The Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO) today presented the 2021 National Energy and Environment Awards, awards that grant public and social recognition to those people or entities that have stood out either for their creative, scientific, educational or social contributions in favour of the decarbonisation of the economy, or for their defence, environmental and climate studies and promotion, contributing to the conservation and protection of environmental values.
The Vice-President and Minister for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, Teresa Ribera, presided over the ceremony and recalled that, in the midst of the process of
transition towards a more sustainable economic and social model, and in the face of a global climate crisis, it is essential to have the commitment of all citizens. “You represent the ability to do things in a different way and you value the power of citizens, of the small, of an active citizenry that knows what its scope is to build,” he told the winners.
During the awards ceremony, Ribera insisted that “in addition to the work of large companies, organizations and institutions, especially
we need action, action, action.”
With the awards ceremony, MITECO has recovered distinctions that were convened for more than 20 years, between 1986 and 2009, with the name of
“National Environmental Awards”, to which a new distinction in energy matters has been incorporated, in accordance with the current competences of the Ministry. This year, in addition, extraordinary prizes are awarded for both Environment and Energy.
ENVIRONMENTAL AWARDS
The winner of the National Environmental Award “Lucas Mallada, for economy and environment” has been the company Cales de Pachs, for its work in the development
and technological innovation in search of sustainability. Its activity has shown that the use of lime to absorb polluting gases and the treatment of sewage sludge is effective in combating pollution and economically viable.
The Global Nature Foundation and the Oxygen Foundation have won the National Environmental Award “Félix Rodríguez de La Fuente, for nature conservation”.
Global Nature has stood out for three decades for its defense of natural environments – especially wetlands – and for working to achieve a balance between biodiversity and agri-food systems, supporting farmers and ranchers in integrating sustainable practices with biodiversity throughout the supply chain.
Oxygen stands out for its work in the promotion, development, protection and research of the social, cultural and environmental values that nature conservation entails. Very active in education, dissemination and environmental volunteering, she is embarked on a large project, “Microplastics, Macrobasura” with a duration of 20 years and presence throughout the national territory.
The Extraordinary Environmental Awards have had five winners:
a) Extraordinary Environmental Award for climate action and civic commitment. It was jointly received by the 100 members of the Citizens’ Assembly for Climate, the Group of Experts and the Coordination Panel – made up of BC3 and REDS – who have supported them independently. The Assembly has been a model of participation dedicated to deliberating, reflecting and proposing solutions to face one of the great global challenges.
b) Extraordinary Environmental Award for the protection of natural spaces and their biodiversity to Pedro García Moreno, director of ANSE. A renowned conservationist, he has obtained the distinction for his outstanding stewardship of the territory, which has resulted in a network of nature reserves and the protection of emblematic natural spaces in the surroundings of the Mar Menor against urban projects.
c) Extraordinary Environmental Award for his work in favour of the introduction of responsible practices in agricultural production to Juan Serna Martín. A pioneer of environmentalism in Spain, he was the first president of the Regulatory Council of Organic Agriculture and Minister of Public Works and Environment of Extremadura between 1983 and 1986.
d) Extraordinary Environment Award for her commitment to the sustainability of economic activity in the primary sector to Ana Corredoira, a Galician livestock cooperative member who has demonstrated a firm commitment to economic development based on local resources, ecological production models and the dissemination of sustainable activities, thus helping to highlight the crucial contribution of women to the rural environment.
e) Extraordinary Environmental Award for his work in communication and artistic and environmental dissemination of rural Spain to Rodrigo Carrillo, better known by his Twitter name, Tractorista de Castilla. With his photographs, Rodrigo has managed to offer an attractive and dynamic image of the country’s enormous natural heritage and put an end to stereotypical images that do not correspond to reality.
ENERGY AWARDS
The “Maria del Rosario Heras” National Energy Award was received by the company Econward Tech, a small technology firm whose research and innovation work has made it possible to develop solutions, especially in the treatment of urban solid waste for the generation of biogas. Its growth exemplifies the business opportunities of the energy transition.
The Extraordinary Energy Awards have had three winners:
a) For her contribution to the research and application of energy saving and efficiency techniques, to María del Rosario Heras Celemín, recognising her pioneering work in research and education in the fields of solar energy and energy efficiency, where she is a true reference. With more than 45 years of intense scientific activity -most of them in the Center for
Energy, Environmental and Technological Research (Ciemat)-, was president of the Spanish Royal Society of Physics. For her there is a special thanks for having lent her name to the National Prize.
b) For the development of green energy technologies and sustainable mobility, Wallbox Chargers is awarded. The company, which specialises in charging solutions for electric vehicles, is successfully competing on a global scale. In just six years it has reached a market capitalization of 1,600 million euros and plans to manufacture one million chargers per year by 2025.
c) For its pioneering work in energy production and self-consumption, to the Enercoop-COMTEM Group. It is the first energy community to be activated in Spain, in the town of Crevillent, thanks to the collaboration of the City Council. It is a model for the rest of the country’s energy communities, by making visible the great benefits of the democratization of energy.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Finally, Fernando Fernández-Polanco Fernández de Moreda and the Sociedad Anónima Belga de los Pinares del Paular have received honorable mentions in the environmental awards, while the honorable mentions in the energy awards have gone to the Naturgy Foundation and the Sustainable Development Foundation.
