365 Sustainable Decisions Challenge

Imagine a world where tiny, magical creatures like seahorses disappear forever. I refuse to let that happen! That’s why I am proud to support the incredible work of Planet Wild together with the Sydney Institute of Marine Science (SIMS) in protecting the endangered White’s seahorse. White seahorses lived in large number in the Sydney Harbour, but as their seagrass habitat is vanishing, in some areas, their population has plummeted by 90%. But hope is not lost! Together, we helped: 🏨 Build underwater “seahorse hotels”—safe havens that develop into natural reefs. 🐠 Breed, raise, and release baby seahorses—boosting their survival rate from 1% to 20%. 🌱 Restore vital seagrass meadows—bringing back their home. Supporting initiatives like this is deeply important to me because every species matters. Every action counts. And with the right support, we can turn the tide for endangered marine life. 💙 Here you can watch the video that explains this mission beautifully: https://www.y...

Künstliche Intelligenz verändert die Welt – aber wusstest du, dass sie auch gehackt werden kann? 😱 Am Dienstag, 11. März um 12 Uhr zeige ich in der Webinarreihe von Speakers Excellence live, wie KI-Angriffe ablaufen und welche Konsequenzen sie haben können. 🚀 Sei dabei um dies live zu erleben! Hier geht es zur kostenlosen Anmeldung: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_-O0HGtUxT2C75s48tl-iOQ Ich freue mich auf dich und deine Fragen!

Wow! 🎉 This morning I received a very special surprise in my letterbox: my award as one of the TOP 100 trainers from Speakers Excellence! My secret: I love making complex topics easy to understand! For example, in my MindRefined GmbH CompTIA A+ course today, I taught how data communication works on the Internet. The feedback I got was that even participants with no prior knowledge understood everything! Do you want to finally get complex topics from cybersecurity and sustainability explained in an easy-to-understand way? You can find more information about my training courses and talks here: https://www.expert-marketplace.de/en/keynote-speaker/erlijn-van-genuchten-en

I received a message recently: “Erlijn, can I give your phone number to my friend Hans? He's been hacked and is totally upset.” A day later, Hans called me because someone had bought products worth over €2000 - with his money. In this video (with English subtitles), I show you how this could have happened and how the attacker may have proceeded - and also what you can do to prevent yourself from becoming a victim. Don’t wait until it’s too late! https://youtu.be/xffwZTteiEA?si=fxhfyKTfLt2UNG8R

I'm proud to be one of the nature investors that have supported this important Planet Wild mission to save lemurs from extinction: Madagascar is the only place on Earth where lemurs live in the wild. These incredible creatures have been living in forests already for millions of years—but now, their home in Madagascar is disappearing. 80% of the island's forests is gone due to wildfires and deforestation. Planet Wild traveled to Madagascar to help the organization Planet Madagascar create a future where both people and lemurs can thrive. In this wonderful video, you can see what they have achieved: https://youtu.be/WqjWE_qQAy8

Have you ever spent years doing something one way, only to discover a much faster, easier method? And then thought, “Why didn’t I do this sooner?” The same is true for digitalization in energy—it can make the energy transition faster, smarter, and more effective. But many still hesitate to embrace it. Digital tools can optimize energy use, reduce waste, and drive sustainability—but only if built on a strong foundation. That means: ✅ Security by design – Preventing cyber threats and ensuring reliable infrastructure. ✅ Overcoming psychological barriers – Addressing fears and misconceptions about digitalization. If we ignore these, we risk slowing down progress. But if we embrace them, we unlock massive potential for sustainable energy. The future of energy isn’t just about new technology—it’s about trust, security, and mindset shifts. By tackling these challenges head-on, we can accelerate the transition to clean energy and make smarter decisions for our planet. In my keynote talks a...

I am excited to share that I’ve joined Planet Wild as a Nature Investor! 🌿 Planet Wild is a global community of nature enthusiasts stepping up to protect the planet's biodiversity. 🌍 Exactly my type of thing! The natural world is vanishing at an unbelievable rate. Every day, we are losing 135 plant and animal species. Every. Single. Day. That’s 50,000 species a year! Sooner or later, this will lead to ecosystem collapse! Unless we do something about it. So, how is the Planet Wild community making a difference? Every month, the community crowdfunds global rewilding projects at the front lines to: 🦁 Bring back endangered species 🌊 Revive ocean and aquatic habitats 🌳 Restore entire landscapes Everything is documented in videos to showcase what our support really achieves on the ground. Here is just one example of how the community restored an ancient forest: https://youtu.be/BiDBAU2d7oE This is one of the most important things in the world right now, so join me in becoming a ...

Awwww, my heart just melted! 💚 In between all my brainy activities—teaching, preparing classes and courses, writing books, etc.—my brain sometimes just needs a break. And what better way than a bit of litter-picking? It’s simple, refreshing, and can't be more brainless! Today, I needed that break, so I went out—even though it was windy, cold, and even briefly snowed. Halfway through my route, two teachers with 16 children stopped to cross the road. One of the teachers turned to the kids and said, "We just talked about all the litter around here. Look, this lady has been picking it up. That is awesome, so what do we say?" In their adorable, squeaky voices, all 16 kids yelled together: "THAAAAANK YOOOUUUU!" Oh, how wonderful! My heart melts again just writing this. 💚 It’s small moments like these that remind me: Every little action matters, and people—especially kids—are watching and learning from what we do. So, if you ever feel like clearing your mind and maki...

Yesterday, I planned to set out for another litter-picking round, expecting to be alone—but boy, was I wrong! It was a beautiful winter morning, with the sun shining bright, so I very much felt like going out. The day before, I had noticed a lot of litter along a street - which we cleaned about half a year ago. So, I decided to return and clean it up once more. As it was short notice, I didn't expect anyone to join, but asked anyway. One said she would be able to join at 3 pm, which worked for me too. Since two people already make a team, I shared the plan with the rest of the Sch(m)utzengel litter-picking group. In the end, we were with 5! Wow, it feels so great to be part of this wonderful group and making a positive difference with them! We gathered 2.5 bags full of trash, 2 buckets with paint leftovers, and a large piece of steel (no idea what that is). I hope you’ll give it a try soon too. You never know how rewarding it feels until you do. And who knows who might join you? 💚

I am very pleased to offer a CompTIA Security+ course together with MindRefined GmbH starting this week! The course is for employees who would like to learn more about cybersecurity topics and have their knowledge confirmed by a recognized certification body. If you are interested in attending the next course, please get in touch! We look forward to seeing you! --- German: Ich freue mich sehr, ab diese Woche gemeinsam mit MindRefined GmbH einen CompTIA Security+ Kurs anzubieten!   Der Kurs ist für ArbeitnehmerInnen, die sich gerne in Cybersecurity-Themen weiterbilden und ihr Wissen von einer anerkannten Zertifizierder bestätigen lassen wollen. Wenn du Interesse hast beim nächsten Kurs, auch dabei zu sein, melde dich gerne! Wir freuen uns auf dich!  

I recently received a call from someone whose account had been hacked. The result: panic and major financial damage. Unfortunately, as a cybersecurity expert, I know that such cases are not uncommon: In the USA, over 20 million people have already been victims of an account hack - and in 35% of cases this resulted in financial damage. This means that in the USA alone, over 7 million people have experienced something similar! In my awareness training and lectures, I show you how you can protect yourself. Soon I will offer you a first insight in which I will show you in detail how such attacks take place and how you can protect yourself! Has something like this ever happened to you or someone close to you? Share it in the comments! --- German: Neulich bekam ich einen Anruf, von jemandem, dessen Konto gehackt wurde. Die Folge: Panik und großen finanziellen Schaden. Leider weiß ich als Cybersicherheit-Expertin, dass solche Fälle keine Seltenheit sind: In den USA wurden bereits über 20 Mil...

Today, I reached a huge milestone: I finished the manuscript for Volume 3 of my book series A Guide to a Healthier Planet! 🥳 I love writing these books, as I dive deep into a wide range of consequences of the climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss crises. I learn a lot beyond the well-known consequences and related fascinating facts about nature and sustainability. It also inspires me to continue taking action toward a healthier planet, as it shows how delicate and wonderful nature is! Until Volume 3 is published, you can enjoy and find more information about the first two volumes here (English and German): https://www.sustainabledecisions.eu/guide-to-a-healthier-planet

Would you like to know how sustainable living can be fun? I’m happy to share: A while ago, I was interviewed by Barbara Vödisch, who is international expert for the new age, author of thirteen books, founder of the Golden Future Club, and journalist. She shows with her work how we can stay on the sunny side even in times of social crisis by actively shaping things in a positive way. I was thrilled when she asked to interview me for the FUNKE magazine, "I am". She asked me - how sustainability can be fun, - what prompted me to get involved in sustainability, - how current environmental issues affect our mental health, - how parents can make the topic exciting for children so that they build a positive relationship from a young age - how collective action can promote the joy of sustainable living, and - how heavy metal pollution can cause Parkinson disease As I know from my experience that enjoying making a positive difference makes living more environmentally friendly a lot ea...

Often, I feel that I’m metaphorically planting seeds when I take an initiative. This week, one of my seeds became a beautiful flower: In 2021, my city organized a picture competition on littering. Many participants submitted photos of litter that left me wondering how it ended up there in the first place. I handed in a picture with three bottles, filled with cigarette butts, which I put in there to make clear that they are small, but many. And while they are small, one butt can poison the water we drink in about 2 years! So, by putting all these butts in bottles, it becomes clear how severely they harm our environment and us (these 3 bottles contain over 2300 cigarettes!). As these bottles visualize this problem, why the local university recently asked for permission to include my photo in one of their articles.” And there it is, my flower, in their special issue on “Sustainable development and ethics of science – mutual impulses and challenges”. This is how actions we took in the past...

Recently, I walked past two little girls. One said something to her friend that I wasn’t supposed to hear. But it made my day! On this sunny, cold afternoon, I decided to go for a walk during my lunch break. The day before, I had noted a patch with a lot of litter; litter left behind after waste bags were collected. These waste bags were ripped open, so that some waste had fallen out. Maybe opened by animals? For example, a human who was after deposit bottles? Or another animal looking for food? Anyways, I decided to walk there to clean it up (see picture). I also collected everything on my way there and back. When I almost got back home, these little girls saw me. She said to her friend: “That is a kind woman, she is picking up litter.” It shows to me how kind and meaningful actions are being noticed, even when I don’t always realize. Hopefully, I inspired these kids to put their waste in bins and take environmental responsibility as well. I believe that small actions like these trigg...

This winter, I haven’t turned on the heating—not even once! When I tell people this, they usually start wondering, just like the meter man who visited me two days ago. He comes once a year to check my water meters. This time, after jotting down the numbers, he looked up confused and said, “Your meter seems to be broken.” I smiled and replied, “Not broken—just barely used. Last year, I turned on the heating for less than 10 hours, and this year not at all.” His reaction reminded me how unusual this choice is—but it’s a conscious one. And don’t worry, I stay perfectly warm! My house is a bit cooler than summer—14-15 °C downstairs and 18-19 °C upstairs—but I stay cozy in my soft boots, comfortable ski trousers, and two favorite pullovers. The main reason I do this? To reduce my environmental footprint. Heating is one of the biggest household energy users, but last year, I only used 34 kWh compared to 1434 kWh a few years ago. That’s a 97% reduction—and it feels amazing to know I’m making ...

⚠️  If you think sustainability and cybersecurity—my fields of expertise—are completely unrelated, you're not alone. But they do intersect in ways that can make the difference between life and death: 🌞 Imagine a vast solar farm stretching across the desert, designed to power thousands of homes with clean energy. One day, it’s hacked, leaving communities scared and without power for days. Shortly after, far away, a smart irrigation system built to save water during a drought malfunctions after a cyberattack, flooding fields, wasting precious resources, and making people panic. 🎬 These aren’t scenes from a sci-fi movie—they are real threats in a world where digital systems support sustainability. So, we need people at the intersection of technology and environmentalism to protect the progress we are making. Like me! 🌍 As a science communicator with a deep passion for sustainability, I make complex environmental issues simple, engaging, and inspiring for everyone to make the physic...

Yesterday, I've done a crazy experiment with a fellow litter-picker - I laughed myself to tears! 🤣 But it worked exceptionally well! This is what we did: When we go litter-picking, we find a lot of cigarette butts. Picking them up is very worth it: on butt can poison up to 1000 L (264 gallons) of water and can take up to 10 years to degrade. But picking them up one by one is very cumbersome. That is why we came up with the idea to use an old vacuum cleaner. And gosh, sucking them up is so much faster! It even worked off the pavement! This means we can make a bigger positive difference faster. In this video, you can see our experiment in action: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/VoDhSDKrZks The setup was not ideal but as it was so promising, I'm ready to level this up. I don't know yet how, but I'm sure the answer will come. 😄

  Just before Christmas, I asked my city whether they can place a new waste bin – I’m super happy they did! This is what I asked and their replies: “Dear Mr ... I received your contact details from your colleague because I have a question regarding a waste bin. I am a co-initiator of the Sch(m)utzengel and am driving this citizen initiative to free our city from litter and make it shine even more. As part of our weekly litter-picking get-togethers, we have noticed that there is always a lot of litter on the track from the railway station, along the district administration office, to the new bridge. As there are now even more people passing there because of the new bridge, my question is whether it would make sense to put a waste bin along the track, for example, next to the bench. What do you think? Kind regards, Erlijn van Genuchten” I got a very friendly reply back: “We are happy to support your initiative and place a bin there. We are also interested in a clean city and are grat...

🦟 I never thought I'd miss insects bumping into me — until I realized how horrible their absence is. 🤯 🌞 When I was a teenager, one of my favorite things to do was ride my racing bike. 🚴‍♂️ With the wind rushing past me, I would venture out on long trips through the countryside. Before I set off, I would always make sure to put on sunscreen to protect my skin. By the time I returned home, tiny flies would be stuck all over me, glued to my arms and legs. 🦟 🌙 When I then at night left the door or window open with the light on, the house would be filled with moths in no time. They would flutter around the lightbulb, their delicate wings casting tiny, frantic shadows on the walls. 🦋 Back then, I saw these insects as a nuisance — annoying intruders that I had to brush off my skin or shoo out of my room. 🍂 But today, things are different. Now, when I go cycling, I return with clean skin. No flies stick to me anymore. And at night, even if I forget to close the windows and turn on...