The innovative and impactful initiatives of individuals, community groups, and businesses have been celebrated at the UNESCO Isle of Man Biosphere Awards.
The event highlighted some of the incredible ways people in the Isle of Man are working together to champion a more sustainable future. Each award aligns with the vision of UNESCO Biosphere Isle of Man, reflecting the 5 ‘E’s outlined in its five year strategy, with an additional category for energy.
The 2024 winners were:
- Economy: The Deloitte Climate Collective: Bringing together the local business community to share knowledge, and address the most pressing sustainability and social challenges we face.
- Education: Earthscope Isle of Man: A young, nature-positive social enterprise making waves through delivering training and education on sustainability, which empowers people and organisations to take action, including delivery of Climate Literacy Training, and Biosphere Isle of Man’s Sustainable Mann workshops.
- Energy: WeavAir: For work developing a ground-breaking digital platform that monitors and reports on real-time energy use and carbon emissions, to enable decision making which reduces costs, energy use, and emissions.
- Engagement: Ali Hodgson: A graphic artist recognised for creating REIMAGINING our Biosphere: A whole-system game for change, promoting holistic thinking, and encouraging all parts of our island to imagine the future we want to create.
- Enjoyment: Hello Little People\; Developed ‘Let’s Get Wild!’ in partnership with Manx Wildlife Trust and the Manx Lottery Trust, an immersive theatre experience for children, celebrating our island wildlife and fostering a deep connection with it.
- Environment: Manx Wildlife Trust and Isle of Man Woodland Trust: Collaborating to deliver the Celtic Rainforest Restoration project at Creg y Cowin Nature Reserve, promoting biodiversity and carbon sequestration, and community stewardship of our island’s natural heritage.
Chief Minister Alfred Cannan MHK said: “Our unique whole-nation biosphere reserve aims to fulfil the three functions through the 5 ‘E’s of our vision and strategy. They not only encourage our Island community to work together to create a secure, vibrant, and sustainable future, but also give us the opportunity to be a living laboratory, locally testing solutions to global problems, which can then be shared and scaled up.
“This year we’ve seen a really strong and growing list of entries across all categories and each finalist has demonstrated their commitment to living the values of our Isle of Man Biosphere Reserve. Our treasured status belongs to each and every one of us on the Island, and exists to benefit us all. We can each play our part in living these values, and every one of our finalists this evening has demonstrated their commitment to doing so.”
Pictured: Left to right – Dr Michelle Haywood MHK, Ali Hodgson (winner – engagement), Hannah Phillips & Lucy Chapman – Manx Wildlife Trust (winner – environment), David Kilgallon & Chloe Shimmin – Hello Little People (winner – enjoyment), Dominic Wall – Deloitte Climate Collective (winner – economy), Sarah Mercer & Matthew Warren – Earthscope (winner – education), Lady Lorimer, His Excellency Sir John Lorimer (Credit: Great Media Works)
