President Jacob Zuma.
Every year, the Mail & Guardian scours the country to find noteworthy and newsworthy environmental projects to profile in its annual Greening the Future Awards. The efforts of communities, companies, organisations and individuals to create a cleaner planet without compromising progress are showcased at a prestigious awards ceremony and in special reports published by the M&G.
In 2015, Africa’s best read celebrates its 30th anniversary and Greening the Future plans to mark the occasion in several ways. Not least will be the introduction of a new Editor’s Choice Award for South Africa’s environmental project that stands out as a shining example of best practice in the field.
Projects around the country are invited to enter in the 10 categories below. An independent and respected panel of judges will choose the winners.
For the past 12 years we have featured forward-thinking green projects that help combat climate change, encourage renewable energy and foster the strategic management of natural resources.
We invite companies, parastatals, nongovernmental organisations, schools, institutions and individuals to join in the 2015 celebrations by showcasing your success stories.
Videos of winning projects and finalists will be flighted on the award-winning M&G Online platform, in addition to the being featured across the M&G’s multi-media publications, and at an annual gala awards evening that is the highlight of Green SA’s calendar.
Entries open on March 20 and close April 30 2015.
Contact: Tamarin Marshman on [email protected]
Greening the Future categories
Innovations for Climate Change Adaptation: This award celebrates projects, organisations and companies that are implementing innovative strategies for adapting to the impacts of global warming. Their approach is to reduce the risks and vulnerabilities of populations exposed to the negative effects of climate change.
Energy Efficiency & Carbon Management: This category showcases projects, organisations and companies that demonstrate best practice by reducing their carbon footprint and by entrenching energy efficiency and/or and electricity savings into their business practices.
Community Renewable Energy Innovations: This award celebrates community groups and organisations creating new models in renewable energy, resource efficiency and electricity savings. These are the pathfinders whose innovations will change the face of our energy future and have the potential to be replicated.
Youth Leadership & Job Creation: This award celebrates individuals and projects breaking new ground for environmental sustainability. These are the young pioneers whose innovations have the potential to create new jobs in the environmental sector.
Green Technology Innovations: This category rewards projects, organisations and companies at the cutting edge of technological innovations aimed at the more efficient use of natural resources. These innovations offer real savings for natural capital and have the potential to be replicated.
Community Conservation: This award showcases the efforts of community groups and organisations that dedicate time and/or resources to environmental sustainability. These models are innovative, inspirational and are making a real difference to communities and their environments.
Biodiversity Stewardship: This award recognises communities, companies, organisations and/or individuals who nurture biodiversity. Their projects ensure that natural systems, biodiversity and ecosystem services are secured on land of high biodiversity value outside of the formally protected areas.
Rhino Conservation: This award celebrates the heroes who are prepared to step in with practical, workable solutions to rhino poaching. It honours companies, organisations, projects and individuals who are making a difference to rhino conservation on the ground.
Green Economy Modelling: This award recognises communities, companies, organisations and/or individuals with creative, innovative strategies that promote economic growth based on low carbon development and natural resource efficiency. These are internal and external models that demonstrate best practice in the green economy.
Water Efficiency & Management: This award showcases innovative, effective measures taken to protect the most vulnerable natural resource in the face of climate change. These are replicable models of how to conserve water, recycle water and/or prevent pollution of water resources.