Even though the Environment is one of THE political issues nowadays it's not as new as most of the eco-movement straggler want to sell us.As one of the first politicians, in Europe and the World, Hans-Dietrich Gentscher has paved the way for an environmental awarness. Therefore he's a real pioneer.
On the occasion of the Stecher-Stammtisch Club of Pioneers met Hans-Dietrich Genscher, former German foreign minister and first minister for the environment, to talk about the future of hydrogen technology, its economical impact and the historical political development towards an eco-aware government in Germany.

Klaus Töpfer is a pioneer in Environmental Politics, both in Germany and worldwide. From 1987 until 1994 he was Federal Minister for the Environment in Germany and after that became the Executive Director of UNEP, the United Nations Environmental Program. Töpfer is also a member of the Board of the German Federal Environment Foundation. Currently he lectures at Tongji-University in Shanghai, China.I met Klaus Töpfer for the first time a few months in Berlin. Over a cup of coffee he explained to me how he is settling down again for the xxst time, installing a new office. Traveling back and forth is rather challenging for the 69 year old Töpfer. But China is worth it. As he pointed out in the Vodcast interview you can see and rate above, China is according to him no longer ignorant of the role it plays in combating climate change. I remembered my interview with Professor Kjiang from Peking in May who also told me how China is day by day experiencing the immediate effects of climate change, energy waste and pollution. The country must, Kjiang added, with the support of the international community, take the first steps.Knowing of the necessity to envision a future of sustainable mobility, Töpfer asks for a competition with the best technological innovations. BMW, the former politician says, is a company that invested a lot into the development of its hydrogen vision in the last 25 years.

Prof. Toepfer and Alex Goerlach talkingAlthough it was really loud in the place where we did the interview, I enjoyed talking to Töpfer who with just a few words showed us why politics and industry need to start on an energy-efficient and sustainable age.

Never had the chance to meet your Club of Pioneers buddies yet? For some of them this wish came true. Last week in Munich at the occasion of a presentation of the Hydrogen 7 Club of Pioneers invited eight "locals" of them to join the party.The Pioneers are: Thomas Heinrich, Denis Witham, Heidi Eireiner, Corinna Thiel, Alex Goerlach, Leonore Heßler und Christian Mangold. Missing in the picture are Marc Girard and Sebastian Schultze who were still working when the party started
In the pouring rain however we had a hydrogen feeling of a special kind. During the event I had the occasion to do an interview with former environmental minister and executive director of the United Nations environmental program, Professor Klaus Töpfer and the German actress Christiane Paul. Once the film material is send to me from Munich to Berlin (this happens if you send that stuff offline...) I will post the clips of the event.

Klaus Töpfer and myself in the interviewWe Pioneers all had a hell of a party and learned a lot about the Hydrogen 7 and I look forward to repeat such a meeting - we will be during a similar event in October in Berlin so we will meet a few of the Pioneers living in Berlin then in person.You guys take care, let's pioneer!Alex