The ferry winds its way out from the quay in the northern German port city of Bensersiel. It is low tide, and you quickly understand why the sea here is called the Wadden Sea.
With fine precision, the ferry navigates beyond the shallow sea area. Soon you can glimpse the small island of Langeoog. The island is part of the archipelago The Frisian Islands, which stretch from the Netherlands, through Germany, to Denmark.
Well to the quay, the trip continues by train and then by bicycle, as Langeoog is a car-free island.
How to get to the island south of the North Sea:
TV 2 is on Langeoog to meet Maike Recktenwald. Her family has lived here at Langeoog for five generations, and she has been strongly involved in the climate issue.
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Fear of the island’s future
Recktenwald receives us at the organic bakery she and her husband, Michael, run together.
– For us, it is important to live sustainably, because we live in one of the most beautiful places in the world. It will not remain so if we do not do something about it, Recktenwald says to TV 2.
– COMMITTED: Maike Recktenwald runs an organic bakery and is involved in the climate fight. Photo: Elias Engevik / TV 2
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She loves life on the island, but fears it will not be there in the future.
– I would like my son to be able to live here, if he wants to. I dare not hope that my grandchildren can live here, says the 48-year-old.
For the sea rises, and the weather becomes more extreme. When there is heavy rain or storm surge, the waves wash in over Langeoog’s dikes and dunes.
– DEFENSE: The dunes act as a defense against the North Sea. in addition, tons of sand have been laid on top of the natural beach. Photo: Elias Engevik / TV 2
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Recktenwald notices that the climate has changed since she was a child.
– We have storms earlier in the year, strong storms. This means that there may be a November storm in August. We have had periods here where it has been raining for months. These are things we did not have before, says Recktenwald.
– DEFENSE: Twig fences have been set up to prevent the sand from blowing away. Photo: Hilde Gran
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In 2017, large parts of the island were flooded for several months.
– We had wind from the southwest for three months, it was not a storm, but the sea was very high. In addition, it rained for between 10-12 weeks. Because the sea was so high, and we thus could not drain the water out through the dikes, the water was just standing on the island, says Recktenwald.
Climate action
The Recktenwald family has been strongly involved in the climate fight. In 2018, they were one of ten European families who sued the EU for not having more ambitious climate goals. The lawsuit did not succeed.
– It was rejected because we were not individually affected. Because this is something that affects everyone, they were not responsible, laughs Recktenwald stated.
But his 19-year-old son Lüke was part of a successful climate lawsuit.
– WON: Lüke Recktenwald and the other activists won the climate lawsuit against the German government. Photo: Private
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Together with a group of young activists and climate organizations, he sued the German government.
In a sensational ruling, the German Constitutional Court ruled in April this year that the Merkel government’s climate law for 2019 was inadequate, and that it threatened the future of young Germans.
The government was thus forced to cut more.
According to the revised Climate Act, Germany will now cut its CO2 emissions by 65 percent instead of 55 percent by 2030. In addition, the country will be carbon neutral in 2045 instead of 2050.
Recktenwald is proud of what his son helped to achieve.
– Yes, we as parents are very proud that he joined this trial, and that he has committed himself to bring about a change, she says.
The sea is rising
In the last 100 years, the sea has risen in between 15 and 20 cm on Langeoog.
With global warming, sea level rise is expected to increase in the coming decades.
– THE OCEAN RISES: The sea has risen by between 15-20 cm around Langeoog in the last 100 years, but this will increase if the world does not cut its greenhouse gas emissions. Photo: Elias Engevik / TV 2
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According to the UN Climate Panel, the sea here will rise in between 30 and 60 cm by the year 2100 if the world abides by the Paris Agreement. This means that we avoid global warming exceeding 2 degrees, and preferably stay at 1.5 degrees.
If we continue as we are now, and do not cut greenhouse gas emissions, the sea around Langeoog is likely to rise between 60 and 100 cm by the year 2100.
– I can not imagine that it will be possible to live here with a meter rise in sea level, says Recktenwald.
She has taken us to the southeastern part of the island to show off the high dikes built to keep the ocean out.
– DEFENSE: High dikes are built to protect Langeoog. Photo: Elias Engevik / TV 2
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– Even though our dikes hold one meter more, there is so much more that belongs. Storm surge, more rain and frequent weather changes, she says.
Concerned Mayor
Recktenwald is supported by Langeoog’s mayor, Heike Horn. She does not even dare to think about what will happen if the sea rises by one meter.
– Then Langeoog will not be here anymore. The island will no longer be habitable and will have to be evacuated completely and permanently. It will no longer be a habitable island.
– CONCERNED: Mayor Heike Horn is worried about what will happen to Langeoog if the sea rises. Photo: Elias Engevik / TV 2
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– What happens if we achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement, and the sea does not rise by more than 30-60 cm?
– Even then, our dunes will be attacked. The moment the storm surge comes and tears down the dunes, the village will be flooded, says Horn.
– Our entire infrastructure; electricity, telephone, sewer system and fresh water supply will be affected.
– NEARBY SEA: Langeoog seen from the air. Photo: Elias Engevik / TV 2
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The mayor has a clear message for the world’s top leaders who are now gathering in the Scottish city of Glasgow for the UN climate summit, COP26:
– Please wake up and acknowledge that something must happen. Not just small steps, but a proper and immediate effort on sustainability, CO2 emissions and everything that goes with it. Immediately and now, not in five years.
Maike Recktenwald does not know if she dares to believe that world leaders will agree on COP26, but she has hope.
– I just think we need brave people to get started. We can not discuss further. We have wasted our time doing nothing. That was a big mistake.
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