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Embracing Sustainability People are seeking ways to take transformative action to save and protect our planet. We want to do this with Zazen Mind guiding us to integrate different aspects of Environmental Care into our everyday lives. The following interview (from November 2024) with Nadine Freuler (KeinAber.ch), an expert contributor on sustainability, aims to raise awareness, share insights, and motivate action. There is no time to waste. U: What inspired you to become a sustainability expert? NF: As cliché, as it may sound, I needed to go abroad, to travel, to get out of my familiar surroundings, to get in touch with my values, core beliefs, and wishes about what to do with the precious life I have been gifted. When I was 23 years old, I suffered from exhaustion-based depression. I paused my current studies in business administration, quit my job and apartment, and traveled the world with my partner for two years. I got to know many amazing human beings and different lifestyles during this time. I had time to read, to learn, to reflect. I spent a lot of time in nature and got to value the beauty of it. I also saw the harm we’ve been doing to it. As it happened, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were developed and published by the United Nations at that time. This brought sustainable development to the media and the masses. I suppose this also influenced my choice to find an educational program to train me in working for sustainable development. U: What has been the most rewarding aspect of your work so far? NF: In my current job as head of the sustainability office in the City of Uster, I established a specialist office to foster sustainable development and climate protection for the third largest city in the Canton of Zurich. It’s been rewarding to see how my work impacts other departments in the city administration and among the population. U: How can people integrate sustainability into their everyday routines?? NF: The first step is to reflect on our actions and how they impact the world and others. What do I eat, how do I travel, what do I buy, etc? Maybe using a footprint calculator like the one from WWF will help. You can start by asking yourself (which is what I do) the questions: Do I need this, or can I do it without or with less? Is there a more sustainable alternative? Start small: choose the vegetarian or vegan option when you’re in a restaurant. When you like a sweater you see in a shop window, sleep on it before you buy it. When you want fruit, buy the apple instead of the pineapple. When you want a new book to read, visit your library, look for a used copy, or buy it in a local bookstore instead of ordering it online. U: What practical ways can individuals approach sustainability in their eating, living, social interactions, transportation, and spirituality? NF: There’s a lot of data and content about climate, environmental, and social impacts of consumption choices and behaviors. If you’re starting on your “sustainability journey,” start with what (topic) interests you the most. If you’re curious about food, start looking into comparisons of different food items you would usually buy. There is the danger of being overwhelmed by the enormity of the task of living more sustainably. So, I advise you to start small, take a first step, and go on. You should also be kind towards yourself. Give yourself some leeway; don’t be dogmatic. Be considerate about your own needs and limitations. Connect with like-minded people who share your values and beliefs if you can. Share experiences and difficulties. Spirituality can also help navigate sustainability and be more in tune with one’s values and beliefs. Zen Buddhism, for example, with its mindfulness practice, can help us live in harmony with the planet, reduce our impact, and reflect and reconsider our current capitalist and consumerist Western lifestyles. U: Many people feel frustrated when they can’t change their lifestyle drastically. How can someone manage this frustration and still think their efforts are meaningful? NF: I can relate to this frustration. Not everything is up to you. Your choices and actions are also defined by your environment, family, friends, employer, etc. It helps to reflect on what is in one‘s power to change and start there. Every step is meaningful and makes a difference. Be aware that what you’re doing can also influence other people. Someone might see you cycling to work, your partner might like a new vegetarian recipe you’ve cooked, or you can share how good you feel with your friend because your money is invested in sustainable projects and companies. U: Can you recommend any resources for people who want to learn more about protecting the environment and living more sustainably? NF: I can happily recommend some books that I personally find valuable: Voluntary Simplicity (Duane Elgin), on simplicity Down to Earth, a Guide to Simple Living (Rhonda Hetzel), on simplicity Unsere Welt neu denken (Maja Göpel), on postgrowth Das Ende des Kapitalismus (Ulrike Herrmann), on postgrowth The future we choose (Christiana Figueres and Thom Rivett-Carnac), on climate change and sustainability Das gute Leben für alle - Wege in die solidarische Lebensweise (I.L.A. Kollektiv), on how to live more sustainable and with solidarity. And a few of books with handy tips to live more sustainably every day (these are all in German): Und jetzt retten wir die Welt (Ilona Koglin and Marek Rohde) ÖKOlogisch - Fakten, Wissen, Tipps: nachhaltiger konsumieren in der Schweiz (Stephanie Hess, Hrsg. Konsumentenschutz) Handbuch: Ratschläge und Einblicke für ein grüneres Leben (Greenpeace) Weniger ist weniger - Klimafreundlich leben von A-Z (Mathias Plüss)
Regarding podcasts, I’ve learned that good podcasts are pretty subjective. I’ve tuned into the following: Costing the Earth (BBC Radio 4) Das Klima (Florian Freistetter, Claudia Frick) Green Dreamer (Kamea Chayne) Sustainable (no new content) Sustainable: The Podcast (no new content) The Sustainability Agenda (Fergal Byrne) Think: Sustainability Tonspur N – Der Podcast zu Nachhaltigkeit und CSR (Roman Mesicek) Zukunftswissen.fm (Wuppertal Institut für Klima, Umwelt, Energie)
U: How can they/we start making a difference in their communities? NF: Lead by example. Act and live as best as possible according to your values and beliefs. If you find something that your community could benefit from, try establishing it. For example, start a vegetable patch in front of your communal building, campaign for renewable heating in your house, or share your car with your neighbors. U: How do you encourage people to stay motivated even when encountering obstacles or becoming discouraged? NF: The positive impact of acting more sustainably is not always visible. But think about the personal benefits of acting more sustainably. For example, if you cycle to work, you get a workout, fresh air, a connection to nature, no traffic jams, and no crowded buses. If you buy second-hand you save money and value the worth of something that had to be produced. If you’re discouraged because your partner is not on board with a vegetarian diet, choose the vegetarian option whenever you can. Or if you can’t live without a car, take the bike whenever possible. And don’t forget to celebrate every step you’ve taken and every obstacle you’ve overcome. U: What are your top three most practical and effective tips for living more sustainably in everyday life? NF: Eat more plant-based and whole foods Walk more Buy less
U: What final message would you like to share with our readers about the importance of environmental conservation? NF: There is an urgent need to change our behavior and take responsibility for our own actions. The question is no longer what to do but why we haven’t done it already. U: Thank you for your time and valuable input! NF: You’re very welcome!
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