From energy consulting to environmental activism: The Goethe-Institut USA's podcast Let’s Talk Sustainability highlights the inspiring efforts of young changemakers across Germany striving for a fairer and more sustainable future. Each episode spotlights one of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), delving into innovative solutions and personal stories that drive progress on critical global challenges.
In the early days of the pandemic, even daily tasks became a huge burden for many. Noah Adler from Berlin quickly recognized this—and took action. Or rather: he enabled others to act, with Coronaport, a website that allows that allows people to help others.
Clara Bauer and her team from energyECO advise schools and daycares in Berlin on how to become more energy efficient. Conserving energy not only lowers their operational costs, it also helps to protect the environment by reducing greenhouses gases.
Malte Kreyer from Hamburg has been campaigning against this for years. After an attack on a Jewish student in the neighborhood, he and his comrades-in-arms activated the whole school for a large solidarity action against anti-Semitism.
Despite recycling efforts, several million tons of plastic waste end up in our oceans every year. For this reason, Kilian Wolter from Norderstedt launched the "Kooperation Antiplastik" at his school. Their goal: to make their school plastic-free.
Green light for climate friendly transportation solutions: Lena Becker from Hamburg spent a whole year working on the mobility turnaround in her home city. But what does mobility turnaround actually mean? And how far has Lena come?
Marius Krebs from Lindau on Lake Constance regularly uproots trees and builds dams. By doing so, he takes care of a special type of landscape, namely boglands. They serve an important function, helping to mitigate climate change and protect biodiversity.
Plastics are often made from petroleum and other harmful chemicals. But do they have to be? Clara, Doro and Bastian from Erfurt asked themselves this question. To find an answer, they went to the lab where they found a way of making plastics a little greener.
Liza Popal from Hamburg developed a sleeping car for the homeless: During the day, it is a normal hand cart in which belongings can be stowed and transported. At night, it can be transformed into a sleeping pad that protects from cold weather and the elements.
Biodiversity is in decline almost everywhere on earth. Some experts consider this to be as serious a threat as climate change. Can counting flowers make a difference? Jakob Nolte from Laubach emphatically says yes. He also makes persuasive arguments.
Are you interested in using Let's Talk Sustainability in your classroom to teach German? Here you can download free lesson plans and worksheets for each episode.
