Jörn Birkmann wins the Environmental and Sustainability Award

As Martin Oldeland, Deputy Chairman of B.A.U.M. and Chairman of the B.A.U.M. | Environmental and Sustainability Award jury explains: "This year’s jury has once again selected five people from among the many excellent nominees having been impressed by their consistent commitment to sustainability. We need role models such as these if a sustainable transformation of the economy and society is to succeed."

Jörn Birkmann, Director of the University of Stuttgart’s Institute for Spatial Planning and Development Planning (IREUS) is conducting research into new concepts for the development of sustainable and climate-resilient cities and regions with a particular focus on vulnerable population groups as well as sensitive and critical infrastructures. The network underlined the fact that Birkmann's recommendations for adapting to extreme events and boosting the resilience of cities and infrastructures are having a concrete impact on policy making and the economy and are being incorporated into legislation and decision-making processes. The concepts and methods he has developed, they said, are also being taken into account in international guidelines whilst the national and international media had disseminated his research findings, making them accessible to the broader public.

“I am grateful for this prestigious award,” says Birkmann, ”and am delighted that the jury has chosen to use it to recognize our research, which is aimed at the transformation towards sustainable and climate-resilient spatial development.” Birkmann is currently coordinating both the KAHR project, which is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and aims to provide scientific support for the reconstruction of regions affected by the 2021 flood disaster, and a spatial analysis project for the new Baden-Württemberg state development plan. Birkmann, who has headed up the IREUS Institute since 2014, was awarded the European Research Council’s (ERC) prestigious Synergy Grant in 2019 along with three international partners. He was also appointed to the Federal Ministry of Housing, Urban Development and Building’s (BMWSB) Advisory Council for Spatial Development and was lead author of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) Assessment Reports 5 and 6.

The Network for Sustainable Business specifically presents the B.A.U.M. | Environmental and Sustainability Award to committed individuals rather than organizations. The award was first introduced in 1993 with a view to recognizing role models and the work of the "doers" working within companies and institutions as well as the work of those with environmental and sustainability management operational implementation responsibilities. The prizes will be awarded on November 19 during a two-day conference in Hamburg, which will host a number of workshops and discussions under the slogan "Go!vernance. Drivers for a successful transformation". It will also mark the 40^th anniversary of B.A.U.M.

About B.A.U.M.
B.A.U.M. e.V. is a network committed to advancing the central issue, namely a future worth living based on sustainable practices. Founded in 1984, the association currently has over 800 members and serves as a voice for sustainable companies at the national and European level and is a driving force within the socio-ecological market economy. B.A.U.M. helps companies willing to participate in the transformation to get set up and develop sustainability strategies and networks stakeholders from the business sector, politics, science, the media and industrial associations.