GreenTech Festival 2025: Prof. Anabel Ternès Champions Biodiversity as the Future of Sustainability

GreenTech Festival 2025: Prof. Anabel Ternès Champions Biodiversity as the Future of Sustainability

TONOY CHAKRABORTY

( Place: Berlin, Germany – May 23, 2025) The Green Awards Gala, a radiant highlight of the GreenTech Festival, transformed Berlin into a vibrant hub where sustainability and glamour intertwined.

Among the distinguished attendees was Prof. Dr. Anabel Ternès von Hattburg, a globally renowned futurist, sustainability expert, and Managing Director of the SRH Institute for Sustainability Management. Radiant in a resplendent gown, she joined luminaries such as Katja Riemann, Nico Rosberg, Eva Padberg, and Maja Göpel in an atmosphere brimming with optimism.

“The evening was a dazzling celebration,” Prof. Ternès shared, her enthusiasm mirroring the event’s infectious energy. “Speeches by Katja Riemann and Johanna Klum stirred the soul, leaving us with goosebumps and a renewed sense of hope for sustainability.”

The gala was more than a display of elegance; it marked sustainability’s growing allure and visibility. “Shall we celebrate? Absolutely,” Prof. Ternès affirmed. “In this shared moment, with the brilliance of award winners and the positive energy tied to sustainability, there’s something profoundly necessary—especially when sustainability is too often seen as a burden.”

Yet, amid the applause, she posed a critical question: “Is celebration enough? No.” This reflection set the stage for a transformative panel discussion the following day, where Prof. Ternès’ expertise shone brightly.

Moderated with precision by Dale Rickert, PhD, the session featured Prof. Ternès, CEO of Sustain Plus and a leading thought leader, alongside Professor Lisa Wilson, Hirander Misra, and Christiane Gerstetter.

Titled Beyond Carbon: Why Biodiversity Trumps Carbon as the KPI of the Future, the panel delivered a bold and compelling thesis: biodiversity, not carbon, is the ultimate measure of planetary health. Prof. Ternès, with her characteristic blend of academic rigor and visionary insight, underscored why this shift in focus is urgent. “Carbon metrics have dominated the climate narrative, but they tell only part of the story,” she explained. “Biodiversity is the foundation of life—its loss threatens ecosystems, economies, and human resilience.”

The discussion highlighted the sobering reality of escalating CO₂ levels, now at 424 ppm according to NOAA’s 2024 data, but drew even greater attention to the alarming 69% decline in wildlife populations since 1970, as reported by WWF in 2022.

Prof. Ternès emphasized that while carbon reductions are critical, they cannot address the unraveling of Earth’s ecological fabric. She pointed to the economic stakes, noting that the World Economic Forum estimates $44 trillion—half of global GDP—relies on healthy ecosystems, from pollination to clean water, underpinning industries vital to human survival.

The Amazon rainforest, home to 10% of known species, served as a stark example. Prof. Ternès highlighted its loss of 17% of forest cover in just five decades, a devastation that not only fuels greenhouse gas emissions but also extinguishes species and knowledge, closing off potential solutions for future challenges.

“Biodiversity is resilience,” she asserted, explaining that a thriving ecosystem, rich in diverse species, delivers climate stability, food security, and pandemic resistance—benefits far beyond what a single tree’s carbon sequestration can offer.

Prof. Ternès also challenged the reliance on easily quantifiable metrics like carbon emissions. While carbon is measurable, biodiversity’s complexity demands a broader, more holistic perspective. “It’s not just about numbers,” she argued. “Biodiversity compels us to prioritize regeneration over mere mitigation, embracing the interconnected meaning of life on Earth.” This call for a paradigm shift resonated deeply, urging a redefinition of progress that values the intricate web of ecosystems.

The GreenTech Festival, with its blend of inspiring celebration and incisive dialogue, showcased Prof. Dr. Anabel Ternès von Hattburg’s pivotal role as a global advocate for sustainable innovation. Her leadership in this panel, grounded in her extensive work in sustainability, digitalization, and future skills, reinforced her status as a voice of clarity and inspiration.

As the world confronts climate challenges, her vision of biodiversity as the “true north” of sustainability offers a compelling roadmap for a healthier, more resilient planet. The festival’s message, amplified by Prof. Ternès’ insights, is unmistakable: the future of sustainability lies not in counting carbon but in nurturing the vibrant, interconnected web of life that sustains us all.

23-05-2025

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