Champions of the Earth

Champions of the Earth
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) established Champions of the Earth in 2005 as an annual awards programme to recognize outstanding environmental leaders from the public and private sectors, and from civil society.
Award details
Typically, five to seven laureates are selected annually. Each laureate is invited to an award ceremony to receive a trophy, give an acceptance speech and take part in a press conference. No financial awards are conferred. This awards programme is a successor to UNEP's Global 500 Roll of Honour.
The prize includes $15,000 of financial support.
In 2017, the program was expanded to include Young Champions of the Earth – a forward-looking prize for talented innovators, 18 to 30, who demonstrate outstanding potential to create positive environmental impact. The initiative is run in partnership with the Covestro, a plastics company. It is awarded every year by UNEP to seven young environmentalists from around the world between the ages of 18 and 30, for their outstanding ideas to protect the environment.
Awardees: Champions of the Earth
2022
Arcenciel (Lebanon) - Inspiration and Action
Constantino Aucca Chutas (Peru) - Inspiration and Action
Partha Dasgupta - Science and Innovation
Purnima Devi Barman - Entrepreneurial Vision
Cécile Bibiane Ndjebet - Inspiration and Action
2021
Prime Minister Mia Mottley (Barbados) - Policy Leadership
Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka (Uganda) - Science and Innovation
Maria Kolesnikova (Kyrgyz Republic) - Entrepreneurial Vision
Sea Women of Melanesia (Papua New Guinea and the Soloman Islands) - Inspiration and Action
David Attenborough - Lifetime Achievement Award
2020
Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama (Fiji) - Policy Leadership
Dr. Fabian Leendertz (Germany) - Science and Innovation
Mindy Lubber (United States) - Entrepreneurial Vision
Nemonte Nenquimo (Ecuador) - Inspiration and Action
Yacouba Sawadogo (Burkina Faso)- Inspiration and Action
Professor Robert D. Bullard (United States)- Lifetime Achievement Award
2019
Costa Rica - Policy Leadership
Katharine Hayhoe - Science and Innovation
Ant Forest - Inspiration and Action
Fridays For Future - Inspiration and Action
Patagonia - Entrepreneurial Vision
Louise Mabulo - Environmental conservation
2018
Cochin International Airport - Entrepreneurial Vision
Emmanuel Macron - Policy Leadership
Beyond Meat - Science and Innovation
Impossible Foods - Science and Innovation
Joan Carling - Lifetime Achievement Award
Prime Minister Narendra Modi - Policy Leadership
Zhejiang’s Green Rural Revival Programme - Inspiration and Action
2017
Paul A. Newman & NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center - Science and Innovation
Mobike - Entrepreneurial Vision
Jeff Orlowski - Inspiration and Action
Saihanba National Forest Park - Inspiration and Action
Christopher I'Anson - General Champion
Wang Wenbiao - Lifetime Achievement Award
2016
Afroz Shah - Inspiration and Action
Berta Cáceres - Inspiration and Action
José Sarukhán Kermez - Lifetime Achievement
Leyla Acaroglu - Science and Innovation
The Moroccan Agency for Solar Energy (MASEN) - Entrepreneurial Vision
Paul Kagame - Policy Leadership
2015
Prime minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh - Policy Leadership
Black Mamba APU - Inspiration & Action
The National Geographic Society - Science & Innovation
Natura Brasil - Entrepreneurial Vision
Paul Polman - Entrepreneurial Vision
2014
Boyan Slat - Inspiration and Action
Fatima Jibrell, Somalia - Environmental conservation
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono - Policy Leadership
Tommy Remengesau, Jr - Policy Leadership
Mario José Molina-Pasquel Henríquez - Lifetime Leadership
Robert Watson - Science and Innovation
Sylvia Earle - Lifetime Leadership
U.S. Green Building Council - Entrepreneurial Vision
2013
Janez Potočnik - Policy Leadership
Brian McClendon - Entrepreneurial Vision
