The Nordic Council Environment Prize 2020 has been awarded since 1995 to individuals or organizations "in recognition of exemplary efforts to integrate respect for the environment into their business or work, or for some other form of extraordinary environmental initiative." The theme for 2020 is biodiversity. The winner will be announced October 27th 2020.
The nomination committee writes about Dag O. Hessen:
"Professor Hessen has a natural talent for communication. His gentle, non-judgemental style makes him popular with both children and adults, and a familiar face on national television. Active at the point where biology, ecology and philosophy converge, one common denominator for all of his work is science-based arguments for preserving biodiversity, combined with a focus on how nature contributes to public health and general human happiness.
In his day-to-day work at CBA, Hessen looks at the interconnections between climate and ecosystem processes. His research is widely recognised, internationally published and has won a host of awards. One area of particular interest is how different ecosystem functions are essential for carbon capture and, therefore, climate change. According to Hessen, this is a key but often overlooked aspect of debates surrounding nature conservation and protection of our ecosystems.
Through his research, outreach and writing, Dag O. Hessen has made an extraordinary contribution to our understanding of nature and diversity."
Read more about the prize on their web page.