Demand spurs Climate Change Leadership Awards deadline extension

The Climate Change Leadership Awards (CCLA) has extended its closing date for entries from 31 January 31 to 10 February to allow for the uptake in environmental activity surrounding COP17.

There has been increased interest in the not-for-profit awards this year, particularly with due to media coverage of the COP17 recently hosted in Durban, South Africa, highlighting climate change issues.

"The CCLA are the first awards in Africa that recognise, reward, motivate and celebrate businesses, communities, youth, schools and individuals with cash, media coverage and other prizes," says Jeunesse Park, founder of Food & Trees for Africa and the CCLA . "Engaging in sustainable development and climate change mitigation is a key concern for many of South Africa's large companies. This concern is reflected in our partners, SA Post Office, Pick n Pay, National Business Initiative (NBI), Avis, Primedia, Amalgamated Beverage Industries (ABI) , the soft drink division of SAB Ltd ,and kulula.com. It is also an important and growing interest for schools, community organisations and many individuals".

While the CCLA has a range of categories, for the first time it includes a Local Municipality sector and a Waste Minimisation award in its Climate Hero sector. The CCLA is a Lead SA initiative and winners will receive media coverage through Primedia, Business Day and others.

Adjudicators include Kevin James, CEO of Global Carbon Exchange, Andre Nel, sustainable development manager at Pick n Pay, Ant Dane, consultant at Incite Sustainability, Harmke Immink, senior carbon advisor at Promethium, Kgabo Mokgohloa in charge of sustainability at the SA Post Office, Pancho Ndebele, a founding director of Emvelo, and chair of the Southern Africa Solar Thermal & Electricity Association (SASTELA), and our recent additions William Mahlasela – corporate affairs specialist (ABI) and Steve Nicholls, programme manager: Climate Change and Water from the NBI.

New and existing entrants can update their entries via the website for the first time this year, at www.ccla.co.za. Climate change leaders and heroes are urged to get their entries in now to meet the 10 February deadline.

The awards will be concluded in March 2012 at a low carbon event at the Sandton Sun Hotel.