The banking giant HSBC and The Daily Star launched Climate Awards for the third year yesterday to recognise the initiatives of organisations and individuals committed to protecting the environment and tackling the impact of climate change.
The launch of the annual awards was announced at a media briefing at Sonargaon Hotel in the capital.
The awards aim to encourage individuals and organisations who are actively working to preserve the environment and tackle the risks of climate change through green business, environment-friendly operations, community investment and knowledge management.
Speaking at the press briefing, Steve Ball, chief financial officer of HSBC, Bangladesh, said the country would face challenges in mitigating the impact of climate change.
“The government, non-government organisations and the media are working to address the issue. So, we are working with The Daily Star and Waste Concern to honour the initiatives of companies and individuals in saving the environment,” he said.
Waste Concern was the knowledge partner in this programme and would adjudicate the process and select winners, said Talukdar Noman Anwar, head of marketing, communications and corporate sustainability of HSBC, Bangladesh.
Mahfuz Anam, editor and publisher of The Daily Star, said climate change in Bangladesh was not a remote issue although many would like to think in that direction.
“Rains do not happen in Bangladesh in the seasons they used to happen in the past. The sea level has gone up. Rivers are being polluted.”
He said nothing could be done to protect the rivers of the country in the last three and a half years despite various government initiatives, suo moto rules of the High Court and the prime minister’s personal commitment.
“The time will come when we will have to buy water from distant places. So, we will have to learn to live with nature,” Mahfuz Anam said. Otherwise, the rebounding effects will be much higher.
He urged HSBC, one of the leading international banks, to conduct campaigns at district levels to raise awareness among people about river protection.
AHM Maqsood Sinha, executive director of Waste Concern, said that though the award programme would recognise a few initiatives, its main objective was to present role models before society so that others could follow them.
He added that changing the mindset of businesses and industries — who were the main polluters — was another goal of the project, as businesses could still make profit and become sustainable while adopting green practices.
HSBC-The Daily Star Climate Awards, 2012 will be given out in four categories: climate champion in green business, climate champion in green operations (companies with 100 percent Bangladeshi ownership and companies with full or partial foreign ownership), climate champion in knowledge management, and climate champion in community engagement.
Details of the categories and nomination forms of the awards are available at www.hsbc.com.bd or www.thedailystar.net. Once they are filled in, nomination forms have to be sent to Waste Concern office on or before October 31, 2012.
The award programme will be adjudicated by a panel of eminent jury members comprising experts in the fields of nature preservation and climate change. Five winners will be awarded at a ceremony in the capital in the first week of December.
Courtesy of The Daily Star
