German President Steinmeier calls for lifestyle changes at environmental awards

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has called for high priority to be given to climate protection, urging society to rethink current ways of living and economic practices. Speaking at the presentation of the German Environmental Prize in Aachen, Steinmeier noted that Europe is warming more than twice as fast as other continents.

He highlighted the severe consequences of recent climate trends, including forest fires, low water levels affecting shipping, and 16,000 additional deaths in Germany attributed to heat, according to the Robert Koch Institute. While acknowledging that climate issues have sometimes been overshadowed by other political concerns, he emphasized the need to reduce greenhouse gases and protect natural resources.

The 500,000 euro prize was awarded to two recipients: engineer Klaus Vossenkaul for his innovations in membrane filter technology for wastewater treatment, and environmental lawyer Roda Verheyen for her work in enforcing legal requirements for climate justice. During the ceremony, Verheyen issued a stark warning, stating that a projected 2.8-degree warming by the end of the century could lead to millions of deaths and poses an immense danger to humanity.