The Climate Change Leadership Awards (CCLA) recognise the carbon reduction activities of large and small business through Private Sector groupings in a variety of categories. The awards aim to give companies highly visible recognition in the South African business and consumer communities.
Categories
Entrants slot into one of a number of categories that include Agriculture and Food; Energy, Minerals, and Industrial; Financial Services; Corporate Services; Retail; and SME.
“We recognise the value in rewarding a variety of businesses in recognition of their good work in reducing their carbon footprints and creating general awareness of climate change,” says Jeunesse Park, founder of the Awards and founder of Food & Trees for Africa. “Even though SMEs may create novel and exceptionally good means of reducing their carbon footprint it will typically be on a far smaller scale than a large concern that rolls out a multi-million rand programme. By the same token organisations in different industries must be recognised amongst their peers and be able to compete on a level footing.”
Prizes
There are overall prizes in the Private Sector category which are trophies, first edition stamps, media coverage on Talk Radio 702 and Cape Talk 567, coverage on the CCLA website, and an invitation to the CCLA 2012 tree planting for carbon offset event as well as acknowledgement as a climate change leader.
Some of the initiatives that companies have undertaken are exemplified by last year’s category winners:
- Backsberg for its inventive use of a light weight plastic bottle and its ongoing leadership around climate change mitigation and adaptation.
- Barrows for creating sustainable and innovative ideas and products internally, and for its customers.
- Joint winners: Nedbank for twenty years of weaving sustainability into the fabric of the organisation and Santam for having identified and positioned the company to manage the risks and threats associated with climate change.
- Avis for extending its sustainability initiatives beyond carbon offsetting to include innovation in improved water, energy and fuel efficiency.
- Woolworths for leading the retail sector through its Good Business Journey initiative, sourcing sustainable and local food produce and energy efficiency at its green stores.
- Rocking the Daisies for providing green initiatives and raising significant environmental awareness among party goers, and improving their initiatives and impacts annually.
Judging and entries
Entrants will be judged based on their strategic commitment, disclosure, performance, advocacy and influence. The awards opened for entries in August and will be closed on January 30, 2012 with winners announced in March 2012. Visit www.ccla.co.za for more information or to enter.