Carbon Disclosure Project, Dr. Ashok Gadgil and Schneider Electric recognized for ground-breaking energy and climate efforts
Abu Dhabi, UAE: 17 January, 2012 – Zayed Future Energy Prize – awarded annually to large corporations, individuals, small businesses and non-governmental organizations that have made significant contributions to the future of energy, climate change and sustainability – today announced its 2012 awards winners from the World Future Energy Summit, distributing US$3.5 million to winners and runners-up across three categories.
Carbon Disclosure Project, the UK-based organization that measures, discloses, manages and shares environmental information, won the Small-to-Medium Sized Enterprises (SME) and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) category. It was awarded US$1.5 million for its pioneering use of market-based tools to solve environmental issues, from cap and trade approach to acid rain pollution.
Orb Energy, an India-based provider of solar-based energy efficiency and heating solutions, was named first runner-up in the SME &NGO category with a cash prize of US$1 million. Environmental Defense Fund, the US-based non-profit organization that engages in environmental advocacy globally, received US$500,000 as the second runner-up, for its actions to create awareness and expand the adoption of renewable energy and sustainability practices.
US physicist Dr. Ashok Gadgil was recognized with the Lifetime Achievement award for his sustainable humanitarian work in Darfur and pioneering efforts to invent the energy efficient “Berkeley – Darfur” cooking stove, which reduces the need for firewood by 55 percent. Dr. Gadgil, who received US$500,000, currently leads the Environmental Energy Technologies Division of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California and is also well-known for developing “UV Waterworks,” a technology to inexpensively disinfect drinking water in developing countries.
Schneider Electric, a France-based global specialist in energy management, received the Large Corporations award, garnering acknowledgment for its efforts across the world to enhance energy access, efficiency and safety. The company works across numerous sectors including renewable energy, water, electricity and green buildings to ensure resource efficiency and sustainability.
“We congratulate the winners of the Zayed Future Energy Prize, and encourage them all to continue in their efforts towards the creation of innovative solutions – impacting communities around the world. These are the ambassadors of innovation, the ambassadors of our Prize – these are the people who spread hope and aspiration and encourage the next generation of innovators,” said His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi at the ceremony.
The awards ceremony culminated a stringent year-long, four-stage nomination and judging process to identify the world’s best energy, climate and sustainability solution innovators – the Prize received a record 1,103 submissions in 2011. The finalists included three candidates for the Large Corporations category, three candidates for the Lifetime Achievement Award and seven candidates who could win first, second and third prize for the SME & NGO category.
“These are people that had the foresight to recognize that investing in the future is based on long term vision and the ability to innovate the technologies that the world so urgently needs,” added Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Director General of the Zayed Future Energy Prize.
The jury was chaired by Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, President of Iceland and also included Andre Agassi, tennis Grand Slam champion and education advocate; Timothy Wirth, President of the United Nations Foundation and the Better World Fund; actor and environmentalist Leonardo DiCaprio; Cherie Blair, Founder of the Cherie Blair Foundation; Dr. Susan Hockfield, President of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT); and Ahmed Al Sayegh, Chairman of Masdar.
The 2013 edition of the awards will feature the newly instituted Global High School Prize to inspire a new generation of leaders and innovators.
For more information on the prize, please visit www.ZayedFutureEnergyPrize.com.
About the Zayed Future Energy Prize
The Zayed Future Energy Prize was created in honour of the legacy of the late Founding Father and President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. The prize aims to inspire the next generation of global energy innovators to create solutions for the future. The Prize is awarded annually to individuals, companies or organisations that have made significant contributions in the global response to the future of energy, climate change and sustainable global energy resources.