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2024 Environmental Awards
Applications for the 2025 Environmental Awards will open in November 2024.
View the 2024 Environmental Award winners.
Award Selection:
All awards will be selected by a jury of City of Raleigh Board and Commission members based on the eligibility requirements and award criteria.
Raleigh Environmental Awards
| Category | Description |
|---|---|
| RESA (Raleigh Environmental Stewardship Award) | The winner of RESA will be either an individual or organization that has shown environmental leadership and recognizes the relationship and continuity of the environment, economics, and equity or social justice aspects of human society. |
| Climate Action Award(s) |
Raleigh’s Community-wide Climate Action Plan outlines key areas of impacts for greenhouse gas emissions. Awards for climate action could be given for action on: Air Quality, Energy, Transportation and Land Use, and Waste. These awards will recognize actions taken in one or more of the following categories:
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| Business Innovation for Environmental Stewardship |
The winner of this award will be an enterprise demonstrating the business case for environmental stewardship through
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| Community Action Award |
The recipient of this award will be recognized as a volunteer, individual or non-profit organization working in Raleigh on the stewardship of natural resources, community-building, environmental justice or conservation. The award winners will be selected based upon quantifiable results that positively affect the environment. Nominees/applicants must reside or operate within the City of Raleigh, the Raleigh extra territorial jurisdiction (ETJ), or the utility service area |
| Next Generation of Environmental Leaders Award(s) |
These awards recognize actions taken by young residents of Raleigh for conservation, pollution cleanup, climate protection, community resilience-building or community engagement for environmental action. Awards may be given in three age groups: middle schoolers, high schoolers and college students.
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Eligibility Requirements:
- Applicants and nominees must be residents of or operate within the City of Raleigh, the Raleigh extra territorial jurisdiction (ETJ), the utility service area, or be students in the WCPSS.
- Elected officials are not eligible while they are serving in public office.
Nominations will be evaluated based on the specific criteria. Projects will be evaluated as much as possible on the quantifiable results that positively affect the environment.
- Effectiveness - List the goals and measures of success.
- Innovation, Creativity and Originality - Discuss the methods, strategies, and innovative ideas.
- Environmental Stewardship - Describe measurable increases in ecological resiliency or how the applicant has improved the capacity for our ecosystems to provide us with resources.
- Leadership - Discuss how the applicant has demonstrated vision, foresight, and persistence.
- Sustainability Elements - Describe how the applicant has improved social, economic, and ecological conditions.
Our Unique Awards
Bill Wallace of New Light Farm in Wake Forest, handcrafts the stunning awards presented annually at the City of Raleigh Environmental Awards program.
"The plan was always to use a natural product, something wooden," says Cindy Holmes, former assistant sustainability manager and event producer.
The first time she saw Wallace's work she knew she had found the perfect person to create the prized items. The awards event recognizes individuals and organizations that have demonstrated a commitment to the environment.
