The first time I checked the weather in Germany, I was shocked to see that my phone was warning me of “unhealthy air quality for sensitive groups.” I thought of all of the different recycling bins I’m expected to understand, the public transportation I’ve managed to get lost on countless times and the recycled paper that is used for almost every handout, assignment or card. 

How could a nation that focuses so intently on environmental protection be struggling with such issues? 

The issues, however, are simply what encouraged Germany to become such a forward-thinking nation in terms of environmental protection. The country chose to be proactive to address the problems rather than contribute to them.

Waiting for a bus the other day, I looked down the street and saw a large crowd marching toward me. A few of the people in front were pushing a large blow-up globe. Protesters were carrying a variety of posters, from ones criticizing our own government’s lack of action on climate change to others encouraging curious onlookers to get involved in environmental activism. 

Germany’s focus on sustainability does not stop with protests. Sustainable attitudes follow many Germans home. When not in use, all lights are off. Showers are short and plastics, papers and cardboard are sorted carefully to ensure proper recycling. People are encouraged to recycle by getting a “pfand” or money back when bottles are returned and electric vehicles are the norm, rather than a luxury. People bike and walk whenever possible and processed or packaged foods are nowhere near as common as in the U.S. 

For many Germans, living a sustainable life goes without saying, and Germany’s environmental advocacy sets an example for other nations, showing what is possible when the people and the government come together with matching goals. 

— Shannon Rabotski is a 2016 graduate of Monroe High School and is a junior at Drake University spending the year studying abroad in Tubingen, Germany. She can be reached at shannon.rabotski@drake.edu.