ETH researcher Reto Knutti on the Public Challenge: “Protecting the climate does not mean giving up everything”

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Reto Knutti is one of the most well-known researchers on climate change. An important voice and one of the authors of the world climate report. The professor of climate physics at ETH Zurich creates models “to understand the climate, develop predictions for the future and see how we might respond to it.”

The 50-year-old man from the Bernese Oberland tirelessly calls for action: “Climate change is not a pipe dream. This is happening here and now” (Blick). Or we get to the point of why we approach the pressing problem (#1 on the anxiety barometer) rather passively: “We’re all a little lazy, stupid, and selfish” (Observer).

But Warner Knutti can also motivate: “You don’t have to be perfect or give up everything to do something for climate protection. The possibilities are there, you just have to get started.” It can be compared to sports: you need an incentive to take the first step. Or maybe you need the help of others, encouraging you. “Then you realize it’s not that hard after all.” Climate researcher Knutti directly addresses the public’s problem. The initiative of Swisscom, Migros, Mobiliar, post office, SBB, VCS and Energie Schweiz wants to call on the population to adopt climate-friendly mobility behavior.

Over the course of six weeks, as many participants as possible must record their mobility data and face fun challenges. For example, traveling at least 21 kilometers in seven days by walking or cycling instead of using public transportation or car.

“CO₂ emissions in Switzerland are dominated by private transport, flight, heating, industry, agriculture, services and waste,” says Knutti in an interview with Public Challenge. He emphasizes that a lot can be done, especially when it comes to mobility and nutrition. In fact, mobility causes an average of 9.5 kilograms of CO₂ emissions per person per day. This corresponds to a journey of approximately 50 kilometers with an average passenger vehicle.

On the question of whether such initiatives benefit the climate, Reto Knutti says: “We cannot reverse climate change overnight. But we have the choice, through our behavior, between 1.5 degrees Celsius of warming or 2, 3 or 4 degrees of warming. And it’s clear: “The hotter, the worse.” The effects are quite significant; “If we reduce our CO₂ emissions quickly, we can prevent dangerous climate change.”

According to expert Knutti, every tenth degree increase in temperature can be prevented by reducing greenhouse gas emissions: “With a temperature well below 1.5 or 2 degrees Celsius, the strongest effects on tipping points in the climate system can be largely avoided.” If it increased, life would not be possible in many parts of the world.

The purpose of the Public Struggle together Saving 1 million kilograms of CO₂ and reduce average CO₂ emissions from mobility. This is a very realistic goal, because the fight got back on track shortly after it started: after 16 days, more than half of the goal had already been achieved. According to Knutti, the campaign is a good example of the impact of small measures: “Protecting the climate is not that difficult, it can even be fun. “You too can join the People’s Struggle.”

Participate and win

Besides the climate, the participants also benefit from this. Not just in terms of personal fitness. Green Points are credited for each successfully completed mission in the Public Challenge. The more points someone collects, the greater their chance of winning one of the prizes. More than 500 prizes, from iPhone 14 to SBB day tickets and shopping vouchers, will be raffled!

Source : Blick