The Gigaton Awards honor businesses for outstanding performance as defined by measurable carbon reductions and quantifiable steps toward sustainability.

Awards are given across five sectors and one overall best-of-best on an annual basis: Consumer Discretionary, Consumer Staples, Telecommunications, Industrials and Utilities.

The awards ceremony, held once a year, culminates in the presentation of the Gigaton Prize, which goes to the company that has demonstrably reduced emissions by the largest absolute amount on an annual basis.

The Gigaton Awards were inspired by the Gigaton Throwdown project, launched in 2007, at the Clinton Global Initiative by Sunil Paul - founder of the Gigaton Throwdown Initiative, and the Clean Economy Network.

Now in its second year, the Gigaton Awards expands its scope by not only recognizing pioneering companies that inspire gigaton-scale change through carbon reductions, but by also celebrating the best (and exposing the worst) countries— based on actual progress against promises and baselines as well as progressive business policies.

The Academy will select a winner for the country that has made the best overall progress in both reducing carbon emissions and using policy to stimulate the right conditions for business to create climate wealth.

Winners are selected by an independent Academy, comprised of business and civic leaders, according to both quantitative and qualitative criteria.

View the 2011 Winners and Academy here.

2010 Gigaton Awards Ceremony at the Ritz Carlton Cancun From left to right – Richard Branson, Chairman of the Virgin Group, Gigaton Award Winner George Buckley, CEO, 3M, and Sunil Paul, Founder of the Gigaton Throwdown.