30 April 2016

Frankfurt University Gets Green Reading Room - Message to Young People: Avoid CO2 Production

FRANKFURT, GERMANY – The Annual Meeting of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), which will be hosted by Germany for the first time, will leave its mark, namely the first "Green Reading Room" at a German university.

"The Green Reading Room sends out a clear message to young people," said Hans-Joachim Fuchtel, Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development and German Governor of the ADB, "as it encourages them to help limit global warming through their own behavior."

ADB President Takehiko Nakao: “Sustainability is critical for all economies in Asia and in the rest of the world. The Green Reading Room will serve as a reminder of the importance of environmental sustainability for this and future generations.”

Lord Mayor of the City of Frankfurt, Peter Feldmann: “For this symbolic act there is no better place than Frankfurt. Because in this green city, dynamics and sustainability as well as the belief in progress and prosperity go in line with taking care of our environment.”

The 67 delegates of the ADB member states jointly planted the trees for the Green Reading Room on the premises of Frankfurt University at 4.30 p.m. on the Westend Campus of the university. Over time, the trees will grow and eventually form a green construction that can be used as a reading room by roughly 50 students.

The German Governor of the ADB, Hans-Joachim Fuchtel, pointed out: "The Paris climate summit made very clear what many of us knew already: much more needs to be done to bind CO2." The Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development is planning to use the forum of the Green Reading Room as a regular venue for presentations to young scientists about latest developments in the areas of climate change and energy use. The Parliamentary State Secretary thanked Frankfurt University for the cooperation initiative: "With the Green Reading Room, we are planting ideas for the future, quite literally."

The planting of the trees was a kick-off event of the ADB Annual Meeting, which will take place from 2 to 5 May. The Governors of all 67 member states will be meeting for the 49th time to determine the future direction of Asian development financing. The planting ceremony took place in the presence of the Vice-President for Third Mission, Prof. Manfred Schubert-Zsilavecz of Goethe University, and the Lord Mayor of the City of Frankfurt, Peter Feldmann.

Vice-President for Third Mission, Prof. Manfred Schubert-Zsilavecz of Goethe University: “The Goethe University feels obliged to the aim of climate protection. A Green Lecture Hall not only enriches teaching. It also stimulates our students and lecturers, to deal with climate protection more in depth.”

ADB, based in Manila, is dedicated to reducing poverty in Asia and the Pacific through inclusive economic growth, environmentally sustainable growth, and regional integration. Established in 1966, ADB in December 2016 will mark 50 years of development partnership in the region. It is owned by 67 members—48 from the region. In 2015, ADB assistance totaled $27.2 billion, including cofinancing of $10.7 billion.

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