For 13 years, the Mail & Guardian Greening the Future Awards showcased the very best in work that is making the world a better place for its flora and fauna. Now in its 14th year, the awards have been renamed M&G Greening and will, through a supplement and awards ceremony, showcase projects, big and small, which push the boundaries and show others how progress can be made.
This year, the focus will be how individuals and communities are doing their part to combat climate change. It is a great time for all stakeholders of our environment to come together to provide sustainable solutions, saving our planet. M&G Greening will award projects in 8 categories. These will be shown in a special supplement in the M&G’s award-winning print publication. Those profiles, as well as videos of winning projects and finalists, will be shown on the M&G’s online platform as well as on social media.
Closing date: 18 June 2018
CATEGORIES
Energy efficiency and carbon management
This category showcases organizations and companies that demonstrate best practice in reducing their energy use and their carbon emissions.
Innovative climate financing
Funding and funders are essential in combating climate change. This category awards institutions who are active in providing funding (or finding funders) supporting renewable energy projects – big and small.
Waste & chemical management
Environmentally sound and safe management of chemicals and waste is important and plays a crucial role in preserving our environment. This category awards entries which play a role in the ensuring development and implementation of proper management practices for all aspects of the handling, storage, and disposal of waste (toxic and other types) which is generated.
Youth leadership
The current generation of leaders and decision makers are handing over polluted world with rising carbon levels. This is both a challenge and an opportunity for youth, who need to stand up and become the climate leaders of tomorrow.
Water efficiency and management
South Africa’s biggest climate issue is with water. As the drought illustrated, there is little of the precious liquid and it needs to be conserved. Water saving projects are evaluated and awarded in this category.
Innovation in construction
All communities are now aware of the need for ensuring a healthy environment. This category will look at the initiatives such as ‘green buildings’, low-energy construction and management of carbon footprint in the urban environment.
Women in the environment
Women play a crucial in addressing some of the challenges in the environment, and are often underrepresented in organisations and projects relating to the environment. This category recognises projects that help women become more resilient, and play more of a role in shaping their own, sustainable, future.
Community conservation and resilience
The changing climate, with ever-increasing temperatures, means that it is becoming increasingly difficult for communities to continue with business as usual. This means all sorts of changes in how humanity works, from farmers changing how they irrigate to villages sharing resources to grow sustainably. This category looks at communities that are thinking out of the box in ensuring their own survival.