The German Environmental Prize was awarded on Sunday – with 500,000 euros, it is one of the most valuable environmental prizes in Europe. It was received by the climate economist Ottmar Edenhofer from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research and the entrepreneur siblings Annika and Hugo Trappmann. The Krefeld entomologist Martin Sorg also received an honorary award.
The German Environment Prize is awarded annually by the German Federal Environment Foundation (DBU). On the one hand, personalities from science who have made a contribution to sustainability and the environment are honored. A second part of the award goes to entrepreneurs who have dedicated themselves to the practical implementation of environmental goals.
Climate economist Edenhofer: mediator between science, business and politics
This year half will go to the climate economist and director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) Ottmar Edenhofer. Among other things, he is honored for his suggestion of a CO2 pricing. With his approach of giving CO2 emissions a price, Edenhofer provided “an important instrument for reducing greenhouse gases” and thus for more climate protection, said DBU board chairwoman Rita Schwarzelühr-Sutter. In Edenhofer’s opinion, the commitment to climate protection can never be a separate undertaking – neither from politics nor from science. “The mainstream of the economy and the middle of society have to be on board,” said Edenhofer. Only then are solutions to problems in view of climate change possible.
Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier praised Edenhofer for his mediating and advisory role between climate research and business. After the crisis on the global financial markets, he had “given orientation on how climate protection would not come under the wheels of the necessary economic reconstruction”. Climate change with its economic and social consequences are Edenhofer’s “life theme”. He advises the Pope as well as the World Bank and the Federal Government and is an internationally respected, “sometimes feared” negotiator.
Geschwister Trappmann: More sustainability in the sheet metal factory
The second half of the German Environment Prize goes to the siblings Annika and Hugo Trappmann. You are the managing director of Blechwarenfabrik Limburg and have literally turned the company with around 320 employees on its head – with a new building at a different location and the endeavor to help conserve resources by means of digitization.
The result is impressive, said Steinmeier: “The now larger sheet metal factory uses fewer raw materials and emits 2,600 tons less carbon dioxide than before the move.” “But they were convinced that the company can only be fit for the future if it modernizes itself and uses resources and energy as sparingly and intelligently as possible,” said the Federal President. According to Annika Trappmann, the DBU environmental award is “a signal especially to medium-sized businesses: namely, to have the courage to take risks”.
Entertainer Sorg: Dramatic loss uncovered
This year, the entomologist Martin Sorg will receive an honorary prize endowed with 10,000 euros. He coordinates the research of the Entomological Association in Krefeld. He was significantly involved in the long-term study that showed the dramatic decline in insects in Germany in 2017. The biomass of flying insects has decreased by 75 percent in 27 years. “There is no doubt that the scientifically established biodiversity damage is caused by humans,” says Sorg. “It is now in our hands and our responsibility to determine where the journey is going to protect biodiversity – especially with insects as the most species-rich group of animals.”
It is high time to readjust the priorities. Sustainable biodiversity protection in nature reserves must have priority. The situation is quite dramatic, said the insect researcher. “You really have to keep this in mind: In Germany we assume more than 34,000 different insect species. But for more than 75 percent of them, we do not know the actual hazardous situation. ”That has to change. “As a basis for action, we need a much more extensive red list that assesses which species are endangered, threatened with extinction or are already extinct.”
Source: German Federal Environment Foundation