German Environmental Award 2022 for Energy and CO2 Reduction

Osnabrück. With their considerable ingenuity and entrepreneurial courage, the qualified engineers Friedrich Mewis and Dirk Lehmann have revolutionized the shipping world. With the Becker Mewis Duct (BMD), they have not only saved millions of tons of heavy fuel oil since its market launch in 2008, but have also saved around twelve million tons of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO₂) which is harmful to our climate. The German Federal Environmental Foundation (DBU—Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt) is honoring this innovative achievement with this year’s German Environmental Award, one of Europe’s most prestigious awards, which will be presented for the 30th time in 2022. The two engineers will share the total sum of 500,000 euros with the biologist Dr. Christof Schenck. President of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier will present the 2022 German Environmental Award in Magdeburg on October 30.

Interplay Between Cutting-Edge Research and Entrepreneurial Courage

DBU Secretary General Alexander Bonde says that it is extremely important to “bring the shipping industry in line with climate requirements”. After all, international shipping accounts for almost three percent of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

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German Environmental Award 2022 for Dr. Christof Schenck

Osnabrück. Protecting and preserving vast areas of wilderness from human intervention is something that biologist Dr. Christof Schenck (60) has been campaigning for successfully for decades. He is particularly committed to protecting huge national parks in the tropical rainforests of the Amazon, the Congo Basin, and Southeast Asia. The German Federal Environmental Foundation (DBU—Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt) is honoring this achievement with this year’s German Environmental Award, one of Europe’s most prestigious awards, which will be presented for the 30th time in 2022. Schenck will share the total prize fund of 500,000 euros with the entrepreneurs Friedrich Mewis and Dirk Lehmann. President of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier will present the 2022 German Environmental Award in Magdeburg on October 30.

Wilderness Protection as a Lever Against Extinction of Species and Climate Change

Schenck aims to protect biodiversity hotspots from the grip of economic interests in the long term, while ensuring the sustainable development and financial security of the local population. DBU Secretary General Alexander Bonde: “Dr. Christof Schenck has shown how decades of structured wilderness protection can curb the current global crises—extinction of species and climate change. Protecting the last great refuges of wilderness not only helps many different species of animals and plants, but also humans.”

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General Information

Main idea

The German Environmental Award honours commitment and achievements that make a decisive and exemplary contribution to the protection and preservation of our environment now and in the future.

Further information on the current award as well as a list of all prize winners can be found on our German website.

Selection criteria

The following selection criteria characterise the central idea of the award:

• The award-winning achievement should primarily serve as a role model for other individuals, companies and organisations.
• The award-winning achievement should help to identify environmental problems early and to defuse them with the help of appropriate prevention and implementation strategies.
• The merits should be so convincing that an imitation effect is achieved. Accordingly, the focus should be on model character and practical feasibility.
• Innovative, integrated and sustainable solutions are given special considerations. Interdisciplinary cooperation is evaluated with priority.

Endowment and target groups

The award, endowed with 500.000 €, is directed at persons, companies and organizations. In the name of sustainable environmental protection innovative products, technical improvements, research results or life achievements associated with a specific person can be awarded.

Procedure

The award is given annually and can be shared among several winners.

Around 200 people and institutions from all important social areas can submit their proposals for possible candidates for the German Environmental Award to the DBU branch office. The DBU examines and evaluates the proposals and submits its assessment to the jury, consisting of important personalities from business and science, society and the media. The jury discusses the proposals and submits its recommendations to the DBU board of trustees, which then makes the final decision.