Five leaders receive first-ever Green Star Awards

Tuesday, 05 May 2009 13:45

A Brazilian scientific support centre and leading Swiss laboratory are among the winners of the inaugural Green Star Awards announced in Brussels today (7 May).

The Green Star Awards honour individuals, organisations, and governments who demonstrate outstanding dedication to preventing, preparing for, and responding to the environmental impacts of man-made and natural disasters.

The 2009 winners are Mike Cowing of the United Nations Environment Programme; The Center for Scientific Support in Disaster Situations (CENACID) of Paraná Federal University in Brazil; Spiez Laboratory of Switzerland; the Government of the Netherlands; and the Government of Sweden.

“These first ever recipients of the Green Star Awards have demonstrated immense dedication to and capacity for responding to environmental emergencies and also to helping affected populations both immediately and in the long run. Due to climate change and the increased frequency and severity of such disasters, it is important that the world becomes aware of environmental emergencies and the best way to respond quickly and adequately,” said Alexander Likhotal, the President of Green Cross International. .

The awards are a joint initiative between Green Cross International (GCI), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

Seal the Deal!

The Green Star Awards recognize the efforts of leaders whose work ultimately contributes to the stability of post-crisis societies, UN Under-Secretary General and UNEP Executive Director, Achim Steiner, said.

“2009 needs to be a year when the world not only seals the deal on a transformational new climate agreement, but also begins delivering a Green Economy—one that accelerates the fundamental shift to a low carbon and resource efficient future that fosters innovation, decent employment and equity between countries and communities, especially in some of the poorest and most vulnerable parts of the globe,” Dr. Steiner added.

The new awards scheme provides a platform to promote and increase international participation in preventing, preparing for and responding to a range of environmental disasters.

An international jury of environmental emergency experts selected the winners – two governments, two organizations and one individual – based on their work in a variety of domains, including international capacity-building missions aimed at helping countries prepare for environmental emergencies and support to international response missions to countries affected by environmental emergencies.

 (Source:www.unep.org/greenstar)