Nobel Sustainability Trust Foundation
Munich Summit 2023
Nobel Sustainability Trust (NST), with the support of the Institute for Advanced Study of the Technical University of Munich (TUM-IAS), jointly presented the Sustainability Awards and Medals for 2023 on November 9th, 2023, in Munich, Germany. This marks the second year of the medals for “Outstanding Contributions to Sustainability”, and they were awarded to Mr. John Kerry, the U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, and Dr. Robin Yuqun Zeng, Chairman of CATL, the world-leading battery company. NST and TUM IAS also presented the inaugural awards for Outstanding Research and Development in the field of Energy and Leadership in Implementation this year. These awards were bestowed upon Prof. Elena Bou from the European Institute of Innovation & Technology and Lord Nicholas Stern from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
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The recipients of the Sustainability Awards were selected by two independent committees led by TUM-IAS. This committee includes professors appointed by various institutes and universities from around the world. The Sustainability Awards will be presented annually to individuals or institutions that have facilitated significant developments or made outstanding contributions to the implementation of sustainable solutions for communities.
Nobel Sustainability Trust Chairman Peter Nobel remarks:
"It is with great joy and pride that we jointly announce, here in Munich, the awardees for the first Sustainability Award in Energy and Leadership. And the second time for the Outstanding Contribution in Sustainability Medals. The future of humanity and its survival largely hinge on our abilities to use the Earth's resources and leverage technological innovations in a sustainable manner. We believe the Sustainability Awards and Medals will play a pivotal role and become a powerful symbol within the sustainable field. Our objective is to inspire and mobilize individuals and organizations worldwide to develop sustainable technologies in key resource areas such as energy, water, and agriculture. Such efforts require substantial intellectual engagement and financial support."
President of TUM Thomas Hofmann says:
"TUM's core strategy is to promote the concept of sustainability and its implementation via promising and marketable technologies. I am pleased that we at TUM are helping to push sustainability even further with the Sustainability Awards and to demonstrate that science and technology are the keys to sustainability."
Director of the TUM Institute for Advanced Study Michael Molls underlines:
“Sustainability is the major challenge confronting society and science today. A look at the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) reveals that research faces immense tasks. There are numerous opportunities to utilize the great potential of interdisciplinary, networked thinking and working collaboratively. Engineers are needed on many fronts to develop technologies geared toward creating humane and nature-friendly living conditions for everyone on our planet. The spectrum of work in the technology sector is extremely diverse and highly complex, and this also applies to basic scientific research. The latter creates the basis for translating or testing new, sustainable processes.
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As Director of the TUM-IAS, who has been leading the Award selection process, I would like to thank all the members of the selection committees for engaging and bringing their experience and expertise into the evaluation phase.”
Leadership in Implementation
Professor Lord Nicholas Stern (London School of Economics and Political Science)
Nicholas Stern is an expert in the economics of climate change. He has been Chair of the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment at the London School of Economics and Political Science since its foundation in 2008.Over past twenty years, he has made an outstanding contribution to international climate policy, and to promoting the transition to sustainable, inclusive, and resilient economic development and growth. His report "The Economics of Climate Change: The Stern Review," published in 2006 and commissioned by the British Government, had a broad impact nationally and worldwide on decision-makers and business leaders.Through his advisory role in several instances - United Nations, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the Organization Cfor Economic Cooperation and Development, and the World Economic Forum, he improved the understanding of the costs of inaction on global climate change.In his research activities, Nicholas Stern focuses on the topics of economic development and growth, economic theory, tax reform, public policy, and the role of the state and economies in transition. His many honorary degrees, prizes, citations, and publications in the most renowned journals testify to the high-level of recognition from his peers.​
Outstanding Research and Development in the Field of Energy
Dr. Elena Bou (EIT InnoEnergy)
Elena Bou co-founded EIT InnoEnergy in 2010 and since 2011, the Innovation Director and member of its executive board. In her position, she leads the development of major InnoEnergy efforts in creating and accelerating startups and scaleups in the energy field, including the investment process in such ventures. EIT InnoEnergy is a Knowledge and Innovation Community supported by the European Institute of Technology, which has supported since its foundation around 450 companies in the sustainable energy field, focusing on energy storage, sustainable buildings and cities, renewable energies, smart electric grid, energy efficiency, energy for circular economy, and energy for transport and mobility.As an Associate Professor in the Department of Operations, Innovation, and Data Sciences at the Spanish business school ESADE (Escuela Superior de Administración y Dirección de Empresas), Elena Bou is active in researching and teaching in the field of Knowledge and Innovation Management.She holds PhD in Management Sciences from ESADE and is the author of several publications in the fields of knowledge management, collaborative innovation, and entrepreneurship.
