President Lee Myung-bak won the Zayed International Prize for the Environment for global leadership in environment at Dubai International Convention Center on March 14, 2011. In addition, Sir Partha Dasgupta won the Zayed Prize for Scientific and technological achievements in environment.
Also, Dr. Mathis Wackernagel and Prof. Najib Saab from Lebanon shared the Zayed Prize for Environmental action leading to positive change in society.
The secretariat of the Zayed Prize gave President Lee credit for contributing to making a dynamic force for climate change adaptation and creating jobs through green growth policies. The judging committee of the Zayed Prize said President Lees vision and leadership made a significant opportunity for the Republic of Korea to become a green economy of low carbon high efficiency.
Announcing green growth policies with the aim of long-term sustainable development in August 2008, Korea has taken the lead in green strategy, it said.
In the acceptance speech, President Lee suggested the world share the vision of green growth to adapt to climate change and build the Planet-responsible Civilization. In particular, with establishing a regional office of the Global Green Growth Institute in UAE, ROK and UAE can jointly make a foundation of sustainable development, he emphasized.
In recognition of former President of UAE, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the Zayed International Prize for the Environment was established by the prime minister Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum in 1999 to award those who contributed in the field of environment.
source: apec-vc Korea
