The Community of Madrid has held the first edition of the Canal de Isabel II Awards, recognitions created to distinguish professionals, institutions and cities that have stood out for their cContribution to sustainable water management and raising awareness about the importance of this essential resource. The ceremony, chaired by the Minister of the Environment, Agriculture and Interior, Carlos Novillo, took place at the Real Casa de Correos and is part of the events organized on the occasion of the 175th anniversary of Canal de Isabel II.
The awards were created with the aim of highlighting initiatives, trajectories and management models that have contributed to modernizing the use and administration of water, both in Spain and internationally. In this first call, six awards have been awarded, ranging from urban water management to scientific dissemination and innovation in the water sector. One of the most notable recognitions went to the city of Bilbao, awarded as a Leading Spanish City in Urban Water Management. The jury especially valued its supra-municipal management model, which has allowed integrated planning of the water cycle and has contributed to the environmental recovery of the estuary, considered one of the great examples of urban and environmental transformation in recent decades.
In the international category, the award went to Copenhagen for its climate adaptation policies, its commitment to solutions based on nature and its ability to confront extreme phenomena such as floods through long-term urban planning. The Canal de Isabel II Award for Professional Career in Water Management was awarded to Roque Gistau, considered one of the most influential figures in the sector in Spain. His career has been linked to technological modernization, hydraulic planning and the development of comprehensive management models that have contributed to the evolution of water-related services in different territorial areas.
The category of Outstanding Institution in Water Management recognized the work of the International Water Association, one of the world’s leading organizations in research, innovation and dissemination of good practices related to water resources. The jury highlighted its role in generating knowledge and promoting sustainable solutions to address global challenges linked to water.
In the field of dissemination and environmental awareness, the Individual Career in Culture and Dissemination of Water was distinguished by Jacob Petrus, whose work in the media has contributed to bringing issues related to climate, meteorology, droughts and the responsible use of natural resources closer to the general public. In addition, National Geographic Spain received recognition for its informative work and for the quality of its reports dedicated to environmental conservation and global challenges related to water.
An emblematic infrastructure
The trophies awarded in this first edition reproduce the historic First Elevated Warehouse built in 1911, one of the most emblematic infrastructures of Canal de Isabel II. The pieces have been handcrafted in bronze using artistic reproduction techniques, a detail with which the entity has wanted to link these awards to its historical legacy and the 175 years of public service that it celebrates this year.