Obituary for Gernot Klepper

The Kiel Institute for the World Economy mourns the loss of its long-time colleague and Head of the Department of "Environment and Natural Resources," Prof. Gernot Klepper, PhD, who passed away on October 23 at the age of 73 after a serious illness.

Gernot Klepper joined the Kiel Institute as a young researcher in 1984 and became head of the then Department of Environmental and Resource Economics in 1995. In the following decades, he promoted interdisciplinary research on environmental sustainability and climate change at the Kiel Institute, in particular regarding the role of environmental economic instruments, and supported and shaped numerous young researchers. Thanks to his tireless networking and project acquisition activities, a small department developed into one of the largest research areas at the Kiel Institute by the time of his formal "retirement." Today, the department is known for its analyses of climate policy using numerical models, as well as for its evidence-based policy recommendations.

Gernot Klepper's academic and practical expertise and his instinct for new and relevant topics have been invaluable to the Kiel Institute. A visionary, he foresaw the importance of geoengineering in the early 2000s and established related research at the Institute. As always in his work, he promoted interdisciplinary cooperation and a focus on practical applicability. Intellectual exchange and the transfer of results to policy and society were particularly important to him, and he promoted and practiced both in numerous roles. For example, he was chairman of the National Committee for Global Change Research (NKGCF) of the German Research Foundation (DFG), a member of the Scientific Committee of the International Human Dimensions Program (IHDP), chairman of the German Climate Consortium, and a founding and board member of the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) Association. Even after his "retirement," he coordinated the "Dialogue on Climate Economics" for the IfW until September 2023, which, like no other project, stands for the expansion of expertise in the field of climate economics and the provision of well-founded, solution-oriented knowledge for investment, consumption, and regulatory decisions in business, society, and politics, while seeking practicable solutions through dialogue.

Gernot Klepper was a valued mentor and an early supporter of women in science, as well as a source of inspiration and motivation for all those who had the privilege of working with him. At the Kiel Institute, he was always keen to enrich other research areas, such as development economics or growth research, with his ideas and suggestions. He did this with both commitment and empathy. He was an extraordinary team player—humorous, popular, and respected. Nature and sport were important "charging stations" for him, both when he was hiking and when riding his racing bike. His personality and contributions will therefore continue to influence and inspire us for many years to come. We miss him very much.

We extend our deepest sympathy to Gernot Klepper's family and friends. In deep gratitude for his life's work, which was closely linked to the Kiel Institute, we will honor his memory and continue his research and transfer activities.

On behalf of the Board Moritz Schularick, Christoph Trebesch, Birgit Austen, and all employees of the Kiel Institute for the World Economy