The DBU thus acknowledges Professor Latif’s scientific performance as a climate scientist and his public commitment to the protection of the environment. “He demonstrates that planet earth would become uninhabitable without fully functioning oceans,” says the Federal Foundation when explaining their choice. With numerous books and scientific contributions, he targets experts as well as a broad audience, including children and teenagers. This portrays his high scientific expectations and ambitions to communicate in a way which is comprehensible to the public, continues the DBU.
Mojib Latif shares the award with the Swedish sustainability scientist Prof. Johan Rockström. The Honors Award went to Prof. em. Michael Succow, to acknowledge his life-long commitment to protection of nature. With prize money of 500,000 Euro in total, the German Environment Award is the most highly remunerated, independent environment prize in Europe. “In honoring the climate experts in the run-up to the climate conference of the United Nations in Paris at the end of November,” the DBU also wants to send an “appeal to the international community,” writes the Federal Foundation in their press release. In his speech, President Gauck said that the three award winners are working to ensure that “we leave our children a world, in which we can breathe fresh air, drink clear water and harvest our crops from healthy soil – a world in which what is natural can be taken for granted.”
The award pleased him exceedingly much, emphasized Professor Latif. “The protection of our planet has been a very important concern of mine for many years. We still have the power in our hands to maintain favorable living conditions on earth for future generations. Yet for this we need to move from knowing to acting,” continued Latif. “I will carry on campaigning for the protection of the environment with all my strength.” With his share of the prize money, he hopes to donate to social purposes and support the especially needy in the third world, announced Professor Latif.
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