Dr. Michael Kopatz | Ending ecomorality. How we save the world without thinking about it all the time

Personal details

Dr. Michael Kopatz is an environmental scientist and project manager at the "Wuppertal Institut für Klima, Umwelt, Energie". He advocates to influence policies to create climate-protective structures instead of limiting oneself to changing personal behaviors.

About the presentation

Surveys show that almost the entire population would like to see more commitment on climate protection, but people are flying more than ever before. Collectively, we want change; individually, only a few want to make a start. Very little changes, because people feel disadvantaged if they "alone" give up flying or driving or limit themselves. Appeals have not caused our routines to change.

Michael Kopatz no longer trusts the consumer: "We prefer to push problems aside instead of facing them and keep defending our daily routine as long as we can." That's why there has to be a new routine, he says, through changes in the environment. Motto: Change circumstances, so that behavior changes.

Kopatz clearly shows in his vivid and powerful presentation that we can live more sustainably without having to deal with climate change or factory farming on a daily basis. The change to sustainability can take on a life of its own if we change the structures, for example in the form of standards and limits. Some call this the "redemption of the consumer".