Google Earth has become a powerful tool to show the scale of problems and illustrate solutions, which has encouraged a shift in public policy, funding for projects, and even in people’s fundamental understanding of the world. The software has proven to be an effective tool for monitoring the state of the environment, for example illustrating the scale of deforestation or the planet’s massive potential for renewable energy.
Google Earth Engine brings together the world's satellite imagery — trillions of scientific measurements dating back almost 40 years — and makes it available online with tools for scientists, independent researchers, and nations to mine this massive warehouse of data to detect changes, map trends and quantify differences on the Earth's surface. Applications include: detecting deforestation, classifying land cover, estimating forest biomass and carbon, and mapping the world’s road-free areas.
Google Earth was used to help the rescue workers who saved more than 4,000 people after Hurricane Katrina. In Australia, a scientist used Google Earth to discover a previously unknown fringing coral reef in a region marked for an oil and natural gas push.
Through Google Earth Outreach, an engagement initiative with non-profit organizations, Dreaming New Mexico used Google Earth to create a future vision of New Mexico in 2020 should it switch from fossil fuels to the renewable energy abundantly available within the state, enabling policy makers to visualize the possibilities of a greener energy future. A Brazilian indigenous tribe, the “Surui”, has been able to use Google Earth to prevent the deforestation and ruin of their area, and to preserve their culture and history.
Martha Isabel Ruiz Corzo is responsible for achieving Biosphere Reserve status for the Sierra Gorda under an exceptional public-private co-management system. Through her work and advocacy, 33 per cent of the State of Querétaro is now protected as a Biosphere Reserve. In 2008, the Sierra Gorda in the neighboring state of Guanajuato also achieved Biosphere Reserve status, resulting in another 280,000 hectares coming under conservation management.
Her success comes from her innovative approach to finding sustainable development solutions for poor communities that are often burdened with the costs associated with conserving nature. But through Pati's efforts, they are now environmental service providers and derive part of their livelihood from protecting local ecosystems.
Pati was responsible for the federal administration of the Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve for 14 years. Before that, she spent eight years as a UN Development Programme Coordinator, gathering accolades and securing cash and in-kind resources in excess of US$45 million. She has drawn considerable national and international attention to the region and has raised significant resources from the private and public sectors to support a “conservation economy”.
Over the past 25 years, Pati and Grupo Ecológico Sierra Gorda (GESG) have engaged more than 34,000 people in community environmental education programs, solid waste management, soil restoration, productive diversification, and conservation. Pati and her team have developed simple replication strategies through online and on-site courses provided by the Earth Center training center. The “Learning and Teaching for a Sustainable Future UNESCO-Sierra Gorda” diploma is a certified course that teaches the lessons learned in the SGBR to students graduating from the training center. In 2010 alone, the course served 900 students.
She is also a pioneer in valuing natural capital. Sierra Gorda obtained carbon offsets validated by the Rainforest Alliance under the Climate, Community and Biodiversity Alliance and the Voluntary Carbon Standard, which is the first validated forest project of its kind in Mexico. These tools have been adopted by the state Government and are also in the process of being validated by the National Forestry Commission in order to be easily replicated in other parts of the country.
Hundreds of families in Sierra Gorda receive more than US$2 million from the sale of carbon credits. Furthermore, Pati has spearheaded the development of a “Basket of Ecosystem Services and Products,” a brand new regional catalogue of environmental products and services.
Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber is a leading business and political figure, championing the development and deployment of renewable energy and clean technology solutions.
In 2006, Dr. Al Jaber spearheaded the launch of Masdar, an Abu Dhabi-based commercial venture aimed at advancing clean energy to the forefront of the global power business. Through its investments, Masdar is deploying large-scale renewable energy projects in Abu Dhabi and across the globe, while encouraging the technology’s adoption through smaller-scale aid projects in various countries, including Afghanistan, Tonga and Seychelles.
