Rwanda will play host to one of the world’s most prominent and prestigious environment awards ceremony-the Energy Globe TV Gala, as an opening event for the World Environment Day (WED) celebrations.

The June 3 event, to be telecast live around the world is set to attract numerous high-ranking international members of government as well as prominent personalities including US actor Don Cheadle and UN Goodwill Ambassador Gisele Bündchen.

Belgian singer and songwriter Kate Ryan has been announced as an award presenter and the show act for the Gala which will draw participants from 150 nations, who will be in the country to participate in the world’s largest environmental campaign (WED) as well as the 6th edition of Kwita Izina.

A statement released by the event organisers indicates that Rwanda will also be awarded in recognition of the country’s efforts to conserve the environment, which led to the country being named the host of the global event.

"Host nation Rwanda has served as a harbinger on the African continent for years regarding nature conservation. Among other initiatives, Rwanda has banned plastic bags nationwide and established a protective corridor for mountain gorillas,” the statement reads in part.

"For its environmental leadership, Rwanda will receive an Honorary Award at the gala.”

Rwanda will join the list of other prominent hosts of the gala in the past years, including Japan, Canada and twice in the EU Parliament in Brussels.

The awards ceremony has been honoured by personalities such as Kofi Annan and Mikhail Gorbachev as award presenters.

The focus of the gala is on the nominees and their environmental projects. Nearly 1000 projects from over 100 nations were submitted for competition last year; the best 15 will be showcased in Kigali – from portable solar power for rural Bangladesh to floating wind turbines in Norway. 

Audiences around the world will be treated to live screening of the event on different TV stations. Commemorated on 5 June since 1972, WED is one of the principal vehicles through which the United Nations stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment and encourages broad-based action.

This year’s theme is ‘Many Species. One Planet. One Future.’ - a message focusing on the central importance to humanity of the globe’s wealth of species and ecosystems. The WED theme also supports this year’s UN International Year of Biodiversity.

According to UNEP, Rwanda’s combination of environmental richness, including rare and economically-important species such as the mountain gorilla, allied to newly evolving and pioneering green policies is among the reasons why UNEP welcomed its offer to be the global 2010 host.

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