Environmental awards success for Aberdeen City Council

18 September 2016

Aberdeen City Council’s commitment to environmental initiatives has been recognised on the national stage.

Powering Aberdeen and Earth Hour, which was part of Climate Week 2016, have both won a Green Apple Award. The awards are part of an annual international campaign by the Green Organisation, which recognises environmental best practice around the world.

Powering Aberdeen, a collaborative programme that has set out aspirations, commitments and targets designed to help Aberdeen significantly decrease emissions and become a leading sustainable economy in the UK, was recognised for promoting the change necessary to become a smart, low carbon city.

The second award was for an awareness raising campaign for Climate Week and Earth Hour this year. Partner organisations worked together to produce a programme of events to engage the public and raise awareness about climate change including switching off lights at city landmarks.

Aberdeen City Council Communities, Housing and Infrastructure Convener, Councillor Jean Morrison said: “This is great news for the citizens of Aberdeen and the environment and is a testament to Aberdeen City Council’s commitment to green energy. These projects will build on and grow the many projects already taking place in Aberdeen that are supporting reductions in emissions, improving efficiency and in turn improving the quality of life for Aberdeen citizens as well as attracting significant investment.”

As well as the Green Apple Award, Aberdeen City Council has gained Super Local Authority status with WWF in 2016 for work with partners on Earth Hour and Climate Week events.

The Green Apple Environment Awards were established in 1994 as an annual campaign to recognise, reward and promote environmental best practice around the world. The awards are hosted by The Green Organisation, an independent, non-profit environment group, dedicated to recognising, rewarding and promoting environmental best practice.