NZ Company Makes Shortlist In UK Climate Challange

MEDIA RELEASE
March 19, 2009

New Zealand Company Makes Shortlist Of Five In Financial Times UK Climate Change Challenge

BLENHEIM, NEW ZEALAND: New Zealand charcoal technology company Carbonscape™ is one of only five companies to make the shortlist in a global competition, the FT (Financial Times UK) Climate Change Challenge.

The prestigious competition seeks the most exciting innovations and practical ideas to reduce carbon emissions and make the world more resilient to the climate change ahead.

The winner, to be chosen by Financial Times readers and an eminent panel of global business leaders, innovators and climate change experts, including Sir Richard Branson, will receive a US$75,000 prize, sponsored by Hewlett Packard, to help bring their service to market. The contest is also sponsored by sustainable development organisation Forum for the Future.

“We are thrilled to have made it onto the shortlist against global competition. We believe we are the only Kiwi finalist. But we will need all of New Zealand to get behind us with their votes to be in with a chance of winning the contest,” explains Carbonscape™ director, Vicki Buck.

The shortlist will be presented to the Financial Times’ worldwide business audience today and they will be asked to vote for the best entrant at: www.ft.com/climatechallenge

The winner of the contest will be announced in April 2009.

“If we manage to bring home the prize for New Zealand it will cap off a fast-paced year for Carbonscape™,” says Buck.

The most widely discussed method to sequester carbon gases involves injecting compressed carbon dioxide into the earth’s crust. Carbonscape™ is trying an alternative approach by developing a patented world-first industrial microwave charcoal technology that sucks carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, helping mitigate the impact of global warming.

Carbonscape’s solution focuses on making charcoal, effectively and safely locking the greenhouse gases away for thousands of years.

Carbonscape™ has been formed by a group of directors who have impressive renewable energy and sustainable business credentials. They are: knowledge broker and technology start-up expert, Nick Gerritsen; renewable energy developer Vicki Buck; Professor Chris Turney of the University of Exeter and author of Ice, Mud and Blood: Lessons from Climates Past; climate change entrepreneur; businessman Hamish Macfarlane and angel investor Tim Langley. International climate change campaigner and 2007 Australian of the Year, Tim Flannery recently joined the board.

FAQs: See www.carbonscape.com

Contest details: See www.ft.com/climatechallenge

ENDS

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