UN agencies and Green Cross invite nominations for environmental emergency management award 2015

United Nations and the non-governmental organisation Green Cross International today called for nominations for the 2015 Green Star Awards which recognize individuals,organizations, governments and companies that have made remarkable achievements to prevent or respond to environmental emergencies.

Environmental emergencies are disasters that cause severe environmental damage as well as harm to human health and/or livelihoods.

The biennial Green Star Awards, first presented in 2009, are an initiative of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Green Cross International (GCI) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

“Climate change and environmental degradation have increased the vulnerability of millions of people around the world. Communities are at the forefront of the response supported by disaster managers and humanitarian workers. The Green Star Awards recognise those individuals and organisations that make a difference and help to promote innovative solutions,” said Valerie Amos, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator.

Nominations for the Green Star Awards will be accepted until 10 November 2014. Jury members representing OCHA, UNEP and Green Cross International will announce the winners in June 2015 during the Environmental Emergencies Forum (EEF) hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Olso, Norway.