Sustainability Medal Recipient
Mr. John Kerry, the U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, former Secretary of State
Mr. John Kerry is a distinguished American politician, diplomat, and environmental advocate who has dedicated decades of his career to public service and international leadership. He represented the state of Massachusetts in the United States Senate from 1985 to 2013, where he built a reputation as a thoughtful legislator on foreign policy, national security, and environmental issues. Following nearly three decades in the Senate, he was appointed U.S. Secretary of State (2013–2017) under President Barack Obama, becoming the nation’s top diplomat during a period of significant global change.
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Mr. Kerry is widely recognized as one of the world’s most influential climate champions. As Secretary of State, he played a decisive role in the negotiation of the Paris Agreement on climate change in 2015, which stands as the most ambitious and comprehensive international accord ever adopted to curb global warming. His ability to build consensus among nations, bridge divides, and secure commitments from both developed and developing countries was instrumental in making the agreement a historic milestone in the global fight against climate change.
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In 2019, continuing his lifelong commitment to the environment, Mr. Kerry co-founded World War Zero, a coalition of leaders, experts, and citizens dedicated to mobilizing society against climate change. The initiative emphasized that addressing climate change is not only an environmental imperative but also a national security, economic, and moral necessity.
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In 2020, President Joe Biden appointed him as the first-ever U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, granting him a seat on the National Security Council and giving him the mandate to spearhead international climate diplomacy. In this role, Mr. Kerry has tirelessly engaged leaders around the globe, pressing both allies and adversaries to strengthen their commitments to renewable energy, decarbonization, and sustainability. His efforts focus on ensuring that governments and industries implement concrete strategies to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, in line with the scientific consensus needed to limit the most dangerous effects of climate change.
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Throughout his career, Mr. Kerry has combined the roles of policymaker, negotiator, and advocate, emerging as a tireless voice for international cooperation on climate action. His leadership continues to inspire governments, businesses, and civil society to recognize the urgency of the climate crisis and to work together toward a cleaner, safer, and more sustainable future for generations to come.
Sustainability Medal Recipient
Dr. Robin Zeng, Chairman of CATL
Dr. Robin Zeng is the visionary founder and current Chairman of Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL), a global leader in new energy and battery technologies.
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Dr. Zeng first entered the battery industry in 1999, when he established ATL (Amperex Technology Limited), which quickly became the world’s leading company in the development and production of advanced lithium-ion batteries for consumer electronics. Building on this success, and recognizing the enormous potential of electrification in transportation and renewable energy, Dr. Zeng founded CATL in 2011.
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Since its founding, CATL has grown into the world’s leading provider of power batteries and a global innovator in new energy technologies. Under Dr. Zeng’s leadership, the company has consistently achieved breakthroughs in the core technologies of electric vehicle (EV) batteries and energy storage systems, providing integrated, high-quality solutions and services to accelerate the transition toward a sustainable energy future. CATL has also invested heavily in research and development, with a focus on advancing materials science, battery chemistry, system integration, and recycling technologies.
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Thanks to this relentless pursuit of innovation, CATL has maintained its position as the world’s number one power battery manufacturer for six consecutive years, commanding the largest global market share. In addition, the company also ranks first globally in the production and market share of energy storage batteries, reinforcing its leadership in both mobility and stationary energy applications.
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Dr. Zeng’s entrepreneurial vision and commitment to sustainability have not only reshaped the global battery industry but also played a pivotal role in advancing the clean energy transition. By driving innovation and scaling solutions for electric mobility and renewable energy storage, he and CATL continue to contribute significantly to reducing global carbon emissions and building a more sustainable future.