“Nothing will be as costly as choosing not to invest in climate protection!” – so claimed Prof Antje Boetius, Director of the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI), at the New Year’s Reception for the Senate of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen.
Mayor Dr Andreas Bovenschulte had invited several hundred guests from all walks of life to this traditional event, held at Bremen’s Town Hall. During her speech, Antje Boetius elaborated on the latest advances in climate research and reported on the status quo of the Arctic expedition MOSAiC.
In her keynote speech, the award-winning deep-sea researcher underscored the importance of adhering to the agreed-upon targets for climate and environmental protection: “So many people are now asking themselves how they can best contribute to protecting nature, our environment and the climate. What we’re talking about here is a challenge that can be overcome by means of cooperation and collaboration. Villages, cities and regions can especially move forward by improving their infrastructures.” She went on to add, “I wish I could find a way to explain, and to make palpable, what we will all lose if we fail to meet the climate protection targets. Even today, the damage that’s already been done to coral reefs, forests, and biodiversity is so great that surely all of us can see a change is urgently needed. We now have a chance to build a better tomorrow – and nothing will be as costly as choosing not to invest in climate protection.”