← Back
Talk by Sebastian Radbruch (Bündnis ZukunftsKlima/ClimateHub Würzburg)
at the climate strike on Feb 14, 2025I am Sebastian Radbruch from Bündnis Zukunftsklima and the ClimateHub Würzburg.
I want to share a very emotional encounter I had with ChatGPT.
I need to give some context first: Last week, I saw a protest sign that read, "I want to hit you with a history book."
As someone active in the climate movement, I think a lot about the future.
In that moment, I connected these two ideas—history books and the future—and asked ChatGPT what a future history book might say about today’s climate policies:
"In the early 21st century, many nations failed to effectively combat climate change despite agreements like the Paris Climate Accord of 2015. Although climate movements such as Fridays for Future pressured governments, political deadlocks and short-term economic interests hindered decisive action. This era was later remembered as a time of missed opportunities and insufficient commitment."
Despair and anger about:
- Mr. Burns from The Simpsons, who we might as well elect as chancellor,
- The AfD, which seeks to dismantle not only climate protection but also democracy,
- And society in general.
"In the 2030s, a global shift in mindset sparked a turnaround in climate policy. Massive investments in renewable energy, carbon absorption technologies, and a circular economy led to the stabilization of global warming. This decade became a turning point, laying the foundation for a sustainable and livable future."
Hope is stronger than despair.
In that moment, I could already see a climate-neutral and fairer world on the horizon—we just need to walk the path to get there.
But this won’t happen automatically, which is why we all need to take action.
And we shouldn’t get distracted by aiming for the perfect carbon footprint. Let’s focus on enlarging our handprint instead—our positive impact on the world:
- Attend protests,
- Sign petitions,
- Vote for a sensible party next week,
- And get involved. "The best thing one person can do is not to remain just one person."
If you’d like to get to know us, come to the Vierröhrenbrunnen on Sunday, February 16th, at 6:00 PM for "Lights for Democracy."
ClimateHub Würzburg:
The central sustainability hub for all things.
Do you want to drive the energy transition forward? Join the citizens' energy project, where we take energy supply into our own hands.
Do you want more green spaces in Würzburg? -> The "More Room for Green" project.
Do you want to advance climate education? -> Climate tent camps.
Let’s always reflect on what future history books will say about us and our actions today.