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Dr. Wenz is breaking new ground: climate research at the TU Berlin in focus!
Dr. Leonie Wenz becomes professor of environmental economics at the TU Berlin. Your research on climate change and economics is of great social importance.
Dr. Wenz is breaking new ground: climate research at the TU Berlin in focus!
On March 1, 2025, Dr. Leonie Wenz appointed Professor of Environmental Economics at the Technical University of Berlin. This appointment is not only a personal success for Wenz, who also holds a leading role at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), but also has far-reaching implications for research and policy direction in Germany.
Dr. Wenz is deputy head of the “Complexity Research” research department and heads the “Social Change and Well-being” lab. Her research focuses on the impacts of climate change on economic development and human well-being, as well as adaptation measures at different levels. A central point of her research is the social costs of climate change, which are quantified by greenhouse gas emissions. These cost information are crucial for climate policy decisions and strategies.
Social costs and environmental impact
Environmental pollution causes significant social costs, which manifest themselves in various forms. According to a report by the Federal Environment Agency (UBA), environmental costs in Germany amounted to at least 301 billion euros in 2022, broken down into areas such as road transport and energy production. An ambitious environmental policy is therefore considered necessary to reduce these costs and relieve the burden on society.
- Umweltkosten im Bereich Straßenverkehr, Strom- und Wärmeerzeugung: 301 Milliarden Euro (2022).
- Kostensatz für Phosphor: 5,33 Euro pro kg und für Stickstoff: 11,23 Euro pro kg.
- Umweltkosten variieren je nach Energieträger, wobei Braunkohle die höchsten verursachen.
A significant point highlighted by experts such as Nicholas Stern in his well-known 2006 “Stern Report” is that the costs of inaction exceed the costs of climate action. This highlights the urgency of the measures taken by Dr. Wenz discussed in her research.
Academic career and awards
Dr. Wenz brings with her a solid academic career, ranging from her studies in mathematics to a doctorate in climate physics to a postdoctoral position in the field of resource economics at the University of California, Berkeley. She has received numerous awards, including the Leibniz Doctoral Prize and the Piers Sellers Prize. For the past two years, she has been named to Capital magazine's "Top 40 Under 40" list.
She has also recently contributed to important studies. These include, among other things, analyzes of climate summits and their influence on media reporting as well as studies on the economic obligations of climate change, published in renowned specialist journals such as “Nature” and “PNAS”.
The appointment of Dr. Wenz is led by the professor of environmental economics, Dr. Stefan Heiland, seen as an important step for the TU Berlin and the institute. It opens up new perspectives in teaching and research in the field of environmental economics and the quantitative analysis of social costs, which are becoming increasingly relevant today.
Given the challenges of climate change, the societal costs caused by environmental pressures are a pressing issue that needs attention not only academically but also in the political debate. Dr. Wenz and her colleagues' research shows how important it is to recognize these costs and develop measures that promote a sustainable future.