Best Initiative by a Governmental or Statutory Body

in association with Tesco

WINNER Department for International Development – Scuba rice

Flood-resistant “scuba” rice that can survive for two weeks underwater is protecting the lives of millions at risk from climate change. Rising sea levels and storms are forecast to cause a 15% drop in rice production in developing countries. That could spell disaster for the one-fifth of the world’s population dependant on rice. The International Research Rice Institute, funded by the Department for International Development, isolated a gene for flood resistance and transferred it into rice. In a trial in Bangladesh, 95% of scuba plants recovered after flooding compared to just 12% for a traditional variety. Local farmer Mohammad Shahidul Islam said it was “like magic”. http://tinyurl.com/65jpd88

Committee on Climate Change – 4th Carbon Budget Report

The UK is the first country in the world to set out a coherent, evidence-based vision of what life could be like in a low-carbon society in the 2020s. The fourth Carbon Budget from the Committee on Climate Change also sets out a clear roadmap for action to achieve a 60% cut in Britain’s carbon emissions by 2030. The 400 page report, published in December 2010, analyses every sector of the UK economy as well as climate science and geopolitics. Its recommendations include a radical reform of the energy market, the widespread deployment of electric cars and domestic heat pumps, and big cuts in greenhouse gases from farming. http://www.theccc.org.uk/reports/fourth-carbon-budget

The Intellectual Property Office – Green Patent Fast Track Scheme

The Intellectual Property Office has introduced a fast-track system for patenting environmental inventions. Patents encourage innovation, investment and the spread of new technologies, but applications take an average of 32 months to grant in the UK, and the battle against climate change is urgent. The new Green Channel system works within 8 months – four times faster. There have been 357 applications so far, resulting in 74 patents in a range of areas including wind and solar energy, recycling and vehicle technology. This UK system was a world first and has since also been introduced in the US and South Korea. http://tinyurl.com/6fn9qne

H.M. Revenue & Customs – Making Environmental Targets a Departmental Priority

Cutting carbon emissions doesn’t have to be taxing according to HM Revenue & Customs. The massive Government department, with 69,000 staff in 400 locations, has reduced emission from its offices by over 12% in 2010 compared to the year before, and carbon from travel by 37%. HMRC’s strategy was to link environmental ambitions with financial targets. Its Chief Financial Officer was made Environment Champion, providing top-level influence on business planning including infrastructure and IT. Meanwhile 450 Green Volunteers identified emissions from paper, equipment and travel options, and changed behaviour at local level – for example resulting in greater use of video conferencing to reduce travel. http://tinyurl.com/6el9mgs