Press release from the Environmental Funders Network

 Starts:

 

Caroline Lucas and Sir David Attenborough top list of ‘Environmental Heroes’ for Earth Day

 

London, 19^th April 2017: Ahead of Earth Day 2017 (22 April), CEOs from the UK’s leading environmental charities have voted for their ‘Environmental Heroes’ as part of the Pulse Survey conducted by the Environmental Funders Network. Caroline Lucas, the Green Party’s first ever Member of Parliament, topped the list of votes for her work forcing environmental issues into a mainstream politics. She is closely followed by Sir David Attenborough, the much-loved broadcaster and naturalist. They are joined by a diverse range of campaigners and naturalists from broadcasting, business, and science, as well as more established environmentalists such as George Monbiot, Tony Juniper and Mark Avery.

Chris Packham, naturalist and presenter of Springwatch, came joint third on the list for his role in educating the British public on TV over the past 30 years, and promoting environmental and conservation issues alongside his broadcasting work. He is joined on the list by fellow TV personality Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, who has brought together the world of food and the environment through his cookery shows and his campaigns on the fishing industry and reducing food waste.

Alongside these naturalists and campaigners whose primary focus is the environment, the Governor of the Bank of England Mark Carney makes a surprising inclusion. However, Carney has been at the forefront of raising awareness between climate change and the economy. Paul Polman, CEO of Unilever, also appears on the list for taking leaps to encourage sustainable business practices in large companies.

Currently less than five per cent of public charitable donations are committed to environmental causes. The Environmental Funders Network (‘EFN’) is a network of individuals, trusts and family offices  seeking to encourage vital financial support for environmental causes and improve the overall effectiveness of this philanthropy. Since its founding in 2003, over 200 high-level donors (institutional and individual) have benefited from participation the network.

EFN’s Pulse Survey aims to ‘take the pulse’ of the environment sector by asking senior executives and influencers about their views on past achievements and future challenges in the UK and globally. EFN asked 92 representatives from the sector which individuals they felt had done the most to advance the environmental agenda over the past 3 years, in order to establish who is most highly regarded amongst their peers.  The full survey will be published later in 2017.

Ben Goldsmith, Co-Founder of the Environmental Funders Network, said: “We are delighted that there are so many inspiring and dedicated “Environmental Heroes” to celebrate on this list. However, we still have a lot of work to do to increase the levels of funding being donated to environmental causes. Tackling threats to our environment is crucial for humanity’s future, including the health and economic wellbeing of future generations. The Environmental Funders Network is committed improving awareness of environmental causes and facilitating effective environmental giving.”

Commenting on his inclusion in the list of ‘Environmental Heroes’, BBC TV presenter and naturalist Chris Packham said: “Given that I’m not here to make friends, I’m here to make a difference and I get up every day with this in mind, this is very kind and flattering recognition from some key people. Thank you, I’ll keep trying. In fact, I’ll try even harder.”

The full list and rankings of ‘Environmental Heroes’ taken from the Environmental Funders Network’s Pulse Survey 2017 (chief executives of UK environmental organisations were asked, “In the UK, which individuals have done the most to advance the environmental agenda over the past 3 years?”):

1. Caroline Lucas, MP for Brighton and Co-leader of the Green Party
2. Sir David Attenborough, Broadcaster and Naturalist
3. Chris Packham, Naturalist and Presenter of Springwatch

 =      George Monbiot, Environmental Activist and Guardian Columnist

 =      Tony Juniper, Environmentalist and Sustainability Campaigner

6. James Thornton, Environmental Lawyer and Founding CEO of ClientEarth
7. Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, Chef and Food & Environment Campaigner

 =      Mark Carney, Governor of the Bank of England

9.  Helen Browning, Organic Farmer

 =      Jonathon Porritt, Environmentalist and Writer

 =      Paul Polman, CEO of Unilever

12.  HRH Prince William, Environment and Conservation Campaigner

 =      Mark Avery, Campaigner and former director of conservation at the RSPB

 

ENDS

 

 

Mark Avery says ‘What a hoot!’

More on this later…

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