Bank of America Merrill Lynch Climate Change Award

Bank of America Merrill Lynch Climate Change Award in association with the Mayday Journey - For businesses taking steps along the journey towards a low carbon economy.

Closing Date: 5th March 2010

Climate change is arguably the most challenging and complex issue facing businesses today.  With widespread evidence now confirming its dire environmental, social and economic consequences, leading companies are measuring, reporting and reducing their carbon footprint and helping employees, suppliers and customers take action as well. 

In order to enter this award, your business or organisation must be signed up to The Prince’s Mayday Network’- the UK’s largest movement of businesses committed to taking action on climate change. Named after the international ‘Mayday Mayday’ distress signal and founded by HRH The Prince of Wales as a call to action to business, the Network aims to inspire, engage, support and challenge by helping businesses through the steps of the Mayday Journey and celebrating their achievements. Businesses in the Network are encouraged to lead and collaborate in addressing climate change and creating a low carbon economy.

The Network is free and easy to join: www.maydaynetwork.com

This Award recognises best practice from companies around the world, and inspires others to follow their lead.  A successful entry will detail specific, measurable activities the business has undertaken to achieve core business and societal benefits including reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, as well as the promotion of behavioural change.   We are looking in particular for companies tackling this issue across their whole business, not just in isolated cases, and those businesses demonstrating real entrepreneurial zeal in development and execution of climate change related products, services and solutions. 

Examples may include:

• Innovating in the delivery of state of the art energy efficient buildings and processes
• Reducing or ceasing the use or emission of greenhouse gases in core business services, solutions and/or products
• Developing and integrating into processes, products and services new low-carbon technologies
• Inspiring, encouraging and investing in entrepreneurship around the low carbon economy
• Engaging in and supporting skills development in society around a low carbon economy
• Working with suppliers to minimise the embodied energy of products or projects
• Raising staff awareness and increasing positive behavioural change at home and at work
• Engaging and educating customers about climate change (whether product specific or more strategically) and positively influencing consumer behaviour
• Educating and positively changing the behaviour of key stakeholders, including investors
• Working in partnership with national and local government, NGOs and community groups to promote and support a low carbon lifestyle and infrastructure 
• Innovation in core products, services and solutions based on positive environmental stewardship as it relates to climate change 

To find out whether your business is registered, visit the May Day Network website