BALI  (December 12, 2007) – A Chinese environmental NGO, the Shanshui Center for Nature and Society, today won the first ever COM+ Climate Change Communications Award after organizing a large scale “carbon neutral” event in China that raised public awareness about the importance of conservation.  

“For Our Natural Splendor, Gateway to Music,” is an initiative of the Center in partnership with Conservation International.  Together, they worked with organizers of a popular classical music series at the Forbidden City Concert Hall in Beijing to offset the 126 tons of C02 emitted from electricity and local and international travel to the concerts.  Shansui Center for Nature and Society planted trees in southwest China and also informed concert audiences how to use a carbon calculator to estimate their own carbon footprints and pledge to reduce carbon emissions.

The communications campaign is the first winner of the new COM+ Climate Change Communications Award with a cash value of US$10,000. COM+ is the Alliance of Communicators for Sustainable Development (www.complusalliance.org), a partnership of international organizations and communications professionals.

In presenting the award, Katherine Sierra, Vice President, Sustainable Development, World Bank, said “Communications campaigns of this kind are extremely valuable in increasing public understanding of the reality of climate change and the importance of taking action to mitigate impact. I am delighted that COM+ is highlighting the importance of communications on climate change and I am pleased to be able to present the award to Conservation International-Shanshui for their excellent campaign.”

Mr. Enki Tan, representing Conversation International-Shanshui's Board, accepted the award during a ceremony organized by COM+ at the Bale Hotel, in Bali, Indonesia.

According to Dr Lu Zhi, Conservation International-Shanshui Director, “This campaign occurred at just the right time for China because it created momentum for greater awareness of climate change and conserving nature as the nation prepares to host the 2008 Olympic Games.”

Shanshui Center for Nature and Society was selected through an international nominating process open to any communications campaign related to climate change. Communications experts from several countries reviewed nominees against criteria related to campaign impacts such as behavior or policy changes, creativity, and innovation in approach.

The nominations for the climate change award were reviewed by a panel comprised of Robert Bisset, European Spokesperson for the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP); Jo Weir, Head of Training, Reuters Foundation; and Sergio Jellinek, External Affairs Manager, Latin American & the Caribbean from the World Bank.

COM+ is a partnership between international organizations, media outlets and communication professionals committed to using communications to advance the sustainable development agenda. COM+ partners include BBC World Service Trust, Conservation International, Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research( CGIAR), Global Environment Facility, Globe Scan, DEV TV, International Federation of Environmental Journalists (IFEJ), Inter Press Service (IPS), The World Conservation Union (IUCN), Reuters Foundation, Southern Caucus of NGOs for Sustainable Development, Television for the Environment (TVE), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), The World Bank and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development.

About the COM+ Communications Award

In 2007, the Alliance of Communicators for Sustainable Development, COM+, issued a new prestigious award to recognize excellence in the field of communications, demonstrated through clear impacts and real changes in support of sustainable development. The award aims to increase awareness about how effective communications can help meet sustainable development objectives by improving understanding of issues and promoting transparency and dialogue between government and other stakeholders. Two COM+ Communication Awards were offered in 2007, each with a cash value of US$10,000: one for a campaign that communicates science for people and the planet; and another for a climate change campaign.

For more information about the award, including runners up, please visit www.complusalliance.org or www.cgiar.org

Contacts in Bali:

Word Bank: Kristyn Schrader 0812-105-8491

kschrader@worldbank.org

UNEP: Robert Bisset

robert.bisset@unep.fr  

For interviews with the winner, contact Tom Cohen

0813-1835-9753

t.cohen@conservation.org