Ways to better protect the earth are currently being debated in Cali, Colombia, at the World Nature Summit and soon in Baku, Azerbaijan, at the World Climate Conference. Two people in Mainz are showing today what practical solutions can look like: peat researcher Dr. Franziska Tanneberger and electrical engineer Thomas Speidel are therefore in the Rheingoldhalle with the German Environmental Prize awarded by the German Federal Environmental Foundation (DBU). Both share the prize totaling 500,000 euros, which is one of the most valuable environmental awards in Europe. The prize is presented by Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
Set an example of confidence despite wars and crises
DBU General Secretary Alexander Farmer calls both award winners “real practical pioneers”. Tanneberger proves “even in rubber boots at meetings with farmers that moor protection and moor use are not a contradiction and that sustainable use of wet moors is possible.” Speidel impressed “with his innovative strength as well as his strategic foresight and his economic daring.” DBU Chairman of the Board of Trustees Prof. Dr. Kai Niebert: “We must not capitulate to the acute problems. Franziska Tanneberger and Thomas Speidel make this impressively clear to us. It’s about recognizing and using opportunities for change.” According to Niebert, the DBU also wants to send a signal of confidence with this year’s awarding of the German Environmental Prize. “Because in both natural climate protection and electromobility we have the technologies, the skills and the knowledge to inspire the ecological change,” says Niebert. According to Bonde’s words, Tanneberger and Speidel are people “who dare to take new paths and thereby encourage others. Despite the many wars and crises, we must not despair, but must continue to preserve the planet.”
Bonde and Niebert: Climate and biodiversity are two sides of the same coin
Why the preservation of biodiversity and the preservation of ecosystems are indispensable for human existence is currently becoming clear across the Atlantic in Cali: at the 16th conference of the United Nations (United Nations, UN) on biological diversity (COP16), almost 200 countries are struggling to find answers to the questions of how the overexploitation of nature and the environment can be stopped and, above all, how the decision of the COP15 in Montreal two years ago can be implemented: at least 30 percent of the world’s land and sea areas under protection. While COP16 is shining a spotlight on fragile biological diversity, the UN Climate Change Conference will soon begin in Baku with a focus on worrying global warming. As in Colombia, in Azerbaijan it is about the practical implementation of agreed goals. Because on the Paris World Climate Conference In 2015, the almost 200 countries involved agreed to limit the heating of the planet to 1.5 degrees compared to the pre-industrial age. Bonde and Niebert: “Climate and biodiversity are two sides of the same coin. People must protect both – to preserve the earth and their own existence.” Tanneberger and Speidel were also selected for the German Environmental Prize “because they show with energy how we can do something to protect the environment and biodiversity.”
Rewetting of peatlands is essential for storing climate-damaging carbon dioxide
The DBU is honoring the internationally renowned peatland researcher Tanneberger, who, among other things, played a key role in the first global peatland status report, with the German Environmental Prize because, in Bonde’s words, she “was a driving force in advancing the revitalization of peatlands and at the same time managed to build bridges between science, politics and agriculture”. The rewetting of drained moors is “essential in order to store climate-damaging carbon dioxide”. The task is huge: worldwide, the artificially drained moor areas are the cause of around two billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents every year – around four percent of the global greenhouse gas emissions caused by humans. According to Bonde, moors are not only carbon sinks, “but also water reservoirs and a guarantee of biodiversity.” Tanneberger was able to “get farmers on board to better protect the climate and biodiversity, because moors can also be used wet.” As examples, the DBU General Secretary cited innovative materials for building and insulating, the use of litter in Bavaria, for example, and pipe roofs on houses in northern Germany.
Multi-tools like a Swiss army knife for the energy transition
According to Niebert, electrical engineer Thomas Speidel will receive the German Environmental Prize “because he is a pioneer of the energy transition.” As managing director of the company, which is now listed on the stock exchange ads-tec Energy in Nürtingen near Stuttgart it is “virtually lived transformation”. Niebert: “He transformed his business from a combustion engine technology company into a company that produces battery-backed fast charging systems ChargeBoxand ChargePosthas developed and thus ensures more speed in electromobility.” The highlight: charging with electricity is possible in minutes instead of hours. The two systems slowly draw electricity from the grid, store it in order to charge an electric vehicle in a surge if necessary – similar to in a toilet cistern that fills up slowly and empties at lightning speed. Speidel speaks of “multi-tools that work like a Swiss army knife of the energy transition”: quick charging, stabilizing the network, bridging the lack of charging infrastructure and even digital advertising columns . Because the ChargePost also offers the option of large advertising displays. Bonde and Niebert: “Environmentally friendly e-mobility offers the opportunity to significantly reduce emissions of climate-damaging carbon dioxide. We have to use that. Worldwide, the automotive industry’s transition to e-mobility is in full swing.”
Background:
The DBU German Environmental Prize, which will be awarded for the 32nd time in 2024, honors the achievements of people who make an exemplary contribution to protecting and preserving the environment. Candidates are recommended to the DBU. Employers’ associations and trade unions, churches, environmental and nature conservation associations, scientific associations and research communities, media, trades and business associations are eligible to do so. Self-suggestions are not possible. One of DBU-Curatorium appointed Jury Independent experts from business, science, technology and social groups recommend award winners for the respective year to the DBU Board of Trustees. The DBU Board of Trustees makes the final decision. Information about the German Environmental Prize and winners: https://www.dbu.de/umweltpreis.