Awards and Recognition

The Sustainability Awards and Recognition function as a strategic framework for identifying and
signalling sustainability solutions and leadership that demonstrate exceptional credibility, relevance,
and potential to scale.

The Awards and Recognition operate as forward-looking quality markers — highlighting solutions,
technologies, and leadership that are ready to influence systems and contribute to real-world
impact.

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Award categories​

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• Award for Leadership in Implementation 
  Recognizing individuals or organizations that have demonstrated the successful real-world deployment of sustainability solutions, translating insight into measurable outcomes.

• Award for Outstanding Technology in Sustainability
  Recognizing pioneering technological solutions with clear relevance and long-term impact potential for advancing sustainability.

• Medal for Outstanding Contribution to Sustainability
  Acknowledging sustained leadership and influence that have significantly advanced sustainability at a systemic level across sectors.

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Academic rigor and selection

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The Sustainability Awards are awarded through a competitive and transparent evaluation process
conducted in collaboration with leading academic institutions. Independent expert committees
assess nominations based on scientific rigor, practical relevance, and scalability.

The Medal for Outstanding Contribution to Sustainability is conferred through a distinct selection
process led by the Nobel Sustainability Trust, highlighting leaders whose approaches and actions
have contributed meaningfully to the promotion and enablement of sustainability initiatives.

Through the Sustainability Awards and Recognition, NST provides credible and trusted signals to
decision-makers, investors, and institutions seeking sustainability solutions and leadership capable of
shaping resilient societies for generations to come.

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The Award Coordinating University

The Award Coordinating University (ACU) is independently responsible for overseeing the evaluation
and selection process for the Sustainability Awards associated with the Nobel Sustainability Trust
(NST). The awards are presented in the categories Leadership in Implementation and Outstanding
Technology in Sustainability, recognizing real-world impact and pioneering technological
contributions with long-term relevance.

The ACU safeguards the integrity, transparency, and academic excellence of the award process.
Acting autonomously, the ACU establishes and oversees Award Selection Committees composed of
internationally recognized experts, academics, and practitioners in sustainability-related fields. These
committees are solely responsible for reviewing nominations, assessing scientific rigor and practical
relevance, and selecting the final award recipients.

NST does not participate in, influence, or intervene in the evaluation, deliberation, or selection of
awardees. Its role is limited to defining the overall award framework and supporting the conditions
under which an independent and academically grounded selection process can take place.

The role of Award Coordinating University is fulfilled by leading academic institutions with
internationally recognized expertise in sustainability-related research and implementation. The
University of Cambridge currently serves as Award Coordinating University through its Frontier
Technologies Laboratory and the ClimaTRACES Lab. Previously, the Technical University of Munich
fulfilled this role, contributing to the establishment of a rigorous and transparent academic selection
process.

Across all periods, the award process adheres to principles of research integrity and good academic
practice as upheld by the coordinating universities. Through the independent work of the Award
Coordinating University, the Sustainability Awards maintain the highest academic and professional
standards while highlighting the importance of innovation, leadership, and collaboration in
addressing global sustainability challenges.​