The discrepancy between theoretical statements on combating climate change and biodiversity loss and actual activities is striking and worrying.
On the one hand, surveys and studies show a growing awareness of the urgency of these problems. According to the Global Carbon Budget 2024, global CO2 emissions from fossil fuels and cement reached a new record high of 2024 billion tons of CO37,4 in 2. This is in stark contradiction to the goals of the Paris Agreement and the numerous declarations of intent by governments and companies.
The practical implementation of climate protection measures lags far behind the findings and statements. In Germany, for example, only about 70.000 hectares of peatlands have been rewetted to date, even though this is an effective measure for CO2 reduction. The annual rewetting rate of 1.000 to 2.000 hectares is far from sufficient to achieve climate goals.
A major reason for the discrepancy between the mounting problems and the willingness to take immediate action lies in the lack of commitment from Western societies to fundamentally change their resource-intensive lifestyles. Despite awareness of the negative impacts on climate and biodiversity, a persistent consumerist orientation and a love of travel are evident. A study on climate change and biodiversity on television, conducted by the Malisa Foundation, founded by Maria and Elisabeth Furtwängler, illustrates that while there is interest in these issues, the actual commitment to profound behavioral changes is minimal.
The complexity and long-term nature of the individual processes also make it difficult to mobilize broad sections of the population for active engagement. While short-term crises elicit rapid responses, the long-term problems of climate change and biodiversity loss fade into the background. They seem too distant to warrant personal attention: appeals suffice.
An alarming gap between knowledge and action is emerging. Despite the recognition that healthy ecosystems such as forests, oceans, and peatlands store large amounts of greenhouse gases, the destruction of these habitats continues apace. Large-scale deforestation of forests and woodlands, as well as the conversion of floodplains and meadows, are striking examples of this contradiction, as is the priority given to economic interests over the preservation of nature reserves and other protected areas. The almost incomprehensible facts and figures from Europe alone speak for themselves. Here are just two examples:
- CARPATHIANSNinety percent of all primeval forests were originally located in the Romanian part of the Carpathian Mountains alone. In some Natura 2000 areas, such as Apuseni, Maramures, Fagaras, and Somešul Rece, entire mountain ridges and valleys have been deforested. Companies responsible include HS Timber Group (formerly Schweighofer), Egger, Kronospan, and Swiss Krono. IKEA is the largest customer of most of these companies. Greenpeace found more than 30 different products in IKEA stores in 13 countries that were manufactured by companies linked to the destruction of protected forests in the Carpathians.
- GYPSUM KARST LANDSCAPEThe original gypsum karst landscape stretched over a length of approximately 100 km and a width of three to seven km along the southern edge of the Harz Mountains through Lower Saxony, Thuringia, and Saxony-Anhalt. The mining of gypsum, dolomite, and anhydrite, which is approved by the authorities and often actively supported by local politicians, is destroying Europe's largest and most important gypsum karst area. The gypsum karst landscape is one of the 7 biodiversity hotspots in Germany and includes several FFH habitat types (including 3180, 6110, 6210). In Lower Saxony, more than 50 percent of the area has already been mined. Between Osterode am Harz and Walkenried in the Göttingen district (Lower Saxony) alone, gypsum is currently mined on an area of over 570 hectares.
Ultimately, profound structural changes and a rethinking of the economy and society are necessary. It is not enough to simply pay lip service or make marginal adjustments. Rather, what is needed is a fundamental transformation of our production and consumption patterns and a realignment of our value systems toward true sustainability and respect for the natural foundations of life.
Time is running out, and the gap between knowledge and action must be urgently closed to avert the catastrophic consequences of climate change and biodiversity loss. Only through decisive and consistent action at all levels—from the individual to the global—can we hope to overcome the existential threats already apparent today.
