Individual Leadership Application

The Individual Leadership Award recognizes individuals exemplifying extraordinary leadership in leading their organizations’ response to climate change and through engagement of their peers and partners.

Application and Submission Instructions

Review the general eligibility requirements and the specific evaluation criteria for the Individual Leadership Award category specified below.

1. Download the Individual Leadership Award Application and the 3rd Party Reference Form-Individual Leadership. Completed reference forms may be submitted via email to [email protected], or submitted by the applicant along with their application form (see below).
2. Complete the application package, save it to your computer. Collect any required or additional supporting information.
3. Submit application and supporting materials online via the CLA Smarter Select portal.

PLEASE NOTE: If applying for an award in more than one category, submissions must be made separately for each. An individual may not reapply for this award category in which if they have won in the past two years (e.g., an individual who won in this category in 2019 may not reapply for the same category until the 2022 awards, however, they can apply in another category if meeting the eligibility requirements for that category).

Minimum Eligibility Requirements

• Applicant’s employer must have significant operations in the United States. Given the global nature of climate change, the majority of greenhouse gas emissions reductions do not have to originate in the U.S.
• Applicant’s employer must meet one of the following descriptions:
• Legally recognized corporate organization with annual revenue over $50 million; or Governmental entity, non-profit, or academic organization with an annual budget over $50 million.
• Applicants must have been employed and reside within the United States.      
• Applicants must not have received an Individual Leadership award from The Climate Registry in the previous three (3) years.

Evaluation Criteria

•  Time frame:
• Identify exemplary outcomes occurring between January 1, 2020 and December 31, 2023 related to leadership, emission reductions, and engagement with diverse internal and external stakeholders; and
• Describe near- and long-term activities with a focus on actions contributing to the outcomes, including those taken in the 5-year period ending on December 31, 2023.
• Exemplary: Activities and outcomes that are deemed to exceed business-as-usual and the traditional scope of work by the applicant’s employer. Evidence of stronger achievement and performance relative to peers within the same role/industry/sector.
•  Innovation, strategic management, and thought leadership in addressing climate change.
• Key climate initiatives led by the applicant, and subsequent goals, benchmarks and plans for measuring success implemented by the applicant.
• Engagement and equity: Quality of engagement with non-profit partners, government organizations, local vulnerable and under-resourced communities, particularly those disproportionately burdened by environmental harm and risks, such as minority, low-income, tribal communities, and communities historically supported by fossil fuels.      
• Collaboration: Quality of collaboration with peers to develop best practices, influence behavior change, establish standards, and engage in public education.
• Capacity building: Education and training of internal staff and management, as well as external stakeholders, partners, and suppliers.
• Impact assessment: Measurability of impact through demonstrative metrics and key performance indicators (KPIs).