Space travel
Astronaut Maurer lives climate-consciously
Matthias Maurer in the Astronaut Center of the European Space Agency (ESA). photo
© Thomas Banneyer/dpa
Astronaut Maurer also sees himself as an environmental ambassador. He could clearly see the effects of man-made climate change from space. What does he do privately for the climate?
Otherwise, he eats a “balanced diet, but with as little meat consumption as possible.” He used to be a vegetarian “for many, many years,” but he realized that he couldn’t completely do without animal proteins.
As a scientist, he also tries to make a contribution to climate protection. An experiment he did during his time on the International Space Station involved producing concrete with a view to reducing CO2 emissions. If it were possible to optimize concrete mixes so that fewer resources were needed, “we would have a huge leverage to do something for the climate,” said the 53-year-old. Seven percent of CO2 is released worldwide during concrete production.
Volumes, drought, wasteland
Maurer was on the ISS, which orbits the Earth at an altitude of around 400 kilometers, for 177 days from November 2021 to May 2022. From there he was able to see the effects of climate change. Fires in the jungle, drought, wasteland. “The entire African continent in the northern half and all the way down in the south is a single drought country. You can also see it in Australia and in many other areas. And it’s getting more and more,” said Maurer. “Images like this are totally memorable to us astronauts when seen from space.”
Urgent action must be taken. “We have to look to limit the temperature increases we are inflicting on the planet as much as possible,” he said. The emissions of harmful greenhouse gases such as CO2 must also be reduced. “A lot of things are getting out of hand at the moment. This can’t go well. We have to try to get closer to the balance of the earth again.”