The 2017 Climate Leadership Awards application period was open from June 22 through September 26, 2016. Award applicants were notified of their status in December 2016. We look forward to seeing you at the Climate Leadership Conference March 1-3, 2017 in Chicago, IL!

"The co-sponsorship of this recognition opportunity reflects EPA's commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and recognizing leadership on climate change. We are pleased to be partnering with non-profit organizations that have demonstrated expertise in GHG emissions management."
– Gina McCarthy, EPA Administrator.

EPA's Climate Protection Partnerships Division is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) through cost-effective partnerships across the U.S. economy. As part of this commitment, EPA co-sponsors the Climate Leadership Awards (CLA) with NGO partners: the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES) Exitand The Climate Registry (TCR) Exit. From 2012 to 2015, the Association of Climate Change Officers (ACCO) was also a co-creator and co-sponsor of the Awards.

The Climate Leadership Awards is a national awards program that recognizes and incentivizes exemplary corporate, organizational, and individual leadership in response to climate change. In February 2012, the first-ever awards were presented to one individual and 20 organizations from across the U.S. who are leading the way in the management and reduction of GHG emissions—both in internal operations and throughout the supply chain. Now in its sixth year, the program has honored more than 100 recipients; the awards continue to highlight leadership in addressing climate change by reducing carbon pollution and implementing adaptation planning initiatives. The Climate Leadership Awards Dinner takes place during the annual Climate Leadership Conference.

Climate Leadership Award Recognition Categories:

Organizational Leadership Award
Recognizes organizations that not only have their own comprehensive greenhouse gas inventories and aggressive emissions reduction goals, but also exemplify extraordinary leadership in their internal response to climate change, and engagement of their peers, partners, and supply chain.

Individual Leadership Award
Recognizes individuals exemplifying extraordinary leadership in leading their organizations’ response to climate change and through engagement of their peers and partners.

Supply Chain Leadership Award
Recognizes organizations that have their own comprehensive greenhouse gas inventories and aggressive emissions reduction goals and demonstrate they are at the leading edge of managing greenhouse gas emissions in their organizational supply chains.

Excellence in Greenhouse Gas Management (Goal Achievement Award)
Recognizes organizations that publicly report and verify organization-wide greenhouse gas inventories and achieve aggressive greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals.

Excellence in Greenhouse Gas Management (Goal Setting Certificate)
Recognizes organizations that publicly report and verify organization-wide greenhouse gas inventories and publicly set aggressive greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals.

Innovative Partnership Certificate
Recognizes organizations working collaboratively on leading edge climate initiatives. Partnerships have collectively established objectives to measurably address greenhouse gas reduction goals and/or adaptation and resilience activities.

For more information, please see the presentation slides from the 2017 Climate Leadership Awards Webinar: A Review of Categories, Eligibility, Criteria, and the Application Process.