I can't remember exactly when it started, but it's been a few years. I noticed it first in some news articles, then the media started to catch up on the topic, and movements started to gain traction. Greta Thunberg appeared, and her call to action for people and political leaders struck a chord, warning us what will happen if we don't do anything. 

I wondered: is this our future reality? This is what waits for us? Can we live happily in our old age, running around with our grandchildren? My head is filled with visions of water shortage, droughts, huge storms, and the end of it all. 

This is a small snapshot into my ever-intensifying climate depression. I fear that one day we will end up covered with the garbage that we have produced.

I feel frustrated  that so many are not even aware of this issue, or simply do not care. We consume and consume without measure, just because we can. We don't take the consequences into account.  I think this reality should scare people – there is simply no more time.

We worry about a lot of things these days, but I believe climate change is the foremost  topic we have to change and influence. The issue of climate change and over-consuming is in our everyday lives. It comes up in the office, during chats with friends and family. We talk about what we are doing, what more can be done, and I can only hope that these conversations lead to some change. I taught my parents how to modify their daily habits and convinced my boyfriend not to eat seafood. These are little steps that I hope can make a difference.  

I feel angry when someone says, “why should I change my existing ‘bad’ habits”, and claim that only big companies can make a significant change and politicians can solve the issue with regulations.

Of course, I understand that we are just small cogs in the machine. However, I believe that from small steps, big changes can spawn. That's why I make sacrifices in my everyday life. I am willing to buy more expensive products that do not harm my environment. I gave up certain foods, in my/our own interest. I think these are things that one can do. My very good friend who has been living a “zero-waste life” taught me how to make my household more sustainable, through grocery shopping, transportation etc. Together we found many alternative solutions that are available to us in our everyday lives.

Of course, it is very convenient that everything is available in the stores in useful packaging, so that you can get your groceries done at one place and don't have to walk to other shops half a kilometer away. It now feels like a hassle to bike to work, give up Nutella in our pancakes or (God forbid) stop consuming tons of salmon and tuna. I think it’s important to remember that our grandparents grew up without all these conveniences and I think they turned out just fine. 

All in all, I feel angry, sad, and more to the point, I am anxious. What will be the fate of my children, the fate of our beautiful planet?

I am always looking for ways to do more and consume less for the sake of the environment. Shouldn't everyone think about it a bit more too?