The Environment Agency today called for entries for its inaugural Environmental Pioneer Awards.
The awards, which will be judged by a panel led by Energy and Climate Change Secretary Chris Huhne MP, will recognise companies, government bodies, local authorities, charities and other organisations that lead the way on environmental performance. The Environment Agency is looking to recognise the achievements of these organisations in eight categories:
- Best private sector organisation and best public sector organisation: one business and one public sector organisation that consistently achieves outstanding results on carbon emissions, energy use, waste and environmental impact, encouraging staff and customers to take similar steps.
- Pioneering technology and innovation award: a pioneering product or innovation that will significantly reduce waste, pollution, energy use or carbon emissions.
- Cleaner water award: an organisation that has achieved outstanding results in preventing pollution or improving water quality in rivers, seas or lakes.
- Waste reduction award: an organisation that has achieved outstanding results on resource efficiency, recycling, reuse, energy reduction or water efficiency..
- Pioneering biodiversity programme: a biodiversity project delivered in the last ten years that has achieved significant and measurable benefits for biodiversity adaptation to climate change, such as the creation of a new habitat or re-introduction of a species into more suitable areas.
- Energy performance and CO2 emissions reduction: outstanding leadership through significant energy and emissions savings from business operations, which could include energy use in buildings, transport or equipment.
- Environment Agency staff award for environmental achievement: outstanding achievements of an organisation or individual on environmental issues. Environment Agency staff will nominate and vote for those that consistently lead the way in their environmental ambition and performance.
Entries can be made online at http://bit.ly/blvXJ3 before 8 October. Short listing will take place on 18 October and the winners will be announced by Energy Secretary Chris Huhne MP at the Environment Agency’s Environment 10 conference on 24 November in London.
Environment Agency Chief Executive, Dr Paul Leinster, said: “We have launched these awards to recognise those organisations who are leading the way on environmental performance, pioneering new ways to reduce emissions, pollution and resource use.
“I urge both private and public sector bodies to enter and hope that we are overwhelmed by the number of entries we receive. I am confident that the entrants will clearly demonstrate that reducing environmental impacts makes good business sense.”
Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman MP, Energy Secretary Chris Huhne and Lord Chris Smith, are among the keynote speakers at this year’s Environment Agency Environment 10 conference. The event will bring together business leaders, politicians and scientists from the UK and abroad and provide insight into the impact of climate change and the likely legislative and business landscape on key environmental issues. To register please visit http://bit.ly/drXkJ8.