Luxembourg has already consumed all the natural resources it can renew in a full year, according to calculations marking the country’s Overshoot Day on Tuesday, 17 February.
The date highlights the ecological strain of a consumption model heavily reliant on imports. The fuel sold at petrol stations and most products on supermarket shelves are purchased from abroad, a reality that activist Raymond Klein argues is unsustainable.
“If you have enough money, you can afford it, but that doesn’t mean it’s sustainable,” Klein said during an interview on RTL Radio on Tuesday morning. The former journalist, who now works for Action Solidarité Tiers Monde and the climate platform Votum Klima, warned that the country’s current way of life has no future.
Klein dismissed the argument that Luxembourg is too small to make a meaningful difference. If everyone thought that way, he said, nothing would ever change. On the contrary, he believes the country has significant opportunities to lead by example, pointing to its financial resources, skilled workforce, research capacity, and infrastructure.
While individuals can reconsider their lifestyles, Klein said, the country must also adjust its consumption policies, particularly in the area of mobility. He cautioned that electric vehicles are not a silver bullet, as their production still carries an environmental cost. Instead, he advocated for greater investment in public transport, cycling, and walking – habits he noted also offer health benefits.
Regarding fuel tourism, which accounts for a large share of Luxembourg’s environmental footprint, Klein suggested using taxation as a lever. He framed this not as a ban, but as a signal: if people know fuel prices will rise, it can help them make more sustainable choices today.
Responding to the argument that frugality could harm the economy, Klein acknowledged that while certain measures might hurt one sector, they could boost another.
At Votum Klima, a coalition of NGOs, Klein said there is a strong awareness that justice and social balance must remain central to the debate. He also stressed the international dimension: in countries of the Global South, the effects of climate change are far more severe, as are the inequalities between the North and the South.
