Last month, the Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt DBU could welcome visitors from three continents: During a three-week study tour, organized by the Center for Environmental Communication of the DBU, the guests from Africa, Asia and South America visited DBU-funded projects and partners in four federal states in order to get a first impression of the German climate landscape. The fellows - all of them young researchers from emerging and developing countries - are the first participants of the International Climate Protection Fellowship Program of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. During their one-year stay, they perform a self-developed research project at a German host institution.
Certificate trading, forestry and energy-efficient buildings are just some examples of the wide range of climate protection-related subjects dealt with by the fellows. Even the multitude of projects was received enthusiastically by all participants. Whether at the company Enercon in Aurich, at a training wastewater treatment plant of the German Association for Water Management in Bonn or at the site of the energy-optimized high school in Sonthofen: descriptive concepts on climate protection and practical solutions for the home countries inspired the young researchers. In discussions with representatives from academia, government and civil society, the curiosity of the participants was hard to stop. Rest periods, such as on the DBU Heritage Area Landshut, completed the program.
