Our History

Decades of leadership, A deliberate evolution.

The Carbon Positive Awards build on a legacy that began long before 2025. They are heirs to the Green Star Awards, a pioneering initiative first launched in 2009 by Green Cross International, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).

That collaboration recognised individuals and organisations who prevented or responded to environmental emergencies—oil spills, conflicts, disasters. It was about courage in crisis. Today, we honour those who prevent the emergency before it begins.

The Awards were launched in 2025 by Green Cross UK, building on decades of experience in sustainability diplomacy. They belong to no single organisation. They are a platform for the entire community to see and be seen.

In 2026, we introduced AI-assisted research to scan the globe for leadership we might otherwise miss. The tools change. The mission does not.