Carlo Petrini - Inspiration and Action
Izabella Teixeira - Policy Leadership
Jack Dangermond - Entrepreneurial Vision
Martha Isabel Ruiz Corzo - Inspiration and Action
Veerabhadran Ramanathan - Science and Innovation
2012
President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj, Mongolia - Policy Leadership category
Fabio Coletti Barbosa, Brazil (CEO of Grupo Abril) and Dr Sultan Ahmed al Jaber, United Arab Emirates (CEO of Masdar)- Entrepreneurial Vision category
Bertrand Piccard, Switzerland - Inspiration and Action category
Sander Van Der Leeuw, Netherlands - Science and Innovation category
Samson Parashina, Kenya - Special Category for Grassroots Initiatives
2011
President Felipe Calderón, Mexico - Policy Leadership Category
Dr. Olga Speranskaya, Russia - Science & Innovation Category
Zhang Yue, Broad Group, China - Entrepreneurial Vision Category
Louis Palmer, Switzerland - Inspiration & Action Category [co-winner]
Angélique Kidjo, Benin - Inspiration & Action Category co-winner
2010
President Mohamed Nasheed, Maldives - Policy Leadership Category
Taro Takahashi, Japan - Science & Innovation Category
Vinod Khosla, India - Entrepreneurial Vision Category
Prince Mostapha Zaher, Afghanistan - Inspiration & Action Category [co-winner]
Zhou Xun, China - Inspiration & Action Category co-winner
Special Award
President Bharrat Jagdeo, Guyana - For Biodiversity Conservation & Ecosystem Management
2009
Erik Solheim, Norway - Policy Leadership Category (co-winner)
Kevin Conrad and the Coalition for Rainforest Nations, Papua New Guinea - Policy Leadership Category (co-winner)
Janine Benyus, United States - Science & Innovation Category
Ron Gonen, United States - Entrepreneurial Vision Category
Tulsi Tanti, India - Entrepreneurial Vision Category
Yann Arthus-Bertrand, France - Inspiration & Action Category
2008
Balgis Osman-Elasha, Sudan from Africa - For her work on climate change and adaptation in northern and eastern Africa.
Atiq Rahman, Bangladesh from Asia and the Pacific - For his national and international experience in sustainable development, and environment and resource management. He is one of the leading specialists in the field.
Albert II, Prince of Monaco, Monaco from Europe: For his commitment to sustainable development in Monaco. Under his leadership, Monaco is now applying an exemplary policy on CO2 reduction in every sphere of society as well as in the business sector.
Liz Thompson, Barbados, from Latin America and the Caribbean - For her outstanding work at the national and international levels. She is one of the recognized leaders on environmental issues of the Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
Timothy E. Wirth, United States from North America - For his work as the head of the UN Foundation and Better World Fund, he established the environment as a priority and mobilized resources to address it.
Abdul-Qader Ba-Jammal, Yemen from West Asia: For his environmental policies as Minister and then as Prime Minister in Yemen. He established its Ministry of Water and Environment and the Environment Protection Authority.
Special Prize
Helen Clark, New Zealand - For her environmental strategies and her three initiatives - the emissions trading scheme, the energy strategy and the energy efficiency and conservation strategy.
2007
Cherif Rahmani, Algeria from Africa - For advancing environmental law in Algeria and for addressing the issue of desertification;
Elisea "Bebet" Gillera Gozun, Philippines from Asia and the Pacific - for pushing forward the environmental agenda in her native Philippines by winning the trust of business leaders, non-governmental organizations and political decision-makers alike;
Viveka Bohn, Sweden from Europe: for playing a prominent role in multilateral negotiations and her leadership in global efforts to ensure chemical safety;
Marina Silva, Brazil from Latin America and the Caribbean - For her tireless fight to protect the Amazon rainforest while taking into account the perspectