365 Sustainable Decisions Challenge

  💡 Every day, millions of people cross bridges without a second thought – until one day, a bridge closes and reminds us how much we rely on the invisible foundations of modern life. 🌉 Recently, someone told me that a major bridge in Bonn, Germany – the Rheinbrücke Bonn-Nord – has been closed. 🚗 According to official information, the bridge was closed on 3 June 2026 after inspections found structural damage to the supporting structure. This bridge is one of the most important east-west connections in the Bonn/Rhein-Sieg region, with around 90,000 to 100,000 vehicles previously using it every day. The result: long traffic jams. 🛣️ And honestly, I understand how frustrating this must be for everyone who depends on that route. At the same time, it made me think about something deeper: this is not only a local transport issue. It is a reminder of how much our daily lives depend on infrastructure that we often take for granted. 📗 It also reminded me of my chapter in A Guide t...

  🌱 A few months ago I went to Belgium to support Planet Wild in restoring peatlands. The video of this adventure is now online! 💪 The reason I went is because peatlands are a huge carbon sink, meaning they store a lot of carbon and are therefore extremely important for limiting climate change. 🦋 Peatlands are also an important place for many species to live and thrive, supporting biodiversity. On top of that, peat soil helps clean water, which contributes to reducing pollution. 🔬 As #climateChange, #biodiversity, and #pollution are close to my heart, the focus of my science communication work, and because I am eager to make a difference in the real world, I am excited to now be able to see the video of our action. It explains very clearly why we removed certain plants, closed ditches, and cut down trees as part of the restoration process. 🎥 You can find the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtBCj9zGT70 👕 PS: Can you spot me in the purple t shirt? 💬 PPS: If ...

😀 Life is good on a bike: 👟 Yesterday, I wanted to return a pair of sports shoes that turned out to be too small. The shop was about 20 km (12.5 miles) away. At first, I thought about driving, but this felt like wasting a beautiful day. 🚴‍♂️ So, I hopped on my bike. The ride was pure joy: golden autumn colors, fresh air, and exercise. One of my cycling companions wasn’t feeling great at first, but soon their mood completely lifted. That’s the magic of cycling: it just makes you feel good. 🚘 And the best part? On both the way there and back, I passed long lines of cars stuck in traffic. I couldn’t help but smile. The slower way was definitely the better way! 😀 Life is good on a bike!

While tourism used to be an occasional trip, it has now become a regular part of life for many, with 1.4 billion people traveling in 2019. This surge in tourism has boosted economies, creating 1 in 5 new jobs over the last five years. However, it also contributes to 8% of the world’s CO2 emissions, highlighting the need for more sustainable travel options. That is why I love traveling by train and like the possibility provided by Interrail to explore Europe with a single train ticket. Interrail, launched in 1972, has grown from an initiative for young Europeans to a popular travel option for all ages. With access to 33 countries and over 250,000 kilometers of railway, the Interrail pass offers flexibility and sustainability for modern explorers. Whether you want to visit multiple countries or dive deep into one, Interrail has a pass to suit your travel dreams. Learn more about the benefits of sustainable tourism here: https://medium.com/the-environment/how-tourism-can-benefit-tourists-...

What can we do to reduce CO2 emissions? I for example traveled by train to my family over Christmas instead of driving or flying. While on the train, I was able to relax and read. More practical ideas of what you and I can do to reduce CO2 emissions in  https://medium.com/the-environment/its-getting-hot-19-strategies-that-can-help-our-planet-to-cool-down-2eaa96c29130

Of course it is better not to fly at all, but when I do, I make sure I book a direct flight, as additional short flights cause extra CO2 emissions. 

When I go on holiday or take a break and travel somewhere, I always make sure I bring as little as possible. This saves energy, especially on long journeys. 

When the distance to work is too long to walk or cycle with a normal bike, and cannot be reached very well with public transport, then I like the idea of using an e-bike instead of a car. It saves a lot of CO 2  emissions and when I would come home, I would already have done my sports for that day.  

A while ago, I went to a wedding and asked another guest whether we could join him in his car. It was much more fun to drive together, it saved a lot of petrol, and money as well.

When having a package delivered, it is more environmentally friendly to pick it up by foot or bike in a package delivery station than having it delivered at home. This is because the truck can deliver many packages at the same time here and doesn't have to travel to each house separately. It also makes sure that delivery is always possible and they don't have to come back when we are not at home. More on how the last part of delivery can be made more environmentally friendly: https://medium.com/the-environment/how-the-last-mile-of-logistics-can-be-made-more-sustainable-bf131ab576cc

As I quit my job to dedicate myself full-time to sustainability, I don't have an employer to travel to. But a friend told me that she has made arrangements with her employer to work at home several days a week, so that she doesn't have to travel to work. Saves a lot of fuel!

When companies decide to implement their CO2 reduction strategy, it is important that this is supported. So, every employee, manager, and external partner involved can do their share to support these efforts.

Wow, I never thought of this before: doing exactly the opposite by making cars absorb CO2 during driving instead of emitting it. @TUeindhoven: "When the car is driving, air will move through our self-designed filters, where the CO2 will be captured and stored." Very clever! Loading... Twitter Embed Code Retweet text: Stuff that make me feel proud. Zero #Emission Mobility #zem. A team of Dutch #TUE students developed a car with built-in #C02 filter that captures more #carbondioxide than the car produces while driving.

Where I live, it is safe for delivery men to leave packages at the door when they arrive and I'm not at home. For example because my neighbors are willing to take the package. As this prevents the delivery man from having to come back, I tick this box when available. In this article is described, how the last mile of package delivery can be made more sustainable:  https://medium.com/the-environment/how-the-last-mile-of-logistics-can-be-made-more-sustainable-bf131ab576cc

During the Corona crisis, we have no choice than to use videoconferencing to meet each other. But also in normal daily life, I use videoconferencing, so that I don’t have to travel everywhere.

I love going on a cycle holiday. The first one was in 2013, when I cycled from my home in Germany to my parents in The Netherlands. It is a great way to reduce CO2 emission and still have a great time.

In June, I'll be traveling to Thailand to present at the Water and Waste Management conference. To reduce the environmental impact of my flight, I have - carbon offsetted the flight - booked direct flights - booked economy class - and will travel to and from the airport by train

I like some motorized sports, for example go-kart. But obviously, it is a lot more environmentally friendly to do non-motorized sports.

I know that eating vegetarian meals is helpful to reduce CO2 emissions and that this is even more the case with vegan meals. That’s why I consciously prepared a vegan meal.

Last weekend, I was at the airport, but not to fly. (My last flight was in 2019, before I started my sustainability journey.) I traveled there by bus, so that a friend who traveled by car could pick me up and we could do carpool. Happy to have made a difference yet again!