Prestigious Awards Will
Carry US$40,000 Prize in Each Category
15 September 2009 - From pioneers
driving the shift to a more resource-efficient
development path to visionary leaders steering
global environmental policy, UNEP will celebrate
its 2010 Champions of the Earth on 22 April
2010 at a spectacular ceremony in Seoul
(Republic of Korea).
Nominations are now
open for the 6th cycle of UNEP's Champions
of the Earth, with awards in four categories:
Policy Leadership, Science & Innovation,
Entrepreneurial Vision, and Inspiration
& Action. For the 2010 edition, UNEP
has partnered with LG Electronics to recognize
each Champion with a cash prize of US$40,000
in each category.
The Champions of the
Earth award was created by the United Nations
Environment Programme in 2004 to honour
individuals and groups who have made a significant
and recognized contribution, regionally
or beyond, to the protection and sustainable
management of the Earth's environment and
natural resources.
Previous laureates rewarded
for their creativity, vision and leadership
include globally recognized personalities
such as Nobel Prize laureate Al Gore, former
Russian president Mikhail Gorbachev and
world-renowned photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand
- as well as outspoken pioneers, from biomimicry
scientist Janine Benyus to rainforest advocate
Kevin Conrad.
The award ceremony will
be hosted in Seoul alongside the annual
Business for the Environment (B4E) conference,
the biggest environmental gathering of leaders
from business, government, NGOs and the
media.
Nominations will be
accepted until 31 October 2009 - UNEP encourages
entries from individuals and organizations
who have made exceptional contributions
to environmental awareness.
Fill out your nomination
form here
Notes to Editors:
About Champions of the
Earth:
The UNEP Champions of
the Earth is an international environment
award established by UNEP in 2004. The annual
prize rewards individuals from around the
globe who have made a significant and recognized
contribution globally, regionally and beyond
in the categories of Policy Leadership,
Science and Innovation, Entrepreneurial
Vision, and Inspiration and Action. Candidates
are judged by a senior UNEP panel with input
from UNEP's regional offices.
Beginning in 2010, the
Champions of the Earth Awards will come
with a monetary prize of US$40,000 for each
of the four category winners. In addition
to the especially commissioned trophy created
by a selected international artist, the
cash prize serves as an incentive and resource
for growing and replicating the laureates'
work and their impact on the communities
they serve.
For more information visit: www.unep.org/champions
About the B4E Summit:
B4E is the biggest annual
gathering of leaders from business, government,
NGOs and the media, which aims to foster
dialogue and business-driven action towards
a global green economy. The summit is co-hosted
by UNEP, the UN Global Compact, and the
Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF), and will
address topics such as resource efficiency,
renewable energies, new business models
and climate policy and strategies. It is
planned to be the world's first summit powered
entirely on renewable energy.
For more information visit: www.b4esummit.com
For more information please contact:
Nick Nuttall, UNEP Spokesperson/Head of
Media
Anne-France White, UNEP Information Officer
