Schwarzenegger Presents Sustainia Award to Off-Grid Solar Innovation

(Copenhagen, 11 October 2012) – Tonight, in front of an audience of more than 1,000 people at the Royal Theater, former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger announced the winner of Sustainia Award, a new global award honoring innovative, sustainable solutions and ideas.

British Azuri Technologies wins the award for their Indigo solar solution for homes in the developing world. The technology allows residents to install small solar panels paid for with scratch-cards. The pay-as-you-go business model has a promising potential for supplying poor families throughout the developing world with clean, low-cost electricity. Six thousand families in Kenya, Malawi, Zambia and South Sudan have already adopted the Azuri solution.

“Congratulations to the Sustainia Award winner for being a true action hero and for proving to the skeptics and the naysayers that solutions already exist to meet the challenges our planet’s environment is facing. This award is about more than making the world more sustainable – it’s also about improving the communities where we live. The Sustainia Award is changing the focus of the climate change debate toward tangible solutions that can make a real difference,” said Mr. Schwarzenegger.

Earlier today, initiators behind Sustainia Award also presented a new, major partner: Nobel Sustainability Trust.

Chairman of Nobel Sustainability Trust Gustaf Nobel will join an exclusive group representing global champions of sustainability, including former prime minister of Norway Gro Harlem Brundtland, Chairman of UN’s climate panel Dr. Rajendra K. Pachauri and EU Commissioner of Climate Action Connie Hedegaard.

The award is initiated by international sustainability alliance Sustainia and leading Scandinavian think tank Monday Morning in collaboration with Arnold Schwarzenegger’s initiative Regions20, the UN Global Compact and IFHP. Behind Sustania is also a wide range of world-leading companies including: Microsoft, Vestas, DONG Energy, Cisco, DNV, Novo Nordisk, Realdania and many others.

Winner lights up developing world fossil-free

The Indigo concept makes it possible for families to avoid big up-front costs of installing solar power. Instead, they pay-as-they-go with scratch-cards. In Kenya, a scratch-card costs $1.40 and allows for eight hours of fossil-free lighting for two rooms and mobile phone charging for one week.

This solution can cut a family’s weekly energy expenses by 50 percent. Indigo is already having a transformative impact on people as well as communities in Kenya, Malawi, Zambia, and South Sudan, where the solar panels have improved health, economic opportunities and environment.

“We are thrilled to be the first winner of Sustainia Award. This award and the remarkable work associated with it will raise awareness of our technology and the great impact the solar panels have for people, whose only alternative is smoke-filled unhealthy kerosene,” said Simon Bransfield-Garth, CEO of Azuri Technologies, the developer of Indigo Pay-As-You-Go Solar.

One hundred innovative solutions implemented in 56 countries across six continents were nominated for Sustainia Award 2012. Read the Award Committee’s motivation for selecting Indigo Pay-As-You-Go Solar.

Nobel Sustainability Trust joins powerful alliance to scale solutions

The partners behind Sustainia Award represent a new multi-stakeholder collaboration from philanthropic foundations, civil society and the corporate world. Together, they are committed to shape a new approach to the sustainability agenda centered on existing solutions as tool for change. Nobel Sustainability Trust is the latest partner to join the alliance.

Gustaf Nobel, Chair of Nobel Sustainability Trust:
“Sustainability has always been a trademark for the Nobel family. Following this tradition, members of the family have founded Nobel Sustainability Trust dedicated to the development, research and implementation of renewable and sustainable energy solutions. Given our mission to help sustainable solutions become reality and readily accessible to all, a partnership with Sustainia makes a perfect match. For us, Sustainia stands for a global platform to help raise awareness of successful solutions.”

Laura Storm, Executive Director of Sustainia:
“With a powerful alliance of partners in place, Sustainia can get across the message that if existing solutions were implemented at large scale, we could make real sustainable societies. We will work for bottom-up change by informing industries, sectors, decision makers, CEOs and civil societies about the many sustainable alternatives.”
 

Available Quotes

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Chairman of Regions20, Honorary Chair of Sustainia Award Committee:
"The diversity of the 100 nominees for Sustainia Award tell a powerful story about fantastic sustainable solutions that are happening right now across different industries and regions of world. These solutions are transforming our homes, reshaping our cities, and bringing new ideas to entire communities. By sharing what is already working and pushing for new innovations, we will ensure sustainable growth and job growth at the same time.

My mission is showing the world that we can transform our communities to create a sustainable future -- all we have to do is work together to put into action the solutions, technologies, and know-how that are already working in regions around the world."

Gro Harlem Brundtland, former Prime Minister:
"People are the most powerful force when it comes to creating change. Sustainia gives them the incentive for change by demonstrating how our lives will get better, easier and healthier in a sustainable society. Sustainia is by the people and for the people."

Connie Hedegaard, EU Commissioner of Climate Action
"Don't tell it, show it, as it goes in journalism. Awareness about the problem is rising, now Sustainia shows that the intelligent and innovative solutions for a world we like are already here."

Resources

• Review a catalogue of the 100 nominated solutions.
• Sustainia10 Finalists

About Sustainia
Sustainia is a global alliance of international organizations and companies working to create sustainable growth. Based on tangible know-how and technologies, Sustainia demonstrates the sustainable future we could achieve if existing solutions were implemented at large scale. The work is carried out in various publications, events and the annual work to identify and promote a list of 100 sustainable solutions, Sustainia100. Sustainia is founded by Scandinavian think tank Monday Morning and developed in close collaboration with UN Global Compact, Nobel Sustainability Trust, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s initiative Regions20, IFHP and world-leading companies: Microsoft, GE, DNV, Philips Lighting, DONG Energy, Novo Nordisk, Tetra Pak, Cisco, Knoll, IKEA, Vestas, VELUX, Realdania, Scandinavian Airlines SAS, Ramboll, UBS Investment Bank and Gehl Architects. www.sustainia.me

Media Contacts

Marie Louise Gorvild
Press Officer
Sustainia
mlg@mm.dk
+45 3164 1050 or +45 33 707 151

Kristen Coco
Public Affairs and Media Relations
UN Global Compact
cocok@un.org
+1 917-288-0787