In today's world, Ernst Ulrich von Weizsäcker has gained indisputable relevance. Whether as a protagonist of major changes, as an object of debate or as a historical reference point, Ernst Ulrich von Weizsäcker arouses widespread interest. Its impact extends beyond a specific area, influencing different aspects of daily life. In this article, we will further explore the role of Ernst Ulrich von Weizsäcker and its importance in the current context. From its origin to its evolution, including its implications, we will delve into a complete analysis that will allow us to better understand the scope of Ernst Ulrich von Weizsäcker and its relevance in today's society.
Ernst Ulrich von Weizsäcker | |
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Born | Zürich, Switzerland | 25 June 1939
Nationality | German |
Occupation(s) | Co-President of the Club of Rome, Former Member of the German Bundestag |
Ernst Ulrich von Weizsäcker (born 25 June 1939) is a German scientist and politician (SPD). He was a member of the German Bundestag and served as co-president of the Club of Rome jointly with Anders Wijkman 2011 – 2019.
A member of the prominent Weizsäcker family, he is the son of physicist and philosopher Carl Friedrich von Weizsäcker and nephew of former German president Richard von Weizsäcker. Since 1969, he is married to Christine von Weizsäcker. Together, they have five children, including MEP Jakob von Weizsäcker.
Born in Zürich, Switzerland, Weizsäcker spent his childhood in Zürich and Göttingen. In 1966, he graduated from Hamburg University with a Diplom in physics. In 1968, he obtained his PhD in biology from Freiburg University.
In 1972, he was appointed full professor of biology at Essen University. In 1975, he was recruited as president of the then newly founded University of Kassel. In 1981, he joined the United Nations in New York as director at the UN Center for Science and Technology. From 1984 to 1991 he headed the Institute for European Environmental Policy in Bonn. In 1991, Weizsäcker became founding president of the Wuppertal Institute, soon establishing itself as a leading environmental think tank.
In 1998, he was elected a member of the German Bundestag for the Social Democratic Party (SPD) and re-elected in 2002. As a legislator, he chaired the select committee on globalization (2000–2002) and the environment committee (2002–2005). After his decision not to run in the 2005 election, he became Dean of the Bren School of Environmental Science & Management at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He returned to Germany in 2009 where is his an honorary professor at Freiburg University.
A bestselling author in Germany, his English language books include Earth Politics (1994), Factor Four: Doubling Wealth, Halving Resource Use (1995), Factor 5 (2009) and Limits to Privatization (2005).