At the 19th Golden Compass Awards given by Public Relations Association of Turkey (TÜHİD), the prize-winning projects were announced at the ceremony held on 11 March 2021. Nearly 300 projects from the public and private sectors as well as young communicators competed this year in 21 main categories and 27 subcategories. The Grand Prize went to “Opet Arkeo-Köy Tevfikiye” project of Opet.

This year, UNDP Special Prize was given for the 9th time in Golden Compass Awards. The prize was granted to Sompo Insurance for their “Respect for Earth” Project to appraise their highly meaningful efforts in raising awareness on climate change that threatens the continuity of life on Earth and natural disasters caused by it. Through the communication activities carried out and meetings held since 2019 with the slogan “You are the Insurance of the World!”, more than 40.5 million people have been reached.

In his speech at the awards ceremony, UNDP Turkey Resident Representative Claudio Tomasi mentioned that Sampo Insurance is setting a very important example for its own business category and the whole business world.

Mr. Tomasi explained the initiative as follows: “By stressing that the insurance sector is the leading sector in raising awareness and taking precautions on climate change, Sompo Insurance implements a 360-degree corporate social responsibility project to raise awareness on climate change and natural disasters caused by it. Partnering with TEMA Foundation, Ministry of National Education and the Meteorology and Disaster Management Professor Mikdat Kadıoğlu, the Sompo Group aims to raise awareness of agencies, insurance customers, young people and the general public in this long-term project. The ‘Respect for Earth’ project directly contributes to the Sustainable Development Goal number 13: Climate Action that requires all to take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.”

The UNDP Special Prize is a unique prize that rewards the companies with the best perspective on environmental and social impacts since 2012. This year, more than 150 projects have been reviewed based on projects’ impact on sustainable development in Turkey.

“Global temperatures are projected to rise by up to 3.2°C by 2100. We need ambitious climate action, and we need it urgently. If we fail to keep the global temperature increase below 1.5°C, we will likely pass a tipping point where we will experience catastrophic disasters and irreversible changes. Therefore, by inviting everyone to have respect for Earth, Sompo Insurance is setting a very important example for its own business category and for the whole business world.” said Mr. Tomasi.