Energy, EU – Baltic States

This year, the jury rated projects from 109 countries from around the world, including the 27 European Union (EU) member countries. 15 various projects have been nominated for the awards – starting from implementation of solar energy systems in rural villages of Bangladesh, to forest restoration initiatives in Argentina and integration of a hybrid vehicle in the public transport system in Stockholm, informs LETA.

The awards will be bestowed also at the national level. The nomination for Latvia's best project, in the category "Youth", will be awarded to University of Latvia's Institute of Atomic Physics and Spectroscopy for a series of projects, including a project on innovations in natural sciences.

In the framework of the project, a master's program "Natural sciences, global changes, balanced development technologies" is being elaborated. Balvi (north-east Latvia) leading researcher Arnolds Ubelis is going to receive the award in Brussels.

Altogether, the awards are distributed in five categories – Earth, Fire, Water, Air and Youth. Each year the nominees are presented and awards are given by several celebrities, representing one continent each. At the end of the ceremony the audience vote for the absolute winner. Last year it was John Maina from Kenya, who invented solar energy ovens for drying vegetables and fruits.

This year, the award for lifelong contribution will also be bestowed to the former Soviet Union President Mikhail Gorbachev.

The main awards ceremony will take place in the EP plenary meeting hall, the national level winners will be awarded separately.

Among the participants in the ceremony will be also Gorbachev's daughter, President of the Green Cross Irina Virganskaya and the Secretary-General of the United Nations Kofi Annan.