Green Initiative is proud to announce an extraordinary milestone at this year’s Sustainable Company Awards 2025, hosted by Environmental Finance. We were honored with the award for Net Zero Progression of the Year, while our own Erika Rumiche Hernández was named Rising Star Under 30 — a remarkable double recognition that underscores both our organizational impact and the leadership of the new generation.
The Sustainable Company Awards, held annually by Environmental Finance, stand among the most prestigious recognitions in the sustainability sector. They celebrate companies, leaders, and initiatives at the forefront of corporate sustainability, recognizing those that not only make commitments but also deliver measurable results in areas such as decarbonization, sustainable finance, climate innovation, and governance. Earning this distinction is an international seal of credibility, reaffirming the tangible impact of the strategies and actions honored.
Net Zero Progression of the Year
This award celebrates the innovative and results-driven strategies that Green Initiative has implemented to accelerate the global journey toward net zero. From helping businesses and destinations measure and reduce their carbon footprints, to developing scalable climate-positive and nature-positive frameworks, Green Initiative has demonstrated that climate action is not only possible but can be a powerful driver of competitiveness and resilience.
Our projects in tourism, corporate sustainability, and ecosystem restoration are proof that measurable climate strategies can deliver tangible results across sectors. This recognition reinforces our commitment to setting new benchmarks for climate and nature positive action worldwide.
Some of the key areas that stood out in the judges’ commentary include:
- Holistic Measurement & Transparency
Green Initiative has developed rigorous carbon accounting methods, integrating both direct and indirect emissions (Scope 1, 2, and 3), and ensuring that clients can see the real climate footprint of their operations. - Nature-Positive Solutions
Beyond just cutting emissions, our approach includes nature-based solutions — reforestation, ecosystem conservation, restoration of degraded lands — which co-benefit biodiversity, local communities, and carbon sequestration. - Scalable Partnerships
The organization has partnered with governments, NGOs, tourism operators, and private businesses to replicate its models in different regions. This scalability helps multiply the impact — not just in one place, but across countries, sectors, ecosystems. - Innovation & Adaptation
Part of what was highlighted: a willingness to adapt, learn, and iterate. For example, piloting new monitoring technologies, leveraging nature-based offsets responsibly, and co-designing solutions with stakeholders directly affected by climate change and biodiversity loss.
Rising Star Under 30: Erika Rumiche Hernández
The recognition of Erika Rumiche Hernández as Rising Star Under 30 is both an honor and an inspiration. Erika has been instrumental in advancing climate finance solutions within Green Initiative, bridging technical expertise with a bold vision for inclusive climate action.
Her leadership demonstrates the power of youth-led innovation in shaping a sustainable future. By combining rigorous technical knowledge with passion for impact, Erika embodies the values of the Green Initiative and the promise of the next generation of sustainability leaders.
Erika’s recognition as Rising Star Under 30 goes beyond energy and enthusiasm. Here are some of the qualities and achievements that made her stand out:
- Vision and Voice for the Next Generation
Erika’s leadership is rooted in more than climate science — it’s about inclusion, across generations, communities, and geographies. She speaks not just of policy or metrics, but of justice, local knowledge, and equitable voice. - Bridging Technical Rigor with Strategic Thought
In her role, she already has overseen complex metrics, climate risk assessments, and frameworks for nature-positive outcomes — all while helping translate those into actionable strategies for clients that often aren’t sustainability experts. - Mentorship, Collaboration, Capacity-Building
Erika has been involved in training and developing the teams within Green Initiative, collaborating with external partners (academics, local leaders, indigenous groups) to ensure the solutions are grounded, culturally aware, and resilient. - Ambition & Results
Despite being under 30, her work has already contributed materially to measurable reductions, improved biodiversity outcomes, and significant client transformations. Her trajectory suggests even bolder contributions ahead.
A Double Recognition of Impact and Vision
Together, these two awards represent more than recognition — they are a validation of our mission: to empower businesses, destinations, and communities worldwide to become climate positive and nature positive.
As we look toward COP30 and beyond, this double win energizes our entire team, partners, and collaborators. It reminds us that systemic change is possible when vision meets action, and when innovation is paired with integrity.
Thank You 💚
We share this success with our partners, clients, and allies around the world who trust and collaborate with us on this journey. From local communities to global institutions, this achievement belongs to everyone working tirelessly for a more sustainable and regenerative future.
🌍✨ The Green Initiative is not just progressing toward net zero — we are building the foundation for a climate and nature positive world.
