Climate Calculator for Hamburg‘s Students

The environment and climate issue is omnipresent and has been thematized continuously in the general public for decades. The Federal Government decides up on diverse climate goals for the reduction of greenhouse gases in order to counteract global warming time and again. The annual amount of CO2 emissions is considered to be an important indicator. However, can a person as an individual change something? How can a low wage earing student in particular contribute positively to the conservation and recreation of the natural ecosystem?

Surprising study result as initial impulse

First studies which were conducted during a seminar on climate change at the University of Hamburg in 2019 showed that even minimal changes in individual actions which can also be realized with little money may lead to a significant reduction of the ecological footprint – a result, which was a surprise to many students in the seminar.

Reducing the gap between knowledge and action

Why are many people aware of the global climate problems which are closely connected to their way of living and still decide against a more conscious handling of our resources? A study which has been conducted by the Federal Environment Agency in 2016 shows the strong wish of many interviewees that environmental problems have to be solved. In accordance with the interviews many people considered the government to be responsible for it and rather less in their own responsibility. In our project, we intend to help to reduce this discrepancy between the wish of many people to avoid climate change, the interest in the preservation of a healthy environment and the inadequate individual responsibility.

Investigating possible actions

Thus, we will develop a questionnaire based on an already existing calculator with which we intend to record the current life situation and the willingness to compromise regarding individual changes in behavior of the students. Based on this data, we can model an average student of the University of Hamburg which we will contrast with a student who lives more “consciously”. In order to do this, we will slightly vary parameters like mobility, consumer behavior, eating habits etc. At this point, we are interested in the possible actions of the student as an individual on the one hand as well as the university as an institution on the other hand. We also would like to raise the question in our project how the university can contribute to enable the students to lead an ecologically more conscious life, which measures already exist and which effect they have.

Sharing knowledge

We intend to publish our results at the University of Hamburg as well as at other universities and colleges via diverse channels. The main objective of our project is to shift the focus on the target group of students regarding climate change and the scope for action.

Student research group

• Freya Berggötz
• Deborah Kern
• Marc-Christopher Muckelberg

Mentor

• Prof. Dr. Kay-Christian Emeis