How can I make a difference?

I’m in the middle of a career changing process. I’ve worked as a science journalist for close to ten years and I’m learning programming to probably start working as a developer soon. The big question that has been my all-time-present companion for a while is the one you read in the headline:

How can I make a difference?

What do I want to work with? What do I want to spend my time and energy on to contribute with something meaningful to the global society?

I am convinced that it’s the biggest task for us all to turn the earth back into a place which guarantees a good life for generations to come. Right now, it’s not and things are moving in the wrong direction. That’s the main thing. If earth is not a healthy place to live for us any more, basically nothing else matters.

I want to contribute to this task, to get earth “back into balance”, to say it with David Attenboroughs words. I’m sure there are several ways to do so, but what is the right one for me?

As a journalist I’ve been focusing on science and environmental topics. I’ve written about renewable energy in Germany and Scandinavia, I’ve explained how the atmosphere works and why research in Antarctica is important. I’ve featured insect monitorings in German metropoles as well as forest industry in Sweden. It felt good, but if I’m honest with myself, I think it often was like preaching to the choir. Those who read my articles probably already knew that we have to find new and better ways to live as soon as possible.

Now, I’m learning programming which feels like a very powerful skill with the potential to make a difference in the world. But how and where exactly can I use it? Suggestions and inspirations are more than welcome!