We can achieve greatness when we start small.
With your personal promise
to your mother earth!
Join us! Make your promise here and now!
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No. Because we rely on the fact that everyone promises exactly what he can accomlpish. We have to trust in that, because that’s the only way we can take this big step.
Which promises can Mother Earth use well?
I promise to buy fruits and vegetables in bulk whenever possible.
Organic farming requires only about half the amount of energy that conventional farming does. Long transport routes also produce superfluous emissions: A meal of 100 grams of asparagus from Chile causes 1.7 kilograms of CO2 emissions from transport alone. From their own region at asparagus time, it is only 60 grams.
Buy products from organic farming
Organic agriculture uses only one-third as much fossil fuel as conventional agriculture.
I will use my clothes as long as possible.
Often sports and outdoor clothing are made of synthetic materials, from which small plastic particles, so-called microplastics, are released every time they are washed. These cannot be completely filtered out in the sewage treatment plant and thus end up in our waters. Even our closets are always filling up with new (often not very high quality) clothes, because you don’t like to see the old ones anymore.
I pick up litter lying around on my Sunday walks.
I'm buying an eco Christmas tree for the next two Christmases ....
… with an organic label such as Bioland, Naturland or Bio. Or with a label for ecologically oriented forestry such as Naturland or FSC (Forest Stewardship Council).
I take my coffee and food "To stay" instead of "To go"
Almost all stores accept reusable cups or cans brought in. In many cafés, the commitment to the environment is even rewarded and the coffee in the reusable cup costs less. Or just take your time and drink your coffee in peace at the café – that’s an even nicer way to avoid plastic.
I do not use pesticides in the garden.
This will help you avoid not only direct contact with the chemicals, but also ingestion through the consumption of homegrown fruits and vegetables.
I won't use "unnecessary" chemicals
Chemicals such as air fresheners and toilet blocks contain synthetic fragrances that can cause allergies and accumulate in humans and the environment.
I will do without fabric softener in the future.
They contain environmentally harmful surfactants that consume a lot of electricity and water in production and disposal. Instead of fabric softener, it is sufficient, for example: to add a dash of vinegar to the laundry. This makes the laundry soft, the pleasant smell then comes from the detergent.
I now only use certified natural cosmetics
Liquid soap, scrubs, shower gel or mascara: microplastics are hidden in many of these products – under various names. The small particles can be hidden behind designations such as polyethylene (PE) or polyquaternium (PQ). Certified natural cosmetics do not contain any petroleum-based ingredients. In addition, solid soap can be a good alternative for personal hygiene. Shampoo and hair conditioner are also available in soap form.
I eat less animal products.
Anyone who eats a balanced, meat-reduced diet (or is even a vegetarian) saves the global climate around 400 kilograms of CO2 a year. Vegans save 670 kilograms of CO2
Every day, rainforest is cleared to make way for new soy plantations and cattle pastures. The soy is mainly used as feed for the animals. It’s a vicious cycle, because deforestation releases carbon dioxide and cattle emit a not inconsiderable amount of methane. Therefore, try to limit yourself somewhat in the consumption of meat and dairy products. The consumption of less than 600 grams of meat per week is considered healthy, which is far exceeded by most Germans.
I take a shower instead of a bath.
Prefer a shower to a full bath and do not shower longer than necessary.
I do without a dryer.
Do not use a clothes dryer. The device requires even more power than the washing machine. Instead, dry the laundry in the laundry room or in the fresh air.
I promise to turn down my heating 1 degree.
Avoid running the heater at full blast. With just one degree less room temperature, you greatly reduce heating costs and energy consumption. No one should sit in the cold! But lowering the room temperature by just one degree reduces the CO2 emissions of a four-person household by around 350 kilograms per year. If the temperature in the home is generally lowered to 15 or 16 degrees during night, this saves another 300 kilograms of CO2.
I'm having my house properly insulated.
With better home insulation, you can prevent too much heat from escaping from your four walls. This allows you to save not only energy, but also enormous costs. Seek the advice of professionals for this purpose.
I will limit my paper consumption.
Before printing documents, consider whether this is really necessary.
I purchase my electricity from an independent green power supplier in 2021.
The change is quite simple – and brings enormous benefits for the climate. An average three- to four-person household can thus save up to 1.9 tons of CO2 per year.
There are four major nationwide suppliers of green electricity: greenpeace energy, Lichtblick, Elektrizitätswerke Schönau (EWS) and Naturstrom AG. NABU recommends these with its participation in the campaign to motivate as many people as possible nationwide to change providers. On the website, we briefly present our minimum criteria and the providers. A green electricity calculator can be found at www.verivox.de, which also enables a price comparison with regional and conventional electricity providers.
I promise to turn off all my electrical appliances.
It is better to turn off TV, DVD and similar devices not only by remote control, but completely. This can save up to 300 kilograms of CO2 per household.
I commute to my job by bike, bus or train.
Anyone who travels around 20 kilometers to work each day will save around 640 kilograms of CO2 per year with an average car consumption of eight liters per 100 kilometers. For further distances within Germany, check the local and long-distance rail services.
I am involved in environmental organizations.
Together for the climate: Join an environmental protection association and get involved with other people for climate, nature and environmental protection.
I'm offsetting the greenhouse gases I'm creating.
In the case of unavoidable flights, there is an option at www.atmosfair.de to have the emissions generated calculated and offset. You voluntarily pay for the greenhouse gases caused by your flight. The money is invested, for example, in solar, hydroelectric, biomass or energy-saving projects in developing countries to save a lot of greenhouse gases there, which have a comparable climate impact to emissions from airplanes.
I don't race anymore.
Don’t speed on the highway – fuel consumption increases disproportionately at speeds over 100 kilometers per hour. A steady cruising speed between 100 and 130 kilometers per hour also avoids frequent braking and accelerating, thus saving twice.
I share my car with others. I initiate a carpool.
One basic question you should ask yourself in any case: do you really need your own car? Often a car is unnecessary or even a hindrance in everyday life – anyone who lives in a big city knows that it is often quicker and easier to get to your destination by public transport. So if you only need a car now and then, for example to do some major shopping or to go out into the countryside, you can sign up for car sharing. Once registered, you can quickly and easily rent a car at any time – without any red tape.
I make climate action an issue with my friends, family and neighbors.
Talk about it with neighbors, friends and relatives: In doing so, you should not act as a dogmatic climate saver or moralizer. But as platitudinous as it may sound, we need to talk more about what we can do to protect the climate and why. Public appeals and reports via the media do not achieve the attention and effectiveness as convincing fellow human beings from our personal environment.
I'm raising awareness with my kids.
Point out to your children at an early age that it is important to save energy.
I create space for nature.
Nature must adapt to climate change. You can help it by creating space for it, niches, retreats and stepping stones that can already be created by a nature-oriented garden.
*These promises are inspired by recommendations for action from Greenpeace, WWF and NABU.