Judges to choose winner in worldwide search for emissions-reducing invention

“It’s a massive challenge, but the question is: What is the solution?” – Tony Blair (Blair on Climate Solutions)

Amsterdam, 29 June 2009 – The Postcode Lottery Green Challenge has once again assembled a jury of prominent people. Niklas Zennström, the founder of Skype and Kazaa, is among the members who will award this year’s grand prize of 500,000 EUR (ca. 700,000 USD) for the best CO2 emissions-reducing idea.

The Postcode Lottery Green Challenge calls on creative, innovative thinkers to develop green products and services that combat the emission of greenhouse gases and score highly on design, user-friendliness and overall quality. Four leaders with particular individual expertise in the area of entrepreneurship, environment, politics and innovation will judge this year’s competition.

Hotlinks:
- website Green Challenge
- promo video Green Challenge
- profile and photo Niklas Zennström
- profile and photo Liesbeth van Tongeren

- profile and photo Jim Walker
- profile and photo Bas Verhart

The Jury
Niklas Zennström founded Skype in 2002. The service allows people to make phone calls using the Internet, with or without video. Zennström has won numerous awards, including Entrepreneur of the Year and Business Leader of the Year, and was on Time’s list of 100 most influential people in 2006.

“I’m incredibly excited to be part of this year’s Postcode Lottery Green Challenge jury,” Niklas says. “As an entrepreneur myself, I know how powerful new ideas can be in changing the way we live and do business. This award is not only an important step towards a promising solution to the challenge posed by climate change, it also provides the much-needed capital and networks to help the winner succeed and hopefully make the world a better place for all of us.”

Liesbeth van Tongeren has been the director of Greenpeace Netherlands since 2003. Greenpeace engages in research, consultation and action toward a sustainable balance between humans and the environment.

Jim Walker is Chief Operating Officer and co-founder of The Climate Group. The organisation’s goal is to help government and business set the world economy on the path to a low-carbon, prosperous future.

Bas Verhart is a member of the Innovation Platform, the Chief Executive Officer of Media Republic, and a co-founder of PICNIC. Held in Amsterdam, PICNIC is Europe’s premier annual international event devoted to creativity and innovation in media, entertainment and technology.

The entry period closes on 31 July 2009. An initial selection round will then narrow the pool of entries to between five and seven finalists. The winning idea will be announced in late September at PICNIC’09. The winner will receive 500,000 EUR to bring his or her idea to market within two years. He or she will also be introduced to potential customers and business partners. Two runner-up ideas could also win 100,000 EUR each.