AOK brings sustainability arena to Kirchehrenbach – students learn for the future!

AOK brings sustainability arena to Kirchehrenbach – students learn for the future!

The Kirchehrenbach middle school has taken an exciting step towards environmental awareness with the AOK’s traveling exhibition “Sustainability Arena”. In this interactive concept, students in grades seven to nine explore how they can contribute to sustainability through personal decisions and actions. According to Wiesentbote, young people should not only be made aware of environmental protection, but also receive practical tips for a more sustainable everyday life.

Doris Spoddig, the health expert at the AOK Bamberg directorate, emphasizes how important it is to get young people interested in the topic of climate and environmental protection at an early stage. Food production in particular results in significant CO₂ emissions. In one of the modules, for example, students learn about the connections between nutrition and climate. You will learn about the benefits of seasonal and local shopping as well as the negative effects of food waste.

Interactive learning units and environmental awareness

The exhibition offers six interactive modules that cover various aspects of sustainability, nutrition, exercise and health. In the “We make a difference” module, students deal with alternative, environmentally friendly means of transport and recognize how important exercise is for a healthy lifestyle. Ute Rothmeyer, the principal of the middle school, praises the commitment the students show in these activities.

The exhibition is not only exciting for the students, but is also open to the entire school and participation is free. The content is curriculum-oriented and can be easily integrated into lessons. If interested, schools can contact the AOK Bamberg directorate directly: Doris Spoddig can be reached on 0951 9336242 or by email at doris.spoddig@by.aok.de.

Ecological footprint and conscious nutrition

The discussion about sustainability and ecological footprint extends far beyond the school boundaries. A study by ifeu shows how different the environmental impacts of food production are. The CO₂ footprints of over 200 foods were assessed, taking into account the impact of transport, packaging and preparation on the environment. Surprising: From an environmental perspective, you should avoid flying fruit, while replacing animal foods with plant-based ones improves the balance significantly.

These findings are based on the concept of the ecological footprint, which was developed by scientists Mathis Wackernagel and William Rees. This accounting system measures the Earth's environmental resources and compares the biocapacity used by humans with the Earth's supply. This method provides a valuable perspective on the urgency of sustainable practices, especially in today's times when pressures on our environment continue to increase.

Initiatives like these make it clear that every everyday decision, no matter how small, has an impact on our environment. Let's work together to ensure that we develop a good hand for our earth!