German Environmental Prize: Honor for climate researcher in Chemnitz!

German Environmental Prize: Honor for climate researcher in Chemnitz!

The German Environmental Prize, one of the most valuable environmental awards in Europe, will be awarded in Chemnitz on October 26, 2025. The event, at which Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier will present the honor, brings together outstanding personalities and companies that have made a name for themselves in climate research and sustainable development. This year, the winners can look forward to a generous sum of 500,000 euros, which will go to both the Swiss climate researcher Professor Sonia Seneviratne and the company ZINQ from North Rhine-Westphalia.

Professor Dr. Sonia Isabelle Seneviratne, who teaches as a professor at ETH Zurich, is being honored for her comprehensive research on the interactions between soil moisture, plants and the atmosphere. Their findings are crucial for understanding land-climate dynamics and their influence on climate change. It has shown that soil moisture is a key variable in the climate system that has significant effects on temperature and weather events. In particular, a lack of soil moisture leads to higher temperatures and more frequent heat waves, as Seneviratne highlights in her work. She is also active as Vice President of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and made a significant contribution to the sixth IPCC report.

Innovations from industry

But the industry has also found a strong representative in ZINQ. The company, headed by Lars Baumgurtel and Dr. Birgitt Bendiek is known for his resource-saving galvanizing process, which is known as “micro zinc”. This patented process allows the zinc layer on steel parts to be reduced by 80 percent, which not only increases material efficiency but also reduces energy consumption. The melting point of the zinc-aluminum alloy has been reduced from 450 to 420 degrees, which has led to savings of around 285,000 tons of CO₂ emissions since 2010. ZINQ is therefore recognized as the European market leader in the field of piece galvanizing and focuses on sustainable solutions within the steel industry.

In their work, both award winners emphasize the need to advance fact-based research and innovation in order to meet the challenges of the global climate crisis. And not just in our own interest, but also for future generations.

A look at the award winners

• Preisträgerin: Prof. Dr. Sonia Isabelle Seneviratne
• Institution: ETH Zürich, Schweiz
• Forschungsschwerpunkte: Bodenfeuchte, Vegetation und Atmosphäre
• Preisträger: Lars Baumgürtel und Dr.-Ing. Birgitt Bendiek
• Unternehmen: ZINQ, Gelsenkirchen
• Innovationen: Mikrozink-Verfahren zur Reduktion von Zinkschichten

The German Environmental Prize 2025 is not just an award, but also an invitation to take innovative approaches to climate protection. On the occasion of the celebratory award ceremony, it will once again be clear what role research and industry can play in overcoming the challenges of climate change. Stay tuned for the developments that these award winners will surely share with us in the future.

For more information you can read the reports from People's voice, DBU and Environmental dialogue read up.