Katie Couric presents an award to winner Rosemary Ellis, Editor in Chief of Good Housekeeping via Global Green

Sometimes it's nice just to get acknowledgment for changing the world. Just a pat on the back, or a high-five...or how about a personal award handed to you by Katie Couric? In order to encourage and promote green activity, Global Green hosts annual events to recognize positive environmental innovations. The award ceremony this past month honored individuals who have being creating green “designs” and promoting environmental sustainability. The event was co-hosted by Katie Couric and David Hyde Pierce. Actors like Mel Gibson (Braveheart!) and Edward Norton (Fight Club!) attended the event and is a Global Green Board Member. Norton’s involvement is primarily in Los Angeles where he works with other celebrity board members like Leonardo DiCaprio on both local development projects and encouraging other celebrities to go green!

At the event there were five awards given to leaders who are “rebuilding and rethinking our homes, media, workplaces, and communities,” said Global Green president Matt Petersen. “We must learn from their lessons if we are to successfully tackle the current climate, ecological and economic crises…” Instead of focusing on what we haven’t done, the ceremony focused on what people are doing and the opportunities for environmental change. The benefit raised $450,000 to support Global Green’s work!

An eye opening addition to the event was the presentation of the “Green Cross Solar Report Card” which graded countries on their efforts to invest in solar technology. Germany was at the top of the charts with an A-, and Russia and China at the bottom with F grades. Though we often see the U.S. as a progressive country, we received a meager C+. Hopefully President-Elect Barack Obama will improve our crummy grade. He has, in his campaign, promised to increase the amount of “green-collar” jobs, which will both stimulate the economy and provide environmental help!

Our generation has the monumental task of cleaning up the mess, and we can do it. Past generations did not understand environmental impacts that we do today. Therefore it is time to make some serious adjustments in how the world operates. Though policy change must be accomplished at a governmental level, there are things you can everyday to be green!