 Lowe was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2001 for services to science, technology, and the environment.In 2002 he was awarded a Centenary Medal for contributions to environmental science and won the Eureka Prize for promotion of science.His contributions have also been recognised by the Prime Minister's Environment Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement, the Queensland Premier's Millennium Award for Excellence in Science and the University of NSW Alumni Award for achievement in science.