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Jury members of the Zayed Future Energy Prize, the world’s preeminent award for innovation in renewable energy and sustainability, have selected the 2013 winners. The Jury reached the decision on the five prize categories following a closed-door evaluation of the 24 shortlisted submissions. The selection marks the culmination of multi-phased judging process.
The winners will be announced on 15 January at the Emirates Palace during the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.
The Zayed Future Energy Prize is a US$4million prize for individuals and organisations working to find solutions to tackle the global challenges of energy, water and sustainability. This year, the Prize drew a record 579 entries from 88 countries.
Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Director General of the Zayed Future Energy Prize and Chief Executive Officer of Masdar said: “The work conducted today by our esteemed jury members will help us award the next group of visionaries; it will help us encourage the innovators who will nurture this nascent and critical industry, but most importantly, it will help us truly bring the vision and mission of our late founding father Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan to reality.”
“The UAE and Abu Dhabi have a long legacy in launching initiatives that reflect positively on humanity and the whole world. When our wise leadership launched the Zayed Future Energy Prize, the goal was to carry on this legacy instilled in us by our late founding father,” added Dr. Al Jaber.
The Zayed Future Energy Prize honours winners in five categories: Large Corporation, Non-Governmental Organisation, Small and Medium Enterprise, Lifetime Achievement, and for the first time, the Global High Schools Prize. The nominees are assessed on innovation, impact, leadership and long-term vision.
The Prize jury comprises influential leaders, voices and activists committed to the global effort of accelerating the adoption of renewable energy and sustainability.
Chaired by His Excellency Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, President of the Republic of Iceland, the 2013 judging panel also includes His Excellency Mohamed Nasheed, former President of the Republic of the Maldives; His Excellency Dr. Han Seung-soo, former Prime Minister of Korea; Her Excellency Elizabeth Dipuo Peters, Minister of Energy for South Africa; Adnan Z. Amin, Director-General of the International Renewable Energy Agency; His Excellency Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh, Chairman of Masdar; Dr. Susan Hockfield, President, Emeritus and Professor of Neuroscience, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Leonardo DiCaprio, Oscar-nominated actor and environmental activist.
Commenting on the day’s deliberations, H.E. Grímsson, President of Iceland and Chairman of the Jury said: “The Zayed Future Energy Prize is different from other prizes in the world because its mission is to change the world… and to make it safer not only for us, but for future generations. The Zayed Future Energy Prize shows us that change is possible. But what is even more heartening is that this was a truly global decision made by a truly global panel.”
Of the newly launched Global High Schools Prize, H.E. Grimsson added: “This category is very special – it recognizes young people, their ideas, aspirations, their pathways and their projects.”
Her Excellency Elizabeth Dipuo Peters, Minister of Energy for South Africa said: “The late Sheikh Zayed was a visionary and the prize seeks to award visionaries in their respective fields. For me, the most important category for this year was the High Schools Prize. It is great to see that young people are already responding to the call of the Late Sheikh Zayed.”
New Jury member, His Excellency Dr. Han Seung-soo, former Prime Minister of South Korea said: “Through my many years working on climate change and sustainability I realized how the late Sheikh Zayed has played a big role in trying to solve these issues. There is no doubt that the Zayed Future Energy Prize will encourage many people towards global sustainability.”
Adnan Amin, Director General of the International Renewable Energy Agency said: “Collectively, we have an opportunity today for transformational change; the Zayed Future Energy Prize is a driver of this change – recognizing the players that are really making a difference in the world.”
“We are at a unique time,” said Mr. Amin, adding, “helplessness is being replaced by hopefulness.”
H.E. Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh, chairman of Masdar said: “The objective of the Prize is to celebrate people, organisations and innovators who have dedicated their life’s work to sustainability. This was the legacy of our late founding father Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan; and he did this not only in the UAE and the Middle East but around the world.”
H.E. Al Sayegh added: “Another year has passed, another year to learn from our innovators and another year that reinforces that the Zayed Future Energy Prize is the preeminent prize for renewable energy and sustainability in the UAE and beyond.”
The Zayed Future Energy Prize, launched in 2008 and managed by Masdar, has recognised some of the most innovative, visionary leaders in global sustainability. Our winners, finalists, and other entrants have already made a significant positive impact on the world’s environment with their multitude of solutions. They have been finding innovative ways to conserve energy, cut greenhouse gas emissions and increase the production of clean, renewable energy – forming the critical foundation of a growing cleantech and sustainability network.
For more details on the Prize, please visit www.zayedfuturenergyprize.com
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