Gala Green Report

The Green Report Gala is an initiative of the Green Report publication

Daniel Onea, 25.10.2024, 13:06

The Gala Green Report is an initiative that aims to recognize and reward the local merits of companies, authorities and public figures in the fight against global environmental threats. Already in its fourth edition in 2024, the event takes place every year under a theme that metaphorically symbolizes man’s relationship with nature. This year’s edition, named “Water, Elixir of Life”, is dedicated to the journey of water in a thirsty world. Thus, the organizers remind us that education is the solution to the unprecedented crisis that is draining the planet, as we learned from Raluca Fișer, the president of the Green Revolution Association.

“The Green Report Gala is an initiative of the Green Report publication, which, for 17 years, has been writing not only about problems, but also about opportunities, the good things that are happening in Romania and outside Romania in terms of the environment. It is a business publication, which is why we decided to not only complain about everything that happens in Romania, to show that there is also excellence, there are innovations, there are people who are visionaries, and who want to do good things. They may be based on business interests, profitability, competition, that’s right, but they could act in different ways. When a project has environmental protection as one of its main goals, then we are interested and then we want to show the public that such projects also exist in Romania.”

The Green Report Gala offers recognition to outstanding environmental initiatives implemented in Romania and is a transparent competition, with an impartial jury and objective judging criteria, in which those who choose to sponsor the event cannot participate. The objective is to highlight valuable environmental initiatives and bring them together in a detailed report that can inspire other individuals and organizations. Regarding the theme of the 2024 edition, we find out from Raluca Fișer, president of the Green Revolution Association, why we are focusing on water.

“This time, we’re looking at the blue planet, ‘Water, elixir of life’, because it’s never been more important to talk about these issues we have. When we started talking about the environment, we were talking about climate change, and today we are talking about the climate crisis. I think it is important to call for education and awareness about some current problems we are facing, not only in Romania, but at the level of humanity, at the level of the globe. Our theme this year is a wake-up call that, more or less, some of us haven’t even experienced, either through drought or floods, where we talk about the impact of water on our lives. In fact, we draw attention to the fact that drinking water is only 3% of the total water that is used throughout the world, so that every drop counts, every gesture in every project that we judge matters, and hence the theme of this edition.”

If we analyze the number of registered projects, coming from civil society, meaning NGOs, the event is enjoying success.

“We don’t have a category dedicated to NGOs, because I don’t think there is such a thing anymore. We have 11 categories of excellence, including environmental campaigns or environmental innovations, circular economy to the sustainable use of various resources, so that NGOs, as well as companies or authorities that can participate in the competition, can choose a theme where they really had an impact, and let’s analyze it. So, in a word, they enter a fierce competition with projects also registered by companies or authorities, which makes me very happy, because we see that civil society in Romania is becoming more and more professional in the implementation of environmental projects.”

On the event’s website, gala.green-report.ro, we find all the awarded categories. From environmental education to environmental project funding, there are 11 categories. Raluca Fișer, president of the Green Revolution Association, makes a brief review.

“We are talking about excellence in the financing of environmental projects, in energy efficiency, environmental innovation, public administration. The latter is a category in itself and I would like to see even more local authority projects entered and of quality. The circular economy is another area that we follow very carefully, and where there are many projects written every year, environmental campaigns, excellence in water consumption management, excellence in sustainable transport, in agrifood, in heritage conservation projects, and, last but not least, because I think it is one of the most important categories from my point of view, excellence in environmental education.”

Green Report is currently running several exciting public projects. Among them there is the Green Report podcast, as we learn from Raluca Fișer.

“We try to translate environmental topics in a way that everyone can understand, to bring them closer to people, so that they can find themselves in them. If we talk about the circular economy, let’s understand not only what its impact is or what are its benefits are, but let’s see how we could apply in our daily life various such healthy habits for us, for our pocket very often, but for environmental protection as well. So the Green Report podcast is one of our successful projects. We are already on the fourth season already. Then we have the Green Report conferences, also in this field, and let’s not forget the projects of the Green Revolution association, which are countless. Among them, I would mention, with great pride, because I see that the mentality of Romanians is changing, is the bike sharing project, which we have already had for 17 years. Thus, 1.8 million unique users accepted the bicycle as an alternative means of transport.”

The bottom line is that the responsibility for environmental protection is not singular, it does not belong to one man or one nation.

“I think it’s a joint effort, not only to raise awareness, but also to take action. I think we’ve reached that point in our lives where we can’t just sit on the sidelines and observe, we have to act. And I think that the Gala Green Report is one of the things that shows that there are people who do that. But it depends on us, every day, on the choices we make.”

The jury of the Green Report Gala consists of leading specialists, including leaders of Big 4 companies and sustainability experts, who will evaluate the projects based on their environmental impact, innovation, and long-term sustainability.