Great honour for ETH climate researcher Sonia Seneviratne

The German Environmental Award has been bestowed by the German Federal Environmental Foundation (Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt ¨C DBU) since 1993. Weighing in at a total of 500,000 euros, it is one of the most generously endowed environmental awards in Europe. As climate change is known to cross all borders, the DBU has also honoured outstanding personalities outside Germany in the past, but this is the first time the award has gone to Switzerland.

ETH President Jo?l Mesot is delighted: "Sonia Seneviratne's research has made essential contributions to a deeper understanding of climate change. At the same time, she is active in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and, as an expert, is dialoging with society. This award is highly deserved and underlines that her work extends far beyond Switzerland." As in previous years, external page Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier will present the award, this time on 26 October in Chemnitz.

In its statement explaining the award, the DBU lauds Sonia Seneviratne as a "brilliant climate scientist who has gained international renown for her groundbreaking studies in the field of land-climate dynamics, and whose expertise is in demand worldwide."This is a great honour for the 51-year-old professor from French-speaking Switzerland. She began her career as an assistant professor at ETH Zurich in 2007, becoming a full professor in 2016. The researcher has also been active as a member of the bureau of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) since 2023. ETH News asked her about her feelings on receiving the award.

ETH News: Professor Seneviratne, congratulations ¨C what was your reaction when you were notified that you had won the German Environmental Award bestowed by the German Federal Environmental Foundation (DBU)?
Sonia Seneviratne: I was delighted, but also a bit surprised. When you look at who has received the award in the past, it is impressive. I'm thinking, for example, of Mojib Latif, Antje Boetius, Johan Rockstr?m and Fredi Otto ¨C all researchers whom I greatly respect.

You will share the prize money totalling €500,000. Do you already know how you would like to use your €250,000 prize money?
I don't know exactly yet, naturally it will have something to do with my research. However, I think I would most like to use it to fund projects that involve creative climate communication. It is very difficult to obtain funding for this area, although it is so incredibly important.  

Among other things, the DBU emphasises your perseverance. What helps you to keep on the ball ¨C even when climate research is not currently a political priority?
On the one hand, I see the urgency, plain and simple. Ignoring the climate crisis is not an option. On the other hand, I have a great sense of responsibility ¨C I am a mother myself and I want to leave my children a world that is worth living in.      

You write columns, you showed presence at the Venice Architecture Biennale with an art installation on climate change in 2025, and you sometimes testify in court on behalf of climate activists ¨C what do you actually enjoy most?
Well, ideally, I would just do research. There is so much I would still like to investigate about climate and weather processes and perhaps synthesize in a book. I also really enjoy supervising my doctoral and postdoctoral students and would like to have more time for teaching. So my ideal would be for the climate crisis to no longer be an issue because we have made the right decisions and I can focus primarily on research and teaching.  

Unfortunately, the reality is different, so public relations is quite clearly one of my tasks. It is the personal encounters that I particularly enjoy ¨C that's where you can make a difference. For example, I once attended a small event in the countryside in Aargau, which was organised by members of the largest local party and Greenpeace, among others. We discussed what concrete steps could be taken in the countryside to combat the climate crisis. The participants, including many farmers, were extremely motivated, and the atmosphere was really great.

Since July 2023, you have also been a member of the IPCC bureau as Vice-president of the IPCC Working Group I ¨C is that also a task you enjoy doing?
It is very exciting to be involved in planning the newest reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. I can also make a real and active difference at the IPCC. For example, I feel a sense of pride when I see how the previous IPCC reports, to which I have also contributed, are becoming increasingly relevant in court decisions.  

You are incredibly active ¨C does your day have more than 24 hours?
(laughs) Unfortunately not, and I can't clone myself either! Both would be helpful sometimes, because I would like to have more time for all my tasks. But I do have an incredible amount of support ¨C on the one hand from my husband, who takes on a lot at home, and on the other hand from my team that works incredibly well. I can delegate a lot of tasks with a good conscience because I have so many competent and committed people around me. Actually, they are all recognized with this award as well!  

Last but not least, your great achievements in science communication are also being acknowledged. You are known for answering practically every question that is put to you. What question would you like to ask yourself?
That's difficult ¨C indeed, I have answered a great many questions over the years ... but I can say what I would like to talk more about.

... and that would be?
I would like to keep reminding people that it is possible to reduce our CO₂ emissions rapidly and reduce them to zero in the long term, which is what we need to do in order to stabilise climate change and avert even worse consequences. Every effort, every further step towards decarbonisation is significant. Our society is addicted to fossil fuels, but we are ready for detox, and we will be much better off collectively once we have put this behind us. We have everything we need to do this ¨C we just have to dare to do the right thing.