The sixth international Rachel Carson environmental award has been presented to German agricultural minister Renate Künast on the opening day of Women Show the Way in Stavanger today, 14 June.
Statoil is the principal sponsor for this exhibition, and also supports the Rachel Carson award for women who have made a distinguished contribution to environmental work.
Ms Künast is Germany’s first female minister for consumer protection, food, agriculture and forestry, and has been prominent in her efforts to reform the farming sector.
Improved food quality and safety is one of her concerns, along with the adoption of production methods which take better care of the natural environment and species diversity.
Gerd Halmø, manager for health, safety and the environment in Natural Gas, is chair of the award, which has been named after a well-known environmental researcher and writer.
Statoil supports the prize because it combines the group’s commitments to equal opportunities and the environment, Ms Halmø observes.
“It recognises the involvement and commitment of women as pioneers in the environmental arena.”