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... RENATE SCHUBERT
1. From your point of view, what are today's most pressing environmental problems?
The most pressing problem is global climate change. Even though we have the Paris Agreement, it will be very challenging for us to be able to keep the global temperature increase from exceeding 1.5° C. In order to prevent more excessive global warming, it seems inevitable that we'll need to make use of negative emission technologies (NET) or even solar radiation management technologies (SRM) along with general greenhouse gas mitigation measures.While NET has high investment costs and does not prevent new emissions, SRM is characterised by totally unknown new risks. One key topic is that precipitation distribution will change in unknown ways - and that this will most likely bring along additional distributional inequities.
2. When looking at potential improvements in our environment, what gives you hope?
I think that a lot of people around the world are aware of the scarcity of natural resources and the problems brought about by global climate change. So a lot of people are willing "in principle" to behave in a more environmentally friendly manner. In many countries, you'll see that younger people are really trying to save energy, to recycle waste, to avoid wasting food, etc. Children often try to educate their parents and encourage them, for instance, to take shorter showers. In the end, though, many people shy away from changing their behaviour - some because they don't know what to do, some because they find it too expensive, and some because they don't want to give up "modern" habits like flying to foreign destinations for weekend trips or vacation or using plastic bottles.
3. Is there a particular environmental policy reform you admire the most?
The problem with environmental policies is that they typically look nice on paper but aren't really implemented. In this sense, environmental nudging activities seem to be more promising. Singapore, for instance, nudges consumers to reduce their consumption of water and electricity by disclosing the respective consumption level of their neighbours on the monthly bills.
4. Which trend in environmental policy and politics do you...