Brussels / Hawaii 16 June 2017

Leading Culture Destinations (LCD) and SUNx (sponsored by 1st Global Capital) are proud to announce a new category for the 2017 LCD Awards: the ‘Climate smART Award', an international award for museums that make the most significant educational contribution to the fight against climate change. Its focus will be on novel education initiatives which seek to transform public behaviour and therefore create a valuable shift towards a more sustainable climate resilient future.

SUNx stands for the Strong Universal Network – a legacy initiative of Maurice Strong, one of the fathers of Sustainable Development and Secretary General of the 1992 Rio Earth Summit the precursor of the UNSDG’s (Sustainable Development Goals) and the Paris Climate Agreement. It’s eXchange solution will be delivered through a cloud connected network of community climate adaptation centres, which help deliver (low) “Impact Travel” transformation.

Geoffrey Lipman, SUNx Co-founder and President of the International Coalition of Tourism Partners (ICTP) said: "Climate Change is existential. SUNx strongly supports The Paris Accords which are under irresponsible threat. Travel and Tourism must stand up to this challenge and public opinion can play a big part. This award will honour museums and cultural centres that make public education a priority and we are delighted to join up with LCD - sharing their vision of Museums as focal points for education of travellers."

The Climate smART Award will be determined by a distinct jury of travel and environment policy thinkers from around the world that will be led by long-time travel industry leader Dr. Tom Selanniemi, Director of the Finnish Nature Centre Haltia, alongside Professor Geoffrey Lipman former President of WTTC and Co-founder SUNx, Felix Dodds former Executive Director UN Stakeholder Forum, author and Co-founder SUNx, Ignace Schops Goldman Award Winner, President of Europarc Federation and Author, Maureen Lipman MBE Award-winning Actress and Author, Tom Goldberg MBE Chairman AWI Group, Richard Prosser, Chairman of Audley Travel, Rose Mukogo, former Director of Research at Zimbabwe Tourism Authority, Madan Bezbaruah, former Secretary of the Indian Ministry of Tourism, Paul Wilke former Global PR Manager for Visa and Jeanine Pires former President of the Brazilian Tourist Board.

The winner will be announced at the annual LCD Awards on 29 September 2017 in London.

If you know of a museum or cultural centre that has put an innovative emphasis on climate change then please email details to us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Contact

Prof.Geoffrey Lipman This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Olly Wheatcroft This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.