Inspired by the living, breathing plant process, Helmut Andexlinger has placed a tree representing all our planet’s vegetation in the shining blue niobium core of the coin’s obverse. The wind blows the tree’s leaves to the ground in a spiral reflecting the life-giving cycle of the four elements – earth, wind, fire and water. A tree representing all vegetation on Earth is featured in the niobium center of the obverse.

The four classical elements — air, earth, fire, and water — are all featured in a cycle of sorts around the tree. A stream of water is shown in the silver ring at the very bottom of the coin, while wind blowing leaves from the tree to the ground, representing the element of air, is displayed along the right and bottom edges of the niobium center. A sun in the background of the image represents fire, as its rays produce natural warmth. Earth is represented by the roots of the tree, which help to absorb the needed nutrients and water from the ground.

All four elements (earth, wind, fire and water) are also represented in ingenious detail on the coin’s reverse by the contemporary modes of renewable energy used to harness them. Water drives one type of turbine, wind another, the suns rays are captured by solar panels and geothermal heat sources in the earth are recovered in the form of steam. Text "Renewable Energy" below.