The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) recently announced the launch of the 2nd Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Environmental Award, marking a pioneering step to further elevate the UAE’s global leadership in environmental sustainability.
The initiative seeks to foster excellence and innovation in environmental practices while recognizing outstanding projects and initiatives dedicated to protecting and sustaining the environment across the nation.
“The Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Environmental Award, with its vision, goes beyond mere recognition and appreciation of efforts. It serves as a platform to inspire individuals, institutions, and businesses to lead the way in sustainability. In its second cycle, the award has expanded to encompass the entire UAE, reflecting our commitment to fostering a culture of environmental excellence across the nation,” stated His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region and Chairman of EAD.
EAD launches new model to elevate environmental performance
As part of the announcement of 2025 as the Year of Community, EAD aims, through the launch of the second cycle of the Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Environmental Award, to expand its reach across the UAE, encompassing various segments of society and recognising individuals and institutions for their outstanding environmental contributions.
It will also introduce the Emirates Environmental Excellence Model (EEEM), a comprehensive framework designed to elevate environmental performance, strengthen compliance with sustainability standards, and encourage groundbreaking research and innovation, by aligning with global best practices.
“This expansion solidifies our objective of establishing a new global benchmark for environmental sustainability that aligns with the nation’s vision to remain a global leader in environmental innovation, setting an example for international models,” added Sheikh Hamdan.
Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Environmental Medal
The second cycle of this year’s award includes restructuring the award categories to more effectively recognize a diverse range of contributions, including the Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Environmental Medal, which honors individuals who demonstrate exceptional leadership in environmental sustainability and impactful contributions to conservation efforts.
The medal includes several subcategories, such as the Environmental Changemaker Medal, which recognizes individuals who have made significant environmental contributions in institutional, educational, voluntary and awareness-raising sectors, as well as the Environmental Creativity Pioneers Medal, which honors those employing creative approaches to addressing environmental challenges and raising environmental awareness.
Environmental Youth Advocates Medal
Additionally, the Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Environmental Award includes the Environmental Youth Advocates Medal, honoring young leaders (under 25) who have developed innovative solutions to environmental challenges and sustainability initiatives, as well as the Optimal Natural Resource User Medal, which recognizes sustainable practices in the use of natural resources by hunters, farmers and falconers.
The Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Environmental Research Award also includes two subcategories under the main award categories. These include the Research Institute category, which honors research institutions working on sustainability and environmental issues, and the Environmental Research Project category, which targets environmental research focused on sustainable development and is open to university professors, graduate students, and academics in environmental research.
Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Environmental Performance Award
Meanwhile, the Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Environmental Performance Award, which targets public and private sector organizations, factories and non-profit entities implementing exemplary environmental initiatives, features two subcategories: one for small and medium-sized enterprises with fewer than 250 employees, and another for large companies and institutions with more than 250 employees.
Honourees for both subcategories will be awarded for implementing exemplary environmental performance initiatives under the main environmental performance category.
The final award category is the Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Environmental Corporate Initiatives Award, which honors outstanding environmental initiatives either through collaboration between multiple entities or initiatives led by organizations in partnership with the community, resulting in a positive environmental impact.
