Provincial Government Recognized Nationally for Leadership in
Climate Change and Energy Efficiency

The Provincial Government has been recognized with two national awards for its work on climate change and energy efficiency. The Clean50 award recognizes 50 groups or individuals from multiple sectors who have contributed toward building a sustainable future for Canada. Accompanying this award, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador also received a Clean16 award for leadership in the public sector in Canada.

“When we established the Office of Climate Change, Energy Efficiency and Emissions Trading in 2009, our government set an ambitious course for climate change and energy efficiency recognizing how important these issues are to our province,” said the Honourable Terry French, Minister Responsible for the Office of Climate Change, Energy Efficiency and Emissions Trading. “The awards are an acknowledgment of the work that is being done in our province, and I am delighted with the benchmark our province has set particularly in the area of public sector leadership in Canada. I congratulate the team and look forward to their continued efforts in these areas.”

More than 500 nominations were received for the Clean50 award which focuses on sustainability and the individuals or groups who promote awareness, motivate a team, lead organizations, generate ideas, develop technology, or champion innovation. From among the winners of the Clean50 award, Clean16 awards are given annually to 16 individuals or small teams who have made the greatest contribution to sustainable development in Canada. Awards are given in 16 separate categories, including renewable energy generation, manufacturing and transportation, building design and development, and the public sector.

The awards recognize the Provincial Government’s efforts in tackling climate change and promoting energy efficiency through the development and implementation of the 2011 Climate Change and Energy Efficiency action plans, helping the province meet its target for greenhouse gas reductions for 2010, and the recently launched Turn Back The Tide public awareness campaign (www.TurnBackTheTide.ca ). 

The Clean50 and Clean16 awards are presented annually by Corporate Knights and Delta Management Group. Corporate Knights is a producer of media, research and financial products and is best known for its annual rankings of the Best 50 Corporate Citizens in Canada, the Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations, and its bi-annual Green Provinces Report Card. The Delta Management Group is a search firm with a growing practice in clean technology, corporate social responsibility and sustainability professionals.

For further information on the awards, please visit www.clean50.ca . Additional information on the Office of Climate Change, Energy Efficiency and Emissions Trading and the 2011 Climate Change and Energy Efficiency action plans can be found at www.gov.nl.ca/exec/cceeet. 

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Media contact:
Melony O’Neill
Director of Communications
Department of Environment and Conservation
709-729-2575, 689-0928
moneill@gov.nl.ca 

2012 09 20             9:35 a.m.