On June 5, 2021, World Environment Day, the Planet and City Environment Portal launched the Planet and City Environment Award, which was now presented for the second time to 19 winners. The Environmental Award is intended to reward the creators of products, companies and institutions that have made their mark on our environment and the latest progress that has helped promote sustainable development. The nomination process was open and readers of the portal could nominate anyone from Hungary and the Carpathian Basin. The award can go to both foreigners and expats working in Hungary. The selection process took eight months. The winners received a cash prize and also a custom glass award. The awards were presented by János Árpád Potápi, State Secretary in charge of policies for Hungarian communities abroad.
Awarded people 2023
The Carpathian Basin must be regarded as a single entity in the context of environmental protection as well, since environmental pollution abroad appears in our home country within days or hours.The Hungarian Academy of Sciences is a fitting venue for the presentation of the awards, and reflects the prestige of the recognition. The award was presented to a number of recipients from Hungary and abroad. This year's recipients also came from Upper Hungary (Felvidék) and Vojvodina.
Árpád János Potápi, state secretary in charge of policies for Hungarian communities abroad
In his short speech, János Árpád Potápi, State Secretary for National Policy, emphasized that in the past decades we have repeatedly observed that environmental pollution not only can cause problems in our immediate environment, but also has a major impact on the whole region. Therefore, it is very important to think at the level of the Carpathian Basin, because if pollution affects any of the Carpathian Basin regions, its effects can be felt in our country within a few hours or a day or two.
"When we discuss national policy and unity, we must also consider unity in the economic sphere and in the environmental sphere. This is why it is important that the award winners include Hungarians from abroad, as this also shows the unity across national borders, and that we Hungarians are doing everything we can in the interests of our own country and the Carpathian Basin in the fields of economy, education and environmental protection".
Planet and City Awards 2022
The awards were presented by János Árpád Potápi, state secretary in charge of policies for Hungarian communities abroad, and Csaba Gór, local councillor, Fidesz-KDNP parliamentary candidate, and trustee of Klebesberg Castle in the second district.
Árpád János Potápi, state secretary in charge of policies for Hungarian communities abroad, highlighted in his welcome speech that humanity has initiated processes that threaten the fragile balance of the planet, and therefore everything must be done to stop and reverse these processes.
He pointed out that environmental problems often do not arise where the pollutants are released. As he said, we have experienced this several times in the middle of the Carpathian Basin over the past decades, which is why he said that cooperation in the Carpathian Basin is particularly important.
The state secretary stressed that we are part of a united Carpathian Basin, whether in terms of education, culture, history or environmental protection. Decades of irresponsibility and procrastination have led to the fact that we are already in the last hour when we can still do something to save the planet, and we must raise awareness of this by all means," he said.
Csaba Gór said that as a local councillor and constituency chairman, one of his most important tasks is to promote environmental protection and green innovation. To this end, they have developed a separate concept called the Green Future of Buda.
He stressed that the natural assets of Buda are unique in a global urban environment. Preserving and developing these assets and making them climate-resilient are the most important goals. They also want to set an example for the whole country. Many green innovations will be needed in the Buda area, and local entrepreneurs need to be empowered to take an interest in all things green and innovative green space.
Vince Szalay-Bobrovniczky, Pál Schmitt, Pál Csáky
The award gala was also highlighted by Pál Schmitt, the former President of the Hungary, Vince Szalay-Bobrovniczky, Deputy State Secretary for Civil and Social Relations of the Prime Minister's Office, and former MEP Pál Csáky.
The Environment Award was presented for the first time in 2022. The award was presented by the professional community of the Our Planet and Our City environmental portal to the organisations, businesses and individuals who have done the most to preserve the values of nature and the environment.
The nomination was open and readers of the portal could nominate anyone from Hungary and the Carpathian Basin. The award was open to Hungarians, Hungarians living abroad or foreigners working in Hungary.