Top Environmental Prize Honors Ecological Footprint Pioneer

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, March 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- (http://www.myprgenie.com) -- Dr. Mathis Wackernagel, pioneer of the Ecological Footprint research method, is among five recipients of this year's Zayed International Prize for the Environment, one of the world's most prestigious sustainability awards. Recipients will be honored Monday, March 14 by UAE Prime Minister Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum at the Dubai International Convention Center.

Dr. Habib Al Habr, Regional Director of the United Nations Environment Programme, described the prize as the most important environmental award given to champions and pioneers in this field. This year's awardees share a common trait: All recognize sustainability as central to nations' long-term prosperity and security.

Wackernagel is President of sustainability think tank Global Footprint Network, which works with governments, including that of the UAE, to use Ecological Footprint accounting to understand and manage their ecological demand.

"We all know with money, it is critical to know how much we have and how much we use if we want to avoid going bankrupt," Dr. Wackernagel said. "The same is true for natural capital. In today's resource-constrained world, achieving a healthy balance between ecological supply and demand is crucial for countries, cities, and businesses to remain competitive."

"The concept of ecological limits and relating the demands of human beings to the planet's available ecological resources has attracted and is catalyzing action among governments, business, and civil society," the Prize Committee said in a statement. "Under Swiss-born Dr. Wackernagel's leadership, the Footprint is now recognized as a leading and highly comprehensible indicator of sustainability."

Dr. Wackernagel shares the award with Lee Myung-bak, President of the Republic of Korea, Indian economist Sir Partha Dasgupta, and Professor Najib Saab from Lebanon.

SOURCE Global Footprint Network