The city of Graz is committed to greater climate protection. As part of the “Climate Neutral City Graz” program, the Klimalichter project trains role models in climate protection. To this end, climate awareness and commitment to climate protection are promoted and spread in the family and neighborhood environment.
The project was initiated in 2024. Due to the great success of the previous year, Gudrun Rönfeld is already leading the second round of Klimalichter. This year, a total of thirteen families have agreed to give up cars and meat for a month and to consume consciously. The Klimalichter are scientifically monitored during the project. They receive specific input on the opportunities and challenges of climate-friendly behavior.
In one of these keynote speeches for the climate poets, Hermine Mitter addressed three key questions:
- Why is our behavior relevant to climate change?
- Why do we behave this way and not differently?
- How can our behavior be influenced?
Hermine Mitter showed that 65% of global greenhouse gas emissions are directly or indirectly attributable to private consumption. With the “Top Ten” for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the areas of housing, energy and consumption, she also presented a useful overview of effective countermeasures. Finally, she discussed various interventions and policy measures that can lead to a further reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and whose effectiveness has been scientifically proven.
As a summary, she presented three short answers to the central questions:
- The behavior of all of us is the main cause of climate and environmental change - and at the same time it can contribute substantially to the solution.
- Our behavior arises as an interaction between three conditions: Ability, Opportunity, Motivation.
- Our behavior can be changed through actions based on the analysis of our target behavior and predictable mechanisms of action.
The afternoon together was rounded off with an exciting and instructive round of reflection for all sides. Previous successes were acknowledged, tips and tricks exchanged and motivation gathered for the next stage of the joint journey.