A business that has helped more than 600 broadacre farmers learn more about carbon emissions from farming and how to reduce their carbon footprint has won the $10,000 overall prize in the first SA Climate Leaders Awards.
Climate Change Minister Ian Hunter last night awarded Port Lincoln business Regional Connections the overall prize, as well as winner of the Industry and Business category.
Other winners included Cecilia Woolford for her work pioneering regional climate change action, and Uniting Communities for their commitment to certified carbon neutrality, and leading behavioural change in their organisation and the community.
Background
The awards recognise the achievements of South Australians who lead the way in either adapting to the effects of climate change, reducing greenhouse emissions, supporting South Australia’s transition to a low carbon economy or raising awareness of climate change.
More than 40 award entries were received and the winners were chosen from 11 finalists, who represented a wide cross-section of the community.
The awards are an initiative of the Premier’s Climate Change Council, the State Government’s advisory body on climate change. More at: http://www.climatechange.sa.gov.au/climateaward
Regional Connections’ work has included the Australian Government’s Carbon Farming Futures Outreach and Extension Program, where 33 trusted farm advisers helped improve farmers’ knowledge, understanding and attitudes to carbon farming. As a result about 70 per cent of the farmer clients surveyed took at least one action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon storage on their farms.
Cecilia Woolford has been called “one of the most influential leaders of action on climate change in South Australia over the past decade”. She helped lead the development of the Eyre Peninsula’s first Regional Adaptation Plan and assisted in the development of a new approach to climate change planning. She is now a leader in developing the Far North and Outback Regional Adaptation Plan. Cecilia has engaged with regional communities by talking about the science behind climate change and the need for action in a practical and respectful way.
Uniting Communities are the first South Australian organisation and first registered charity in Australia to be Certified Carbon Neutral, as a result of reducing their carbon emissions by 34 per cent. Encouraging this behavioural change has had a positive impact on their workforce of more than 1,500 staff and volunteers and the wider community.
Quotes attributable to Climate Change Minister Ian Hunter
These individuals and organisations prove South Australia has strong, passionate and inspiring leaders who are helping the community prepare for and combat climate change.
The agriculture, wine and food industry employs one in five working South Australians, and our farmers are vital to South Australia’s economy, and Regional Connections’ work will help farmers respond to climate change and ensure sustainable agriculture in the future.
Cecilia Woolford’s outstanding work pioneered a new way of helping industry and the community prepare for climate change and her ability to continually innovate and find new ways to engage the community is truly inspiring.
Uniting Communities are the first charity to achieve carbon neutral status, and their influence will encourage the broader community to reduce emissions and help South Australia move to a low carbon economy.
Quotes attributable to Premier’s Climate Change Council Chair Bruce Carter
Our SA Climate Leaders Award winners are to be congratulated for their pioneering actions to address and respond to the impacts of climate change.
Their work is helping to build the State’s resilience to climate change, and inspire other individuals, business and organisations to take action to support SA’s transition to a low carbon economy.
Media Contact: Patrick Cronin 0407 743 068
