February 22, 2011

PACIFIC INSTITUTE AWARDED U.S. WATER PRIZE

The Pacific Institute has been awarded an inaugural U.S. Water Prize from the Clean Water America Alliance for its work “consistently in the vanguard of water issues from water use efficiency to climate change, informing political debate and elevating public awareness.”

The Clean Water America Alliance created the U.S. Water Prize this year to recognize efforts to advance water as a finite, reusable, and sustainable resource.

“The Pacific Institute is honored to be recognized as a leader among organizations working to change the water paradigm with sustainable solutions,” said Peter Gleick, president of the Pacific Institute. “The U.S. Water Prize highlights the critical importance and the value of the work of the Pacific Institute in seeking and implementing real-world solutions to our water challenges.”

The Pacific Institute is renowned as one of the most innovative and effective independent non-governmental organizations in the field of water and sustainability, conducting interdisciplinary research and partnering with stakeholders to produce solutions that advance environmental protection, economic development, and social equity. Prominent in its work, the Institute has done pioneering research on the impacts of climate change, the risks of water conflicts, the concepts of the “soft path for water” and “peak water,” water efficiency, water and energy, and more. The Institute also produces the highly respected biennial report The World’s Water.

U.S. Water Prize winners will be honored in a special ceremony on May 9, 2011, in Washington, D.C., with national water and environmental leaders in attendance for the celebration. Each recipient will receive a handcrafted ceramic art work commissioned from internationally acclaimed potter Miranda Thomas.

The Clean Water America Alliance created and administers the U.S. Water Prize to recognize achievement and inspire action for water sustainability. Five institutions were recognized: the Pacific Institute, for its pioneering efforts in raising awareness of and developing solutions to national and global water challenges; the cities of Los Angeles and New York, both for water recovery and reuse programs; the National Great Rivers Restoration & Education Center, which is creating a science and education center in Alton, Ill.; and the Milwaukee Water Council, working for jobs, investment, and research from water-technology companies in southeastern Wisconsin.