Natural World Museum

Press Room

The Natural World Museum and United Nations Environment Programme Partner on Several Programs to Commemorate UN World Environment Day 2008 - 5 June 2008

NWM and UNEP Bring International Artists Together

5 JUNE 2008 – San Francisco, USA; Wellington, New Zealand: The Natural World Museum (NWM) in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), debuted today their 2008–2009 traveling exhibit entitled Moving Towards a Balanced Earth: Kick the Carbon Habit, as one of several programs that the two organizations partnered on to commemorate the celebration of this year’s UN World Environment Day (WED), held annually around the world on June 5th.

Curated by Randy Jayne Rosenberg, Moving Towards a Balanced Earth: Kick the Carbon Habit features the works of 27 artists representing 23 countries. The contemporary art pieces focus on climate change, with an emphasis on lowering carbon emissions. The thought-provoking exhibition includes photographs, paintings, sculpture, video, multimedia and conceptual installations.

Honorary guests at NWM’s global exhibit launch included Achim Steiner, Executive Director of UNEP; Dr. Rajendra K. Pachauri, Chair of UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Nobel Peace Prize recipient 2007; President Anote Tong of Kiribati; and Honorary David Parker, Minister for Climate Change, New Zealand.

NWM Joins UNEP Carbon Neutral Network

NWM is UNEP’s official partner for the arts through the “Art for the Environment” program, and this year in addition to teaming up with UNEP on their new art exhibit, NWM is pleased to announce their acceptance into UNEP’s Climate Neutral Network (CN Net). The Climate Neutral Network has been established to assist those interested in achieving big cuts in greenhouse gas emissions to achieve their goals.

NWM’s carbon neutral strategies range from the local to the global, with a commitment to greener offices, eco-friendly products and the goal to reduce emissions throughout the organization. NWM is determined to promote and participate in the health and well being of a better world, and commits to long-term green business practices and offsets the carbon emissions of all of their exhibits and programs by investing in tree planting programs through the CarbonFund.org.

“We strongly believe that everyone's actions have an impact on the environment, and it is our responsibility to minimize that impact, individually and as a whole,” said Mia Hanak, Founding Executive Director, NWM. “One person can make a difference, together we can create change.”

NWM and UNEP Green Leaf Awards

The two organizations presented the annual Green Leaf Awards to artists whose works appear in the “Art for the Environment” exhibition. The Green Leaf Awards celebrate artistic excellence in inspiring and engaging the public in environmental awareness and action on the theme of WED. Creative excellence is honored in the following five categories:

* Painting and Drawing: Walangari Karntawarra, Australia
* Sculpture: Susan Plum, Mexico
* Multi-Media: Ocean Earth, USA
* Photography: Antonio Briceno, Venezuela
* Conceptual Installation: Ken Rinaldo & Amy Youngs, USA

“WED is not just one day in the year we think about the environment,” stated Achim Steiner. “It’s the day we think about all those around the world taking action to be a part of the solution.”

For more information about NWM: www.naturalworldmuseum.org

For more information about UNEP: www.unep.org

For more Information about the Climate Neutral Network: http://www.climateneutral.unep.org/cnn_members.aspx?m=269

Download exhibit images at:
www.naturalworldmuseum.org/press/co2

To view the 2008 Green Leaf Award winners go to:
http://www.naturalworldmuseum.org/greenleafawards2008.html