Schwarzenegger wins Australian environment award

Arnold Schwarzenegger was announced as the winner of the Banksia International Award, recognising the huge inroads the Californian Governor has made in generating environmental discussion and taking action to halt climate change both in the United States and around the world.

"Governor Schwarzenegger's commitment to the environment and in leading the United States' charge against climate change is the reason he has received this award from a competitive field," said Graz van Egmond, executive director, Banksia Environmental Foundation.

"It is Mr Schwarzenegger's ability to embrace the issues of the environment and climate change and put them in front of people who can initiate progress. It is wonderful to see a popularly elected politician taking environmental problems seriously, developing ideas to solve these problems and then taking action to implement them."

The Banksia International Award was created by the Banksia Environmental Foundation in 1995 to identify and celebrate extraordinary individuals or organisations that are making a significant contribution to improving the environment on a global scale.

Previous winners of the Banksia International Award include Lord John Browne, group chief executive BP, Dr Sylvia Earle, oceanographer and Sir David Attenborough.

Australia's swimming champion and environmentalist, Ian Thorpe, presented at the awards and discussed the importance of recognising environmental achievement in Australia.

The award categories reflect the major environmental issues facing Australia, including climate change, water preservation, land and biodiversity, sustainable development practices and minimising energy usage. The 53 finalists across 11 awards include large and small corporations, individuals and government departments.