Carl H. Schmitt, environmental prize laureate, dies at 95
Carl H. Schmitt, recipient of the German Environmental Prize, has passed away at age 95. He was recognized for his commitment to climate-friendly solutions and his willingness to take business risks.
Osnabrück. Entrepreneur Carl H. Schmitt has died at the age of 95. Schmitt was known for his dedication to developing climate-friendly solutions and his readiness to take business risks to achieve his goals. He was awarded the German Environmental Prize (Deutscher Umweltpreis) in 2007.
Alexander Bonde, Secretary General of the German Federal Environmental Foundation (DBU), remembered Schmitt as a visionary and courageous entrepreneur who took responsibility for environmental protection at a time when it was not yet a common practice. "Our condolences go to his family. We mourn a person who, as an entrepreneur, took responsibility for preserving an intact environment," Bonde stated.
Schmitt's career began in the 1960s when he founded Konvekta GmbH. As early as the 1980s, he focused on developing environmentally compatible alternatives to climate-damaging refrigerants such as CFCs. His company developed the first prototype of a carbon dioxide-based bus air conditioning system in 1996, marking a significant milestone on the path to series production.
In 2007, the DBU awarded Schmitt and his long-time head of development, Professor Jürgen Köhler, the German Environmental Prize in recognition of their work in developing climate-friendly and mobile air conditioning and refrigeration systems. The prize honors individuals who have made outstanding contributions to environmental protection.
Schmitt also established the Konvekta C.H.Schmitt Foundation in 2004 to support social projects and environmental protection initiatives in his home region. His passing represents a significant loss to the environmental movement.