President Mohamed Nasheed has been selected as a judge for the ‘Zayed Future Energy Prize’ which is recognized as the world’s preeminent award -driving innovation, leadership, long-term vision and impact in renewable energy and sustainability.
According to Businesswire, President Nasheed was selected for his life-long work as an environmental protectionist, most recently with untiring efforts to make The Maldives carbon neutral within a decade. President Nasheed is the first democratically-elected President of the Republic of Maldives, the first country to sign the Kyoto protocol, and has resolved to be carbon neutral in 10 years.
Businesswire reported President Nasheed saying that the Zayed Future Energy Prize serves as a catalyst to sustainable development.
“For us, going carbon neutral is not just the right thing to do; we believe it is in our economic self-interest. Countries that have the foresight to green their economies today, will be the winners of tomorrow” said President Nasheed.
Apart from President Nasheed, the newly-selected members of the Zayed Future Energy Prize Jury also include Elizabeth Dipuo Peters, Minister of Energy for South Africa, Timothy Wirth, President of the UN Foundation and Better World Fund, Leonardo DiCaprio, Oscar-award winning actor and environmental activist, Andre Agassi, Founder of the Andre Agassi Foundation for Education and Grand Slam Tennis Champion and Cherie Blair, Founder of the Cherie Blair Foundation. According to reports the award giving ceremony will be held in Abu Dhabi on 17 January 2012.
The Zayed Future Energy Prize is an energy award that was announced by Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the 2008 World Future Energy Summit. From its website: the prize will be awarded to three individuals, companies, organisations or NGOs that have made significant contributions in the global response to the future of energy.