The trend of climate activists gluing themselves to airport runways in protest against the use of fossil fuels has become so widespread in Germany that a new term, “Klimakleber,” has been added to the German dictionary. This sticky form of protest has targeted airports in Cologne, Munich, and Frankfurt, drawing attention to the activists’ message. The Duden, Germany’s equivalent of the Oxford Dictionary, has included this term in its updated 29th edition, released on August 20.
This is just one of many new terms emerging in European languages related to climate change and environmental consciousness. For example, “flygskam” in Swedish refers to ‘flight shame,’ popularized by climate activist Greta Thunberg, while “cli-fi” in English refers to films and books about apocalyptic climate disasters. Other terms include “solastalgia,” describing an emotional distress caused by climate change, and “Gretini” in Italian, used condescendingly to refer to eco-conscious teens.
In Poland, “depresja klimatyczna” translates to ‘climate depression,’ reflecting the feeling of being overwhelmed by news of climate disasters. These new terms demonstrate a growing awareness and concern for climate issues among people across Europe. The addition of “Klimakleber” to the German dictionary is just one example of how language is evolving to reflect the changing environmental landscape.
Source
Photo credit www.euronews.com