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Straits Times 20 Oct 05 S'pore picked to host major UN awards event By Radha Basu Channel NewsAsia 19 October 2005 Singapore to host UN environmental award "Champions of the Earth" By Yvonne Cheong, Channel NewsAsia Today Online 20 Oct 05 Red carpet for 'green' people Lee U-Wen It's been likened to the Academy Awards, but instead of honouring actors, this ceremony recognises those who have championed green causes. From next year, Singaporeans can get up close and personal with the world's top environmental achievers and leaders. The United Nations (UN) announced yesterday that it would anchor its international environment awards ceremony here for the next three years. Called the Champions of the Earth, these awards are presented each year to groups or individuals who have made significant contributions to protecting and sustaining the world's environment and natural resources. The inaugural ceremony was held earlier this year in New York, where the UN is headquartered. "Singapore was quite irresistible. We wanted a greater presence in the Asia-Pacific, and it was a natural choice for us," remarked the United Nations Environment Programme's (UNEP) communication and public information director Eric Falt yesterday. He was speaking to the media at a press conference, just hours after meeting with Environment and Water Resources Minister Yaacob Ibrahim to sign a memorandum of understanding. Commending Singapore's "strong environmental track" and its reputation as an international events hub, Mr Falt said the UNEP would work with its two local partners — the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources and the Singapore Tourism Board — to "grow" the awards into a "premier event" in the region. The first ceremony will be held during a gala dinner in April 2006. Nearly 400 delegates are expected to attend. From the hundreds of nominations that are expected to come in, seven champions will be crowned, representing each of the regions in the world. Past recipients include King Jigme Singye Wangchuk of Bhutan and South African President Thabo Mbeki. Channel NewsAsia 19 October 2005 Singapore to host UN environmental award "Champions of the Earth" By Yvonne Cheong, Channel NewsAsia SINGAPORE : Singapore has been chosen to host the Champions of the Earth Awards ceremony for the next three years. This prestigious award by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) recognises those who make national and policy decisions for the good of the environment. When it comes protecting the environment, the focus is often on cities. But the King and people of Bhutan are among the first to be recognised as a "Champion of the Earth" this year for 'fiercely' protecting the natural resources of their country. Said Eric Falt of UNEP: "Champions of the Earth aims to recognise leaders, individuals who have inspired others in the field of the protection of the environment. "We do see that the environment has become a mainstream issue, so we do it at the international level and at the national level." Singapore's clean and green reputation has paid off. UNEP says the city-state is a 'natural' choice to host the awards, given its business, media and environmental track records. Some 200 foreign delegates are expected to be in town for the event next April. Aloysious Arlando from the Singapore Tourism Board said: "We see it as a strategic event because it brings together luminaries and laureates from a field which has very strong environmental consciousness. "It will help raise the profile of Singapore as being a responsible member of the global community." Hundreds of individuals, civil societies and companies are in the running for the seven environmental trophies. The Straits Times, 20 Oct 05 S'pore picked to host major UN awards event By Radha Basu SINGAPORE will host a major United Nations awards ceremony for three years starting next April in a rare departure from tradition on two crucial fronts. First, such ceremonies are usually held in New York and Geneva, where most UN agencies are headquartered. And unlike many other international megashows it has hosted or plans to host like the International Olympic Committee meeting or the World Bank meet, Singapore did not 'bid' for this one. The opportunity simply knocked on its door. The United Nations Environment Programme (Unep) approached the Singapore authorities with a proposal to hold its main awards ceremony here, Unep spokesman Eric Falt said yesterday after signing the deal. Dubbed Champions of the Earth, the award recognises leaders who have made major policy changes to help preserve the health of an increasingly fragile ecosystem. The award given out for the first time this year honoured South African President Thabo Mbeki and the Bhutanese King Jigme Singye Wangchuk. Next year's winners are likely to be announced in January. The UN agency wanted to move the awards to Asia, said Mr Falt, because it was not just 'home to two-thirds of humanity' but also to some 'environmental best practices' that the rest of the world can learn from. Singapore was a 'natural choice', he said. 'This is an award that recognises leadership, and Singapore has been working rapidly over the past 50 years to preserve its natural environment,' he said. Unep had been focusing on how to keep cities green in the face of rapidly growing populations. The event will be held in collaboration with the Ministry for the Environment and Water Resources (Mewr) and the Singapore Tourism Board (STB). In a statement issued yesterday, Environment and Water Resources Minister Yaacob Ibrahim said Unep's decision was 'a firm acknowledgement of our environmental efforts'. Mewr's director for international relations Koh Kim Hock hoped the awards ceremony would be the beginning of a 'robust and long-term relationship' between his ministry and the UN body. The STB also sees the event as a major milestone. 'We did not bid for this event - they approached us, which is indeed an honour,' the board's acting assistant chief executive Aloysius Arlando told The Straits Times. See also UNEP press release Singapore to Host UN Champions of the Earth Awards, 19 Oct 05 links Related articles on Singapore: general environmental issues |
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