“If left unchecked, our ever-increasing demand for food, water, and energy will eventually overwhelm the Earth’s ability to satisfy humanity’s needs, and will lead to wholesale human tragedy,” the declaration reads. The initiators emphasise that they are not experts in climate research but rather a diverse group of scientists with a deep respect for and understanding of the integrity of the scientific process. The signatories of the declaration have all been awarded Nobel Prizes in Physiology or Medicine, Physics, or Chemistry, except Indian children's rights activist Kailash Satyarthi, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate of 2014.
"Some of the brightest minds of our planet, the Nobel Laureates, are highlighting what they deem to be one of the greatest challenges of our times: climate change," says Schellnhuber. He initiated a symposia series carrying the title "A Noble Cause" a few years ago to direct Nobel Laureates' attention to global sustainability issues. Two of the participants of the most recent symposium in Hong Kong this April brought the idea of a Nobel Laureates' climate statement to the traditional Lindau Meeting that normally does not have an environmental focus, and have been gathering support for it amongst fellow Nobel Laureates since then. "We're very glad of course that we've been able to help with this most noble initiative," says Schellnhuber.
Weblink to the Mainau Declaration on Climate Change:
http://www.mainaudeclaration.org/
http://www.lindau-nobel.org/
Weblink to "A Nobel Cause" - Symposium Series on Global Sustainability:
http://www.nobel-cause.de/
Weblink to video on meeting between Nobel Laureates, Schellnhuber, and French President:
http://www.elysee.fr/videos/reportage-rencontre-et-remise-d-un-appel-de-72-prix-nobel-sur-le-changement-climatique/?input-search=&input-date1=&input-date2=&input-theme=&input-type2=1&search_index=0#content
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