Economist Edenhofer and entrepreneur sibling Trappman awarded German Environment Prize

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Prize winner Ottmar Edenhofer, Director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research

Photo: Peter Steffen / dpa

The economist Ottmar Edenhofer from Potsdam and the entrepreneur siblings Hugo Sebastian and Annika Trappmann from Limburg have been awarded the German Environment Prize.

They received the award, endowed with 500,000 euros, in equal parts on Sunday in Hanover.

An honorary prize of 10,000 euros went to the entomologist Martin Sorg from Krefeld.

Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who is currently in quarantine due to the corona infection of a bodyguard, gave his speech by video message.

Despite the crisis, long-term future tasks should not be lost sight of, he said.

The fight against the pandemic currently needs full attention, "but Corona will not take the future from us," said Steinmeier. One should therefore not forget "other great human tasks", the protection of resources and the climate.

Climate change is not taking a break, said Steinmeier.

Corona should not be an argument for restraint or lethargy here.

Edenhofer as a "sometimes feared" negotiator

Steinmeier paid tribute to the economist Edenhofer, who has been director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) since 2018 as an internationally respected, "sometimes feared" negotiator who advises the Pope as well as the World Bank and the Federal Government.

Edenhofer is director (together with Johan Rockström) and chief economist at the Postdam Institute for Climate Impact Research.

Among other things, he received the award for his proposal for CO2 pricing, with which he made a significant contribution to the agreement of the federal government on a climate package.

"Without people like you, the Paris climate agreement and the German climate package would not have existed," said Steinmeier.

The Trappmann siblings from Limburg in Hesse were honored as heads of a sheet metal factory for the particularly economical use of energy and resources in their company.

According to the German Federal Environment Foundation (DBU), which awards the prize, it is one of the "leading sustainability-oriented companies".

With his work, entomologist Sorg pointed out the rapid extinction of species of flying insects.

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bbr / dpa / AFP