Selection of nominees and awardees will be based on demonstration of one or more of the following criteria:

• Marked improvement in performance based on lessons learned
• Innovative dissemination and communication of lessons learned, including the development of education and training courses based on these
• Development of sources of information on disasters which are readily available to key stakeholders
• Willingness to provide assistance and efforts to support international response missions on environmental emergencies
• International capacity-building missions aimed at helping countries prepare for environmental emergencies
• Major improvements in internal capacity and preparedness to deal with environmental emergencies
• Dedication to respond to environmental emergencies in a professional, collaborative and transparent manner