Shortlist announced for Holyrood’s annual Climate Action Awards

A huge aluminium sail that could revolutionise ocean travel is one of many innovative ideas highlighted by Holyrood’s annual Climate Action Awards shortlist. 

The list showcases the depth of different climate initiatives in Scotland as 16 individuals and organisations in six categories will be highlighted at the ceremony in Edinburgh.  

The awards ceremony takes place on Tuesday 1 October, the first day of Holyrood’s annual Climate Action Summit at Dynamic Earth. The Summit, which is entering its fifth year, will aim to explore on–the–ground solutions and innovations for how Scotland’s public sector can decarbonise through a range of speakers and local case studies.  

Speakers will include Dr Alasdair Allan MSP, the acting minister for climate action, and Sarah Lewis, an award-winning architect who advocates for sustainable building practices in the UK.  

Shortlisted in the Technology & Innovation category is ‘FastRig’ by Smart Green Shipping, an aluminium sail that could change the way cargo ships operate. The sail is 'intelligent' and autonomously positions itself to capture the best available wind while also retracting during low wind conditions to minimise drag on a ships surface. The company claim that this could provide around 30 per cent of a cargo ship’s thrust every year, resulting in lower emissions and less disruption to the environment.  

In the Young Climate Champion category, Tom Ruddell from EGG Lighting is up for consideration. Ruddell is EGG Lighting’s lead remanufacture engineer, a role he took on in 2020. In this role Ruddell is instrumental in developing EGG’s remanufacturing process that returns used lighting to “at least their original performance.” The process can be up to 30 per cent cheaper than buying new lighting, an innovation that EGG describes as: “Essentially making new products from old ones.” 

The shortlist in full: 

 Climate Collaboration Award   

The Industrial Decarbonisation Research & Innovation Centre, Heriot Watt University    

FareShare Grampian, Highlands & Islands, CFINE    

Climate Action Fife     

Technology & Innovation Award  

FastRig #WindsofChange, Smart Green Shipping    

Carbon Capture Scotland     

Net Zero Nature Award  

Levern Water Restoration Project, SEPA & East Renfrewshire Council     

Peatland Restoration at Scale, Caledonian Climate Partners     

The Ethical Dairy, J Finlay & Son     

Climate Campaign of the Year Award  

One Million Trees, The River Dee Trust   

SRUC Carbon Literacy – Kerry Hammond     

Climate Community Award 

The Natural Devon, Pool of Muckhart Natural Flood Management Project    

Community Garden & Orchard, EATS Rosyth    

Newtongrange Community Garden     

Young Climate Champion Award  

Tom Ruddell, EGG Lighting     

2050 Climate Group    

SRUC Carbon Literacy, Sarah Erbanova