Stratospheric Ozone Protection Awards

Award winners since 1990, including this year, have come from 49 countries. These are Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Columbia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Fiji, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela, and Vietnam.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) founded the Ozone Layer Protection Awards in 1990 to recognize outstanding contributions to the protection of the Earth’s stratospheric ozone layer. Since then, 533 individuals, companies, organizations and teams from 49 countries have earned this honor. This year’s recipients have demonstrated originality and public purpose, persuasive moral and organizational leadership, and elimination of emissions of ozone-depleting substances. The winners are from Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, China, Fiji, Italy, India, Japan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Mauritius, Netherlands, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Thailand, and United States. EPA’s Ozone Layer Protection Awards are particularly prestigious because nominees compete globally against the notable accomplishments of many other potential winners, and winners are selected using previous winners as judges.

List of all Stratospheric Ozone Protection Award winners
Best-of-the-Best Awards

Who is eligible to be considered for the Stratospheric Ozone Protection Awards?

Candidates may be from anywhere in the world.
Individuals and organizations may work for the public or private sector.
Candidates may be either self-nominated or nominated by a third party.

How do I make a nomination for the 2009 Award?

Nomination forms for the 2009 Stratospheric Ozone Protection Award will be available in the Fall of 2008.

What are the Award selection criteria?

Applicants must demonstrate one or more of the following criteria:
- Originality and public purpose;
- Leadership and corporate responsibility;
- Global perspective and implication;
- Actual elimination of ozone depleting substance emissions.
An international panel of judges representing government, industry, and non-governmental organizations reviews recommendations; EPA makes the final award selections.

What makes the Stratospheric Ozone Protection Awards unique?

The public understands the issue of ozone depletion, since most people are well aware of the health risks associated with overexposure to harmful radiation from the sun. In addition, because of widespread media coverage of the Antarctic “ozone hole,” efforts by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to study the ozone layer, and related stories, people will readily grasp the importance of the winners’ contributions to phasing out the production and consumption of ozone-depleting substances.

Winners of the Stratospheric Ozone Protection Awards are leading by example. Their demonstrated commitment and extraordinary contributions inspire other individuals and organizations to make a difference in protecting the environment. Their significant contributions help mitigate the health and environmental risks of ozone depletion, including:

Skin cancer
Suppression of the immune system
Cataracts
Damage to marine life and crops

Where and When are the Awards presented?

The 2008 Awards were presented May 19, 2008, in Washington, D.C. The 2009 awards will be presented in the spring of 2009.