Amongst its flagship projects is Masdar City, a 6km2 low-carbon, low-waste development in Abu Dhabi, which employs cutting-edge sustainable urban planning and architectural practices while also testing advanced energy efficient building technologies and materials. Masdar City is already home of the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology campus—established in partnership with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
In 2009, Dr. Al Jaber coordinated and led Masdar’s participation in the UAE’s successful bid to host the headquarters of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) in Abu Dhabi. In the same year, he was invited by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon to serve as a member of the UN Secretary General’s Advisory Group on Energy and Climate Change (AGECC).
In 2010, Dr. Al Jaber was appointed UAE Special Envoy for Energy and Climate Change, where he is responsible for developing and advocating the UAE’s position on international climate negotiations. In 2011, he was selected by the UN Secretary General to serve as a member of the High Level Group on Sustainable Energy for All.
Samson Parashina, a Maasai warrior, son of a local chief and respected safari guide, has shown amazing commitment to developing sustainable green economy models for Kenya’s Kuku Group Ranch, land communally owned by the Maasai community.
Parashina started as a waiter at an ecotourism lodge, but swiftly rose to become the President of the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust (MWCT) – a grass-roots community trust preserving the wilderness, wildlife and cultural heritage of the Tsavo-Amboseli ecosystem. The ecosystem is recognized for its high biodiversity, significant tourism revenues and as a vital watershed providing freshwater to millions of Kenyans. Three national parks - Tsavo, Amboseli and Chyulu Hills - lie within a human-dominated landscape and the overall health of this ecosystem is reliant on the sustainable management of the lands between the protected areas by the local communities that own them.
The trust’s success has taken its profile global, with actor Edward Norton, the UN’s Goodwill Ambassador for Biodiversity, a board member. Parashina, Norton and two other Maasai completed the 2009 New York marathon to raise awareness and funding for the trust.
Under Parashina’s strong leadership, the community agreed to appoint MWCT as the community’s manager of natural resources. The trust ensures that the community is protected through sustainable management of their natural resources, protecting the long-term viability of the ecosystem and traditional community livelihoods.
The trust, which employs over 200 locals and has an annual budget of over US$1 million, is developing sustainable financing mechanisms and partnering with Conservation International and Wildlife Works to carry out a REDD+ carbon feasibility study. MWCT is also coordinating a landmark collaboration to protect the Chyulu Forest-Mizima Springs watershed, which provides fresh water for millions of Kenyans. Finally, in an area where human-wildlife conflicts are a major problem, MWCT is pioneering a model where tourism surcharges are used to fund Wildlife Pays, a programme that compensates livestock herders for losses to wildlife predation in exchange for full protection of predators.
"Responsibility is more important than growth", runs one of the company mottos of China’s BROAD Group.
BROAD is a world leader in the manufacture of central air-conditioning systems that use diesel or natural gas instead of electricity to cool office buildings, shopping malls and factories. BROAD states that its non-electric air conditioning units are 200% more energy efficient and that CO2 emissions are 4 times lower than traditional models.
BROAD, which is based in Changsha, Hunan Province, was established by Zhang Yue with a mere US$3,000 in 1988. Today, the company’s air conditioners are the market leader in China and BROAD exports its products to some 60 countries around the world.
As well as regularly featuring in lists of China’s wealthiest people, founder Zhang Yue has become one of the most outspoken voices on the environment in China, advocating, among other things, for tighter government regulations on insulation and building standards and for the decentralization of power plants.
BROAD prides itself on its green credentials and lists protecting the environment, energy conservation and reducing greenhouse gases among its key company goals.
Indeed, BROAD states that the cumulative effect of all its products sold to date has led to emissions savings of around 90 million tons of CO2, 1 million tons of sulphur dioxide and 10,000 tons of CFCs.
BROAD has been a member of the United Nations Global Compact since 2001, and in 2008, it joined the Climate Group - an independent, not-for-profit organization working internationally with government and business leaders to advance smart policies and technologies to cut global emissions and accelerate a clean industrial revolution.
"When I set up my business, I challenged myself to create wealth. Now, I have completely shifted the focus of this business towards the direction of reducing emissions. I’ve taken on the challenge of climate change", said Zhang Yue.
"With this award, people will start to notice our work and we will be able to influence them to pay more attention to energy efficiency, whether as an individual or as a business."
To sustain natural resources for future generations, HRH Prince El Hassan Bin Talal has addressed environmental issues in a holistic manner. In particular, his belief in transboundary collaboration to protect the environment merits global recognition.
HRH has initiated, founded and has been actively involved in a number of Jordanian and international environmental institutions. As President of Jordan’s Higher Council for Science and Technology (HCST), he has emphasized the need for relevant and improved environmental policies, strategies and programmes. HRH has ensured that HCST focuses on enhancing the quality of life of the inhabitants of dryland areas, empowering them to improve their standard of living using available resources without having to change their traditional way of life.
Also under his leadership, the Royal Scientific Society has been active in the field of environmental management and protection, specifically water quality management. H. R. H. has supported global partnerships aimed at ensuring sustainable energy use, such as the Trans-Mediterranean Renewable Energy Cooperation, an organization which has had a measurable impact on sustainable development and which has pointed the way to clean and equitable energy production by sharing capital and know-how.
Mr. Barbosa is widely recognized as one of the earliest and most successful banking executives to integrate environmentally and socially conscious practices into his leadership.
He is based in São Paulo, Brazil, where he serves as Chief Executive Officer of Abril S.A., one of Latin America’s largest and most influential media enterprises. Presently he is a member of Ayrton Senna Institute, a non-profit organization that researches and produces knowledge to improve the quality of education, and the Endeavor Enterprise Institute, an NGO that fosters entrepreneurship in Brazil. For 8 years, Barbosa was board member of Petrobrás.
He was previously President of the Board of Directors of Banco Santander Brasil, one of the largest banks in Brazil. His vision of a transparent financial market that supports societal aspirations led him to the presidency of the Brazilian Banks’ Association (FEBRABAN). He also served for 12 years as President of Banco Real /ABN Amro in Brazil, before it was acquired by Santander.
As president of Banco Real, Mr. Barbosa introduced a transformative sustainability initiative that included social and environmental risk analysis, ethical investment funding, microcredit operations, and a diversity programme, which led the Financial Times to name the bank Sustainable Bank of the Year in 2007. Mr. Barbosa’s initiative became the object of a study at Harvard and earned Banco Real other sustainability awards from the UN, the International Chamber of Commerce and The Prince of Wales International Business Leaders Forum.
Mr. Barbosa continues to be recognized for his efforts to integrate philanthropic and sustainable practices into business models. In 2010 he was named Leader of Social Change by the Foundation for Social Change in partnership with the UN, and in July 2011, the UN Foundation announced he had joined its Board of Directors.
“Fábio Barbosa has a proven record of bringing together leaders in the Western hemisphere, the business community and the people of Brazil to focus on global problems,” said Ted Turner, Founder and Chairman of the UN Foundation’s Board of Directors.
H. E. Mr. Cherif Rahmani’s career has been guided by a profound commitment to the protection of our planet. As a Minister, he has worked tirelessly to greatly advance environmental law in Algeria. Under his guidance, new specialized institutions have been established with the aim of creating and implementing an environmental policy, which is at the service of sustainable development.
He has also established model financial and economic instruments aimed at promoting a tax system in Algeria based on international criteria that adhere to the polluter pays principle. He has brought a fundamental contribution to the implementation of the National Action Plan for Environment and Sustainable Development. This approach, adopted by the Algerian Government, is based on four major objectives: improving the health and quality of life; improving the productivity of natural capital; reducing economic losses and improving competitiveness; and improving the global environment (e.g. reducing greenhouse gases and impacts of climate change).
Mr. Rahmani has made significant contributions in his capacity as President of the Foundation ‘Deserts du Monde’ and as Honorary Spokesperson of the United Nations International Year of Deserts and Desertification. For example, the creation of the Institute of Deserts and the Museum of Deserts, the rehabilitation of Fort de Tinerkouk, the International Conference on the Biodiversity of Deserts (Brazil), the International Conference on Women and Desertification (Italy), the Second International Symposium on Desertification and Migration (Spain) and the International Scientific Conference on Deserts and Desertification (Tunisia), as well as the organization of the Third Festival of Cultures and Civilizations of the People of the Deserts.
It is hard to believe now, but when the first science pointing to the link between chlorofluorocarbon gases (CFCs) and the degradation of the Earth’s ozone layer was revealed in 1974, it was met with widespread scepticism.
That we now have behind us decades of action under the Montreal Protocol, which has reversed the growth of the hole in the ozone layer and saved millions of people around the world from developing skin cancer, is down to the dedication and single-minded vision of a small group of scientists.
Mario José Molina-Pasquel Henríquez, a Nobel Prize in Chemistry Laureate, first uncovered the link between CFCs and the ozone layer—along with Paul Crutzen and Sherwood Rowland—at a time when nobody else even dreamt there was a problem. They published their research in the journal Nature and, at a press conference held by the American Chemical Society in September 1974, took the brave and unprecedented step of calling for a complete ban on further releases of CFCs into the atmosphere—in essence challenging an industry that was raking in massive profits for corporations.
It was not until 1985 that scientists from the British Antarctic Survey found a large hole in the ozone layer over the Earth's southern hemisphere, which was expanding at the same rate as occurrences of skin cancer in Australia and other southern hemisphere countries. The discovery vindicated Molina and his colleagues and galvanized public support for the regulation of ozone-depleting substances, which came in 1985 when 20 nations—including most of the major CFC producers—signed the Vienna Convention (now known as the Montreal Protocol).
When US President Barack Obama awarded Molina the Presidential Medal of Freedom in August 2013, he referred to him as “a visionary chemist and environmental scientist”. Without such vision, we would not have addressed one of the biggest environmental challenges of the day. Molina’s principles and belief in science, so unfairly dismissed by so many, serve as a touchstone for the environmental community today, as scientists stand by their unwavering commitment to convince the world of the need for urgent action on climate change and other pressing issues.
Dr. Ramanathan is a Distinguished Professor at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UCSD. In the 1970s, he discovered the greenhouse effect of CFCs and numerous other manmade trace gases, and forecasted in 1980 that global warming would be detectable by the year 2000. He, along with Paul Crutzen, led an international team that first discovered the presence of widespread Atmospheric Brown Clouds (ABCs).
Dr. Ramanathan showed that ABCs led to large-scale dimming, decreased monsoon rainfall and rice harvest in India, and played a dominant role in the melting of the Himalayan glaciers. His team developed unmanned aerial vehicles with miniaturized instruments to measure black carbon in soot over South Asia and to track pollution from Beijing during the Olympics. Now a member of Climate and Clean Air Coalition’s Science Advisory Panel, he has estimated that the reduction of black carbon can reduce global warming significantly. He is following this up with a climate mitigation initiative called Project Surya, which aims to reduce soot emissions from bio-fuel cooking in rural India.
Surya has successfully completed a pilot phase in a North Indian village with a population of 2,500. It is now embarking on the demonstration phase, in which it will cover a rural area of approximately 100 square kilometers with around 50,000 people in the densely populated Indo-Gangetic Plains of India. Within this area, Surya plans to replace traditional cooking methods with less-polluting options that utilize renewable or cleaner fuels. Surya aims to make its approach to climate mitigation a government policy in collaboration with intergovernmental organizations such as UNEP.
