How does Emma Holten navigate through the crises of the time? What does she think about climate change? What makes her hopeful? The answers from this week’s guest in “Tankelima” are a good example of how people today have to find the balance, standing in the middle between personal crises on the one hand and global crises on the other. How are you affected by all the crises in which the world finds itself today? “Emotionally, it spurs me on to do more activism. On a very personal level, I believe that we are in an acute, global care crisis, where people who are ill – young, elderly and those living with disabilities – are more and more left in the lurch, if we cannot “pay our way” . As someone who is chronically ill (I suffer from ulcerative colitis), I think about what the care for bodies like mine will look like in 10 years’ time, if we don’t dramatically increase our investments in health.” What is the last crisis that you came out of stronger? “I’m in the middle of a breakup. That is to say, I am in a crisis, but you also learn something from crises, they put everything into relief. What is it that really matters to me? On a more global level, it was great that the world’s leaders turned the tide on the ozone layer, which is now healing. It testifies to a time when politicians across ideological divides could look science in the eye and act: It seems like a long time ago now.” Have you recently changed your attitude towards something in relation to sustainability? “I have gained even less faith in individual climate action. We simply must not let the focus on individuals distract us from the huge collective changes on a societal and business level, which are actually needed. I don’t care how much meat people eat, as long as they think about the institutions they organize themselves in, who they vote for. And as long as they are ready to give up privileges in solidarity and in community, when the time comes and everyone can do it together.” What is your sustainability passion that others don’t know or value enough? “It is that the most valuable thing we have is not our buying power but our labor power. Put pressure on workplace policies. So you can move so much more than in your private life: Where does the pension money end up? Are there vegetarians in the canteen? What is the travel policy? All those things can really end up having structural consequences. If you have the privilege of choosing between workplaces, I think you should choose those that emit the most and consume the most resources – and tell them that was the reason.” What makes you hopeful at the moment? “Young people. There is nothing better than meeting or hearing a young person and feeling that you are learning a lot. I experience that almost every day.”
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Climate of thought: How is Emma Holten affected by the many crises of the time? “Emotionally, it spurs me on to do more activism”
