Overview
- The €20,000 prize was presented on September 28 in Kassel by the 501-member society that has honored Enlightenment values since 1991.
- Physicist Ricarda Winkelmann described Antarctic ice as a unique climate archive and urged global action grounded in insight rather than fear.
- Laudator Thomas Jung praised Latif’s roughly 250 publications over four decades and his emphasis that natural laws are not negotiable.
- Latif delivered an unscripted address invoking “Yes, we can,” encouraged embracing change, and organizers lamented the absence of senior politicians who dismiss scientific consensus.
- In a separate youth forum, Latif argued climate protection need not mean sacrifice, framed renewables as key to energy security, noted Germany’s power mix now exceeds 50% renewables, and called for international cooperation.