CyI Professor Jos Lelieveld Awarded the Carl-Friedrich-von-Weizsäcker Prize for Science-Based Policy Advice ^Featured

The Cyprus Institute is proud to announce that Prof. Jos Lelieveld, distinguished atmospheric scientist and faculty member at The Cyprus Institute’s Climate and Atmosphere Research Center (CARE-C), has been awarded the Carl-Friedrich-von-Weizsäcker-Prize, Germany’s foremost honor for excellence in science-based policy advice. The award, jointly presented by the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina and the Association for the Promotion of Science, recognizes research that addresses society’s most pressing challenges.

 

Prof. Lelieveld, Director Emeritus at the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, is honored for his pioneering contributions to understanding the self-cleaning capacity of the atmosphere, the impacts of global emissions, and their intertwined effects on both climate and public health. His work has been instrumental in demonstrating that air pollution and climate change are inseparable challenges, shaping international discourse and guiding policymaking at the highest levels.

 

As a member of The Cyprus Institute’s faculty, Prof. Lelieveld has strengthened the Institute’s mission to address regional and global environmental challenges through advanced research and strategic international partnerships. His presence at CyI enhances the Institute’s leadership in atmospheric and climate sciences, fields in which the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East region faces particularly severe pressures.

 

Prof. Lelieveld’s research spans decades and has significantly advanced our understanding of:

• Atmospheric composition and ozone photochemistry
• The atmospheric self-cleaning mechanism
• Global atmospheric change and non-CO2 climate pollutants
• The role of clouds and monsoon systems in atmospheric chemistry
• Health impacts of air pollution and climate change

A student of Nobel laureate Paul Crutzen, he pioneered major aircraft-based atmospheric measurement campaigns and developed influential models that couple chemistry with meteorology, tools that continue to inform global environmental policy. At CyI, his expertise supports ongoing efforts to assess and mitigate air quality degradation and weather extremes in the Eastern Mediterranean region, which is recognized as a climate change hotspot.

 

The award committee highlighted Prof. Lelieveld’s sustained commitment to science-based policy advice. His research has clarified the significant health consequences of polluted air, quantified mortality linked to emissions, and emphasized solutions prioritizing emission reductions and renewable energy transitions. His activities span decades of publications in esteemed scientific journals, with several seminal papers which have influenced policy considerations for air quality, including articles highlighting that outdoor air pollution can lead to millions of excess deaths annually, and a study outlining the effects of ambient air pollution on cardiovascular disease.

 

“Receiving this award is a great honor, and it motivates me to continue raising awareness of the health impacts of air pollution and its connection to climate change,” Prof. Lelieveld noted. For years, he has championed clean air as a foundational component of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, emphasizing the health–climate co-benefits of global energy transformation.

 

Gerald Haug, Managing Director of the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, praised Professor Lelieveld’s achievements, saying:

“Few have so profoundly advanced our understanding of how the air we breathe is intertwined with climate, health, and humanity’s future as Jos Lelieveld has. His scientific brilliance, tireless commitment, and vision for a healthier, better world are rightly recognized by this prize.”

 

Prof. Lelieveld led the Department of Atmospheric Chemistry at the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry from 2000 to 2025 before becoming Director Emeritus earlier this year. Alongside his leadership roles in Germany, he continues to contribute significantly to The Cyprus Institute’s scientific mission and international collaborations.

 

The Cyprus Institute extends its warmest congratulations to Prof. Lelieveld on this prestigious honor. His award underscores the Institute’s role as a hub for globally significant climate and atmospheric research and highlights the impact of CyI faculty on international scientific and policy conversations.