Klaus Töpfer, a former German environment minister and longtime politician with the centre-right Christian Democrats (CDU), has died. He was 85 years old. Töpfer, who led the Environment Ministry from 1987 to 1994, died on Saturday after a short but serious illness. A CDU spokeswoman confirmed his death to dpa on Tuesday. He is credited with leaving a lasting mark on German environmental party, and was viewed as the “green conscience” of the Christian Democrats for decades, remaining outspoken in his advocacy for sustainable policies well into old age. He took over the ministry less than two y…