who: UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme) is a worldwide organisation, created to provide leadership and encourage partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations.

what: the UNEP Sasakawa Environment Prize is one of the most prestigious environmental awards in the world. The establishment of an international environment prize was recommended at the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment held in Stockholm in 1972. The prize, then known as the Pahlavi Prize, was first awarded in 1976. In 1982, the UNEP Governing Council accepted an endowment of US$1 million from the Japan Shipbuilding Industry Foundation to finance the Sasakawa International Environment Prize, which would be administered by UNEP. Since its inception, interest in the award has increased significantly as attested by the growing number of nominations. The annual award of $50,000 was increased to $200,000 in 1990, making it one of the world's most valuable environmental prizes.

why: after serious deliberations and in the light of the kind of nominations received over the years, the Selection Committee recommended that all nominations be considered on an annual basis and that the Prize be awarded solely to individuals who have made outstanding global contributions to the management and protection of the environment. The Prize aims to encourage environmental achievement in all fields of the environment.

how: nominees are considered on an annual basis. A new letter of nomination and updated description of achievements is required every year. Provide a Summary of no more than two pages (500 words) of the individual's achievements in the field(s) for which the award is proposed. Provide a detailed explanation of the contributions and explain why each is valuable and effective. Describe how each was accomplished. Mention any significant involvement of others. Provide three letters of recommendation from individuals who can assess the nominee's contributions. Identify three additional referees who might be contacted by the Selection Committee.

The Selection Committee reserves the right to request examples of publications or other evidence which demonstrate the candidate's contributions to the environment. Such materials will be retained by UNEP unless otherwise requested. The Prize is awarded every year in November to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the protection and management of the environment, which are consistent with the policies, aims and objectives of UNEP.

Candidates can be associated with any field of the environment. Those eligible to make nominations include, but are not limited to, specialists in environmental sciences, academies of science, engineering and research, members of the United Nations system, governments and inter-governmental organisations, trade unions and non-governmental organisations.

cool for you: take part and fill the nomination form you can download at www.unep.org/champions/nomination-form.htm.