International TÜV Rheinland Global Compact Award

Reinhold Messner has received the 5th International TÜV Rheinland Global Compact Award in Cologne. Reinhold Messner, who hails from South Tyrol (Italy), received the sustainability prize, which has been awarded since 2008, for his life’s work. The award from the TÜV Rheinland Foundation, which is endowed with 25,000 euros, was presented in front of more than 250 guests from business, politics, science and culture in the presence of Cologne’s Lord Mayor Henriette Reker at a ceremony in Cologne’s historic Gürzenich hall.

Kenyan sociologist and author Dr. Auma Obama has been honored with the 4th International TÜV Rheinland Global Compact Award 2017. The elder sister of former U.S. President Barack Obama received the award for her consistent commitment to sustainable and effective long-term development cooperation. The TÜV Rheinland Foundation award, which comes with 25,000 euros in prize money, was presented at a ceremony in Cologne's Historic City Hall.

After growing up in Kenya, Dr. Obama studied at the universities of Heidelberg, Berlin and Bayreuth, where she completed her doctorate in 1996. After returning to Kenya, she worked for the international aid organization CARE for five years. Dr. Auma Obama is a board member of the Kilimanjaro Initiative in Nairobi. She is also a globally sought-after author and speaker on sustainability issues. The award winner is also a member of the World Future Council, which campaigns globally for responsible, sustainable thinking and action for the benefit of future generations, and is the initiator and chairwoman of the Sauti Kuu Foundation.

In September 2014, the International TÜV Rheinland Global Compact Award was presented to political scientist Prof. Dr. Edda Müller. This was in recognition of the Chairwoman of Transparency International Germany for her consistent commitment to fighting corruption and protecting the environment. The award was presented to Professor Müller at a ceremony in Cologne's Historic City Hall.

With the award, the Board of Trustees recognized Professor Müller's strong commitment against corruption, unethical behavior and for environmental protection. Whether as Minister of the Environment in Schleswig-Holstein, Vice Director of the European Environment Agency, Chairwoman of the Federation of German Consumer Organizations or currently as Chairwoman of Transparency International Germany, the award winner has been standing up for her convictions with a strong will for more than 20 years.

In 2011, entrepreneur Dr. Michael Otto accepted the 25,000 euro award. The Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Otto Group was thereby recognized for his broad commitment to social and ecological issues, which he has shown in exemplary form over decades in his own company and beyond, and continues to show today.

The entrepreneur Dr. Michael Otto is the winner of the International TÜV Rheinland Global Compact Award 2011:

The first recipient of the International TÜV Rheinland Global Compact Award in 2008 was Dr. Volker Hauff, former Member of the German Bundestag, State Secretary and Federal Minister for Research and Technology and for Transport, respectively, as well as Lord Mayor of the City of Frankfurt. In addition to these offices, he was chairman of the German government's Council for Sustainable Development for almost 10 years. The prize was awarded in recognition of his achievements in giving greater prominence to the concept of sustainability and anchoring the issue in politics.