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WASHINGTON, DC – August 19, 2010 – The Association of Climate Change Officers (“ACCO”) announced this morning the launch of its first annual Climate Leadership Awards. Along with the program launch, ACCO issued a call for nominations for organizations in industry, government, academia and the non-profit community. ACCO will accept nominations until September 17, 2010, and will present winners of the prestigious award at a Gala to be held in conjunction with ACCO’s Climate Change Leadership Summit on November 8, 2010 in Washington, DC. One winner will be announced for each of the following categories: industry, government entities (local, state, regional, national or international), academic institutions and non-profit organizations.

The Climate Leadership Awards program (“CLA”) was designed to recognize academic, government, industry and non-profit organizations that have positioned themselves as thought and action leaders in addressing climate change. These entities champion their respective sectors in innovation, tangible effectiveness, collaboration, governance, internal and external education efforts, policy shaping, disclosure and thought leadership, among the qualities that the Association of Climate Change Officers and the CLA Judges Committee have determined to be exemplary of the highest leadership.

"As an organization that focuses on leadership and collaboration, ACCO launched this program to ensure appropriate credit and international recognition is given to organizations that are role models in their sectors with respect to climate change response,” said Daniel Kreeger, ACCO’s Executive Director. “We believe that it is essential that every sector constructively respond to climate change through policy, education, collaboration and effective strategy. The Climate Leadership Awards will serve to highlight organizations that have stepped up to the challenge and are paving the way to successful response strategies for the broader community."

To evaluate nominations and determine award winners, ACCO formed a group of recognized thought leaders from its Board of Directors, Advisory Board and general membership. This group will form the Judges’ Committee for the 2010 program. The panel includes:

• ACCO Board of Directors

  • Melissa Adams – Division Head of Sustainability, Washington Gas

  • Fiji George – Director of Climate Strategies, El Paso Corporation

  • Valerie Patrick – Sustainability Coordinator, Bayer Corporation

  • Jim Sullivan – Strategic Advisor, Sustainability, SAP

• ACCO Advisory Board Members and Technical Advisors

  • Stephen O. Andersen – Director of Research, Institute for Governance & Sustainable Development

  • John Englander – Special Advisor, Global Environment & Technology Foundation

  • Steve Frenkel – Midwest Regional Director, Renewable Funding

  • Bruce Klafter – Senior Director of EH&S and Head of Sustainability, Applied Materials,

  • Cary Krosinsky – Vice President, Trucost

  • Margery Moore – EHS Alliance Director, BNA

  • Kristen Taddonio – Director, Strategic Climate Projects, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

• ACCO Individual Members and General Community

  • Rick Love – Manager, Environmental Programs, United Technologies

  • Roy Deitchman – Vice President, Environment, Health & Safety, Amtrak

  • Gene Rodrigues – Director of Customer Energy Efficiency & Solar Programs, Southern California Edison

  • Denise Sheehan – Vice President, The Climate Registry

  • Durwood Zaelke – President, Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development

Additional judges will be added to the committee and announced in the coming weeks.

“At a time when Congress and the Administration are struggling to establish comprehensive climate policy, ACCO hopes to highlight the innovation, leadership and actions of best in show organizations that have shown innovation, courage and the business case for leading the way on climate response,” said Kreeger.

Additional information about the CLA, including nomination forms, policies and guidelines, have been made available online at http://www.ACCOonline.org/awards.

The Association of Climate Change Officers is a 501(c)(6) non-profit membership organization for executives and officials worldwide in industry, government, academia and the non-profit community. ACCO’s mission is to advance the knowledge and skills of those dedicated to developing and directing climate change strategies in the public and private sectors, and to establish a flexible and robust forum for collaboration between climate change officers. For more information about ACCO, please visit www.accoonline.org.