecke

The latest report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) describes alarming changes in the climate in every region of the world, which are predicted to increase dramatically in future. Even in Europe, the effects of the climate crisis are now tangible. The flooding in western Germany as well as the extreme heat and drought leading to wildfires in southern European countries are dominating the news. We can already see and feel how the climate crisis affects our daily lives. Nevertheless, no drastic actions have been taken so far. When it comes to climate crises, responsibility for action seem to be very complex. Activists from Fridays for Future demand political change, whereas companies advertise their seemingly ecological ways of production and request consumers make sustainable choices. However, citizens often experience a limit to their knowledge when it comes to climate-friendly consumption. Not only is the question of responsibility for the climate crisis complex, but the various effects of purchase decisions are also difficult to understand. Moreover, do they even matter?

I know many people who are trying to live a sustainable lifestyle, minimizing unnecessary trips by plane, buying local as well as seasonal products, and using reusable bags. Nevertheless, the IPCC records intensified human influence on the climate system. It seems as if individual habits, which are also tied to socioeconomic factors and abilities, are not sufficient. With my short story “Nichts als heiße Luft / Just hot air” I wanted to capture the feelings of a person concerned with a sustainable lifestyle as well as pointing out the privilege they have to even think about reducing their individual carbon emissions. By describing some typical situations in the life of a student, I highlight various aspects of individual responsibility both as a consumer and as a political citizen.