President of the Federal Environment Agency: Dirk Messner promotes committed climate protection.
Photo: Daniel Pilar
Dirk Messner, head of the Federal Environment Agency, warns in the conversation to hurry up when it comes to climate protection. In addition, he calls for special efforts in the face of war.
The 60-year-old Dirk Messner has been in charge of the Federal Environment Agency with its around 1700 employees since the beginning of 2020. The independent sustainability researcher, professor of political science, was previously director of the Institute for Environment and Human Security at the United Nations University in Bonn.
Mr. Messner, the Russian attack on Ukraine has pushed the issue of the environment to the sidelines. Is climate protection the big loser in this war?
The war has the effect that we have to fight even harder for attention. We have to make an effort to keep environmental and climate protection on the agenda. But I am glad that no one in politics, business and society is seriously questioning climate protection and the phase-out of coal by 2030. It is correct that when it comes to the necessary public investments in the environment, there is now competition with security policy.