Only one in eight people knows their CO₂ footprint – what now for our planet?

Only one in eight people knows their CO₂ footprint – what now for our planet?

World Climate Conference in Brazil – a good time for reflection! On the occasion of the upcoming international meeting, a current one shows Survey by the TÜV Association that only 12% of German citizens know their personal CO₂ footprint. This is alarming, especially given the urgency of effective climate action.

The survey, which was carried out on behalf of the TÜV Association, surveyed 1,009 people aged 16 and over. It turned out that young people in particular, at 24%, are better informed than the older generation, of whom only 8% have knowledge of their own footprint. The CO₂ footprint, the measure of the above-mentioned emission of greenhouse gases, offers a valuable basis for behavioral adjustments that can contribute to improving environmental and climate protection.

Digital CO₂ footprint and sustainable consumption

An often neglected aspect is the digital CO₂ footprint. Only 4% of respondents are aware of these emissions caused by digital activities such as video streaming. To give an example: One hour of HD video streaming produces around 55 grams of CO₂. In addition, the production of a smartphone releases around 60 kg of CO₂, while a laptop produces up to 300 kg of CO₂. This knowledge could help raise awareness in the digital space and lead to more conscious consumer behavior.

The TÜV Association raises this with a clear appeal to politicians and companies: Sustainability and digitalization should be better integrated. This could help consumers place greater emphasis not only on seals and test marks (64% pay attention to this), but also on the environmental friendliness of products. Currently, only 17% of consumers consider sustainability to be a key criterion when purchasing technology.

Tips for reducing your carbon footprint

In order to reduce your own CO₂ footprint, the TÜV association gives some practical tips. This includes using devices for longer and repairing them regularly. You can also save a lot on streaming by reducing the video quality and using WiFi. Experts also recommend clearing out cloud services and emails to save storage space and electricity. Purchasing sustainable devices with high energy efficiency plays a crucial role in climate protection. Finally, it is important to dispose of old devices properly to promote recycling.

In the broader discussion about CO₂, the gas is known as an important component of the earth's atmosphere, but also as a climate killer. According to current scientific data, the CO₂ content in the atmosphere is 428 ppm, which is a significant increase compared to pre-industrial levels. According to Wikipedia CO₂ is not only a product of human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels, but also an essential element for photosynthesis in plants and therefore crucial for life on earth.

So let's work together to expand our knowledge about the CO₂ footprint and take concrete measures. It's time to act! Whether young or old – everyone can do their part to protect the climate.