Artists play a critical role in generating dialogue about particular environmental issues. The “Green Leaf Awards” celebrate artistic excellence in inspiring and engaging the public in environmental awareness and action. Rewarding excellence in creativity as a tool to communicate the importance of conservation is the essence of these awards. The Green Leaf Awards are presented to artists whose works appear in the "Art for the Environment" exhibition, and demonstrate the featured environmental topic for each UN World Environment Day. Creative excellence is honored in the following five categories:

		Painting and Drawing Valentina Pavlovskaya, Algeria Karkabaou acrylic
		Sculpture S. Rida, Algeria Ascending Desert   bronze
		Multi-Media Jacobi McKean, USA Africa video
		Photography Andreas Lang, Germany Untitled Desert IV gelatin silver print
		Conceptual Installation Justin Young, USA Marinda Tree tree, clay