Minister Reinhard Krapp Receives the Elisabeth Haub Award for Environmental Diplomacy

The Elisabeth Haub School of Law (Haub Law) presented the Elisabeth Haub Award for Environmental Diplomacy to Minister Reinhard Josef Krapp, Head of the Economic Department of the Permanent Mission of Germany to the United Nations. Minister Krapp was recognized for his exceptional and sustained commitment to advancing multilateral policy to further sustainable development and environmental values globally.

In presenting the award, Elisabeth Haub School of Law Professor Nicholas Robinson stated, “Throughout his career, Reinhard Krapp has advanced international cooperation for conservation of nature. His quiet accomplishments are reflected in the U.N. Sustainable Development Goal 15 for conserving Earth’s environment.”

“It is my privilege to accept the Elisabeth Haub Award for Environmental Diplomacy,” said Minister Reinhard Krapp. “I would like to thank the distinguished jury and the Haub family for this wonderful honor.”  

Minister Krapp has a long and accomplished career, with nearly 40 years in the diplomatic corps, serving in posts in Germany, Canada, Egypt, Russia, Bulgaria, Belgium and the United States. In that time, he has demonstrated a strong and steadfast commitment to protecting the environment, working on questions related to international environmental policy, international climate policy and sustainable development practices.

Minister Krapp was instrumental in drafting, gaining support for and negotiating the UN resolution that tackled illicit trafficking of wildlife. This historic resolution was the culmination of three years of work, over which time he garnered support for the initiative, which led to 86 Member States, including China, Thailand and Vietnam co-sponsoring the effort, which sent an unequivocal message that ending wildlife crime is a priority for Member States.

Minister Krapp was also heavily involved in the adoption of the World Charter for Nature, which sets forth "principles of conservation by which all human conduct affecting nature is to be guided and judged". This laid the critical foundation for legal frameworks and policies that would mitigate effects of climate change. 

Minister Krapp will retire from the Foreign Service in June. The Elisabeth Haub Award for Environmental Diplomacy is a capstone to his decades of service.

The Elisabeth Haub Award for Environmental Diplomacy recognizes the innovation, skill, and accomplishments of diplomats, international civil servants and other negotiators who work to create the world environmental order. Past recipients include Ambassador Luis Alberto Figueiredo Machado from Brazil, Macharia Kamau from Kenya, Mohamed Sahnoun from Algeria, Hilario Davide, Jr. from the Phillipines and Klaus Topfer from Germany. Christiana Figueres, who was the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change will be the next recipient of the Elisabeth Haub Award for Environmental Diplomacy. Ms. Figureres will receive the award on September 24th in New York City.