Nobel Award
On November 20, 2024, Mathis Wackernagel received the 2024 Sustainability Award in Leadership in Implementation by the Nobel Sustainability Trust for his contribution to the sustainability transformation. It has been a powerful recognition.
The Nobel Sustainability Trust and their selection committee chose Mathis because he co-developed the concept of Ecological Footprint in the early 1990s with his doctorate supervisor, Professor William Rees, at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. This widespread and popular concept helps compare human demand against planetary or regional ecosystem regeneration. Also, he co-founded in 2003 with Susan Burns Global Footprint Network, an international nonprofit organisation to advise companies, cities, and countries on the implications of global overshoot. The Trust further highlighted the annual Earth Overshoot Day campaign which marks the date when humanity has used up all the natural resources that the Earth can provide in a year.
One of the members of the selection committee, Prof. Volker Sieber, provided more details in his Laudatio. The media response as well as Global Footprint Network's celebration are documented here.
Peter Nobel and Prof. Michael Moll congratulate Mathis Wackernagel to the Nobel Sustainability Award.
Conferring the Nobel Award, which included a medal for Leadership in Implementation.
Apart from the Awards, the Nobel Sustainability Trust bestowed two Nobel Medals, one to Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum for her previous work on sustainable cities. The other medal was awarded to former UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon for his commitment to sustainable development.
Prof. Volker Sieber gives his Laudatio for Mathis Wackernagel
Mathis Wackernagel gives his acceptance speech
Mathis receives the Nobel Award check from Peter Nobel.
Mathis with Kim Stanley Robinson, author of "The Ministry for the Future", the world's primer novel on the future of climate change.
Philippe Douste-Blazy - former French Foreign Minister –
Erik Nobel - Nobel Sustainability Trust (NST) –
Tracy Wang - ED of Nobel Sustainability Trust –
Prof. Slav Hermanowicz - water expert –
Johan Nobel - NST –
Dr. Mathis Wackernagel - Nobel Awardee –
Prof. Volker Sieber, TUM, selection committee –
Stephanie Nobel - NST –
Prof. Michael Molls, Sieber, TUM, Chair, selection committee –
Prof. Klaus Butterbach-Bahl - Nobel Awardee –
Prof. Jiuhui Qu - Nobel Awardee –
Yang Lan - event moderator –
Peter Nobel - Chair, NST –
Prof.Akissa Bahri - former Tunesian Ag. Minister –
Allen Salmasi - internet pioneer –