The government also plays an important role in making the country more sustainable through regulations, including the management of solid waste and wastewater, and by supporting research projects, such as my own, that strive to advance how we deal with environmental challenges, including recovering resources and clean water from wastewater.
Because the whole world is affected by environmental crises, many brilliant people have chosen to work in research, consultation, and political spheres to help create a more sustainable society. And since Germany is particularly forward-thinking in terms of sustainability, many people from all over the world come to Germany to perform research. At the Engler-Bunte-Institut, I have worked alongside people from Turkey, China, Indonesia, Chile and Mexico, just to name a few countries. At the E.U.-U.S. Young Leaders Seminar in Brussels, Belgium, I met Americans and Europeans working in different parts of the continent to discuss climate change and its consequences on vulnerable communities and global security. It was inspiring to speak with other young people from different disciplines and walks of life who share a passion for the environment, climate justice and the creation of a more prosperous future through trans-Atlantic cooperation.
When I was a young student like you, I wanted to make a positive impact on the world, but I wasn’t sure how. Although you are young and just beginning your own journeys, soon you will be participating in the global community, in one way or another. Despite the lockdowns during the COVID pandemic, the world is becoming more and more connected than ever before. Although it may seem daunting, I advise you to start your journeys by doing work in your own community!
