Osnabrück/Chemnitz. The German Federal Environmental Foundation (DBU) is calling for environmental and climate protection to be promoted more than ever as part of the solution for economic recovery. “Ecology is the engine of the economy,” said DBU Secretary General Alexander
Bonde: Environmental and climate protection congenial partners for companies
According to DBU Secretary-General Bonde, environmental and climate protection are “congenial partners for companies”. “Both strengthen the economy’s resistance and competitiveness”. The best proof of this is the GreenTech Atlas published by the Federal Environment Agency this summer. Bonde: “According to this, GreenTech accounts for nine percent of the total gross economic value added nationwide and employs almost 3.5 million people. Ecology is a key sector for a sustainable economy in Germany.” By comparison, the automotive sector, which is also considered a key industry in Germany, employs around 1.1 million people. According to Bonde, climate, environmental, species and resource protection “currently have a difficult position on the political agenda. For the DBU, however, this is actually an incentive to implement more solution-oriented practical projects for more environmental protection – also because it is about our SMEs. They remain the backbone of the German economy.”
Niebert: Sprint into the future, not in reverse gear
Lars Baumgürtel and Birgitt Bendiek from the management of the steel galvanizing company ZINQ, headquartered in Gelsenkirchen, embody such a medium-sized company. This year, they are receiving the DBU’s German Environmental Award as “inspiring role models for resource, energy and environmental protection in the raw material-intensive zinc industry”, according to Bonde. DBU Board of Trustees Chairman Prof. Dr. Kai Niebert puts it this way: “Ms. Bendiek and Mr. Baumgürtel show how the circular economy is a business model, attitude and opportunity at the same time. Because you can’t win the sprint into the future in reverse gear.” According to Niebert, the German Environmental Award for climate scientist Sonia Seneviratne from ETH Zurich sends a double signal: “The award honors not only knowledge, but also action and not only perfection, but also the courage to move forward – even on an initially uncertain path.” Niebert continues: “Ms. Seneviratne’s research shines a light where many are still groping in the dark. It is thanks to her that we have a much better understanding of the interplay between soil, vegetation and the atmosphere and the consequences for global warming than before.” In fact, soil moisture values can be used to make drought forecasts and, in turn, climate adaptation – for greater resilience to climate change. According to Niebert, such knowledge must be used “so that climate protection is not just decoration. Ms. Seneviratne shows how resilience is becoming the new ‘sustainable’.” Bonde added: “Ms. Seneviratne uses innovative climate research methods to show how important an environmentally oriented direction is for the economy. Mr. Baumgürtel and Ms. Bendiek are doing just that.”
Groundbreaking studies on land-climate dynamics
Climate researcher Seneviratne is honored by the DBU with the German Environmental Award for her pioneering studies on land-climate dynamics, among other things. The term describes the interactions between climate, soil moisture, plants and the atmosphere. Thanks to Seneviratne, global climate models take these factors into account more than ever before. One correlation: extreme weather conditions such as drought and aridity as a result of climate change significantly impair the ecosystem function of terrestrial vegetation as a reservoir of climate-damaging greenhouse gases (GHG) such as carbon dioxide (CO2), and there is a risk that such CO2 sinks will decline. In addition, there is a possible loss of evaporation – extremely dry soils can lead to a sharp rise in atmospheric temperatures.
Ultra-thin zinc top layer thinner than a hair
The steel galvanizing company ZINQ, under the management of Lars Baumgürtel and Birgitt Bendiek, plays a pioneering role in raw material and energy efficiency – in an extremely raw material and energy-intensive sector such as the zinc industry. At the center: a circular business model called “Planet ZINQ”. In addition to minimizing GHG emissions, it is also about a circular economy. For the approximately 2,500 employees at the 50 ZINQ sites in Europe, including 20 in Germany, everything revolves around the product – from design and life cycle to recyclability and a longer service life, according to the company. Among other things, this strategy has resulted in the company’s patented micro-zinc process, which enables a wafer-thin zinc coating for steel parts that has been reduced by 80 percent: instead of the usual 80 to 100 micrometers, it is only ten micrometers – thinner than a hair. Galvanizing is a method of rust protection for steel alongside coating, but is considered more effective due to the elimination of maintenance costs. Without steel, our everyday lives would not function: from sheet metal, bridges and balconies to screws, wheelbarrows, wind turbines and solar systems.
Background:
The DBU’s German Environmental Award, which will be presented for the 33rd time in 2025, honors the achievements of people who make an exemplary contribution to protecting and preserving the environment. Employers’ associations, trade unions, churches, environmental and nature conservation associations, scientific associations, research communities, the media, the skilled trades and business associations are all eligible to submit nominations to the DBU. Self-proposals are not possible. A jury of independent experts from business, science, technology and social groups appointed by the DBU Board of Trustees recommends award winners for the respective year to the DBU Board of Trustees. The DBU Board of Trustees makes the final decision. Information on the German Environmental Award and award winners: https://www.dbu.de/umweltpreis.