ScottishPower's Head of Climate Change and Sustainability, Dr Sam Gardner, has been recognised on the UK's prestigious environmental power list.

Dr Gardner has become the first-ever representative of an energy firm to be names on the ENDS Report Power List.

The List, now in its second year, names the 100 UK environmental professionals who have made the greatest impact in the past two years. To feature on the list, an individual must have met at least one of four broad criteria:

• shaped or influenced national or local environmental policy

• enhanced the reputation of the environmental profession

• delivered demonstrable and positive environmental improvements

• be an unsung hero whose work is delivering positive change without receiving the recognition they deserve.

Edinburgh-based Dr Gardner – ScottishPower's first-ever Head of Climate Change and Sustainability – was recognised for his role as a leading environmental campaigner and trusted voice across industry, academia and the public sector, with a strong track record in both driving ambition to tackle the climate crisis and turning this into action.

This includes leading ScottishPower's programme of partnerships and activities as a COP26 Principal Partner and steering its work to set and embed Science Based Targets that support responsible business and sustainable growth.

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He was pivotal in shaping the company's first Sustainable Development Strategy, which sets out a clear pathway that will ensure ScottishPower continues to deliver for a sustainable future.

Sam is also a founding member of the Scottish Business Climate Collaboration, a group of leading businesses driving a new climate action initiative to accelerate the just transition to net zero.

He said: "It's incredible to be included on this list, which features some of the leading environmental professionals around – it's a real honour to be named alongside them. I'm particularly pleased to represent the first energy company on the list. This shows the vital role this industry has to play in delivering a more sustainable future and I'm proud ScottishPower is leading that charge.

"That's not just about leading the transition to cleaner and greener energy, it's about how we help drive social and environmental change across our operations, through our supply chain, across the industry and into our everyday lives. And we all have our part to play as the variety of people and organisations featured on the Power List shows."

Keith Anderson, ScottishPower's CEO, said: "We're really proud to be the first energy company with a colleague on the ENDS Report Power List and for Sam to be recognised in this way. Sam is a brilliant and renowned climate and energy transition campaigner, committed to making a real difference.

"His ability to challenge the status quo and champion ambitious targets has been hugely beneficial to all of us at ScottishPower and helps drive meaningful change inside the company. He is at the heart of our efforts to reduce our own carbon footprint and leads the work to build on our COP26 legacy, ensuring we don't just support others to deliver a better future, quicker – but lead by example to make that happen. He is a true inspiration and the obvious choice for the Power List 2023 – our congratulations to him."

A member of the Scottish Government Climate Change Plan Advisory Group, a founding member of Scotland's Climate Emergency Response Group and the first chair of the Edinburgh Climate Commission, Sam also served on the boards of Scottish Environment LINK and Stop Climate Chaos Scotland and has worked for WWF Scotland, Scottish Government, SEPA and RSPB Scotland.