AFTER being swamped with nominations, NEWS.com.au is proud to announce the finalists of the 2008 Green Awards.
From Green Hero to Green Business; from Greenest Town to Green Invention, everyday Australians have been taking on the challenge of climate change in practical, innovative, individual and inspiring ways.
NEWS.com.au has spent the past six weeks gathering and assessing more than 500 entries from across the nation over the 10 categories.
Now - along with our panel of experts - it’s up to you to decide who the winners will be with our special voting polls.
There’s also the “Can Do Better” citation for the environmental stragglers, putting them on notice they need to do their bit for the planet in future.
Take some time to explore the multimedia interactive showcasing the finalists in each category.
Choosing the shortlist for the Junior Hero was our hardest task.
But looking at the nominations for this 18s and under category, it seems the future of the planet is in good hands.
The junior finalists include the three teenage Wadlow children– Alastair, Freya and Imogen – who set up their organisation Planet Patrol four years ago to help spread the green message to thousands of young people.
There’s also Kate Charters and Millicent Burggraf who at 15 have environmental CVs to put many of their elders to shame. They have spoken at international climate change conferences from Europe to Asia, putting into practice the dictum of thinking globally and acting locally with environmental solutions at home.
13-year-old WWF Youth Ambassador Parrys Raines set up her own production company to make an educational DVD and is seeking funding for a full release. She was also chosen by the UN to represent Australia at the recent International Children's Conference on the Environment in Norway.
And Gabby Forward, 16, has been out in front actively campaigning in Hobart against the Gunns Pulp Mill and raising awareness about global warming and other environmental concerns.
NEWS.com.au would like to congratulate all our finalists and thank everyone who sent in their nominations.
We hope you get will involved again and make your voice count in selecting the winners which will be announced here next week by our panel of celebrity environmental supporters.
As well as reader votes, each category winner will be determined by a panel comprising:
• Climate change expert Professor Barry Brook from the University of Adelaide
• Environmental experts from the CSIRO
• NEWS.com.au editor David Higgins
NEWS.com.au, visited each month by more than 3 million Australians, founded the awards this year to highlight Australian environmental innovation in the home, in the science lab, on the Web and in the workplace.
The Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett joined the founder of Clean Up Australia Day, Ian Kiernan, and other high-profile Australians to help launch the awards in an online video in July.
