Prof. Elena Bou from EIT InnoEnergy and Lord Stern from London School of Economics and Political Science received the inaugural Sustainability Awards, award from Nobel Sustainability Trust and TUM. The new Awards honor Elena Bou’s achievements in Energy Sustainabilty, and Lord Stern’s work on economic aspects of climate change.
The winners were selected by a a panel of international experts as well as TUM professors, organised by the TUM Institute for Advanced Study (TUM-IAS).
Elena Bou said: “I am honoured to receive this inaugural Nobel Sustainability Trust Award. This prize recognises the determinant roles start-ups, innovation and entrepreneurship play in the energy transition. Reaching net zero demands new ideas and approaches – it is what will truly shift the needle on the progress of sustainable energy solutions. Working at EIT InnoEnergy allows me to put this into action every day, and through my research and teaching at Esade, I hope to encourage and influence the next generation of changemakers.”
Lord Stern said in his acceptance speech: “Overall, I am very optimistic about what we can do. We really can see a path to a world with much stronger mitigation and adaptation and to a new much more attractive model of growth and development; sustainable, resilient, and inclusive.
“However, I am deeply worried about what we will do. The scale and pace of structural, technological and social change must be large and rapid. That will require changes in behaviour and institutions. It will require purposive and sustained political leadership, and strong political pressure from society as a whole on decision-makers to deliver change.”
Peter Nobel, Chairman of the NST, said: “It fills me with joy and pride that we can award the new prizes for the first time this year. After all, the future well-being of humanity and its survival depends on our sustainable use of the Earth’s resources. Supporting this has been, is, and will continue to be a major concern of our family. This will require significant intellectual and financial effort. It is the goal of the NST to support this process.”
TUM President Prof. Thomas F. Hofmann emphasised, “Sustainability and its translation into promising and marketable technologies must be the mandate of all of us. With the TUM Sustainable Futures Strategy 2030, we have set ourselves ambitious goals for a sustainable transformation. Such transformations need visible heroes. That is why I am delighted that we are now honouring two such personalities with the Nobel Sustainability Trust Award, who are visible far and wide as shining role models.”
The Awards were handed over by Peter Nobel, Chairman von Nobel Sustainability Trust, Thomas Hofmann, President of TUM, and Michael Molls, Director of TUM-IAS.