HKS alumnus Lester Brown to be honored at April 12 Green Carpet Awards

Lester Brown, M.P.A. ’62, will be honored with the Harvard Office for Sustainability’s first Distinguished Service Award at the 2012 Green Carpet Awards on April 12 at 3:30 p.m. in Sanders Theatre.

Brown founded the Earth Policy Institute in 2001 to work toward an environmentally sustainable economy. Described by the Washington Post as “one of the world’s most influential thinkers,” Brown has been a prominent voice in interdisciplinary approaches to global-scale resource issues. He addresses political and natural tipping points in his most recent book, “World on the Edge”.

The annual Green Carpet Awards event celebrates the many staff, faculty and students who have made significant contributions to on-campus sustainability initiatives, including greenhouse gas emission reductions. This fun and engaging University-wide event will be MC’d  by Pete Davis, the student behind the Harvard Thinks Big series, and will feature student videos as well as performances by the Harvard Undergraduate Drummers (THUD) and Cowgill, a band including students from the GSD and GSAS. Nominees and award winners are recognized by prominent administrative and faculty leaders for their integral role in pushing Harvard’s efforts to become more sustainable and environmentally responsible.

Harvard’s commitment to sustainability expands beyond the campus. Faculty and students across the university are addressing challenges presented in Brown’s vision, including by focusing their research and academic work on Harvard’s place in the global economy and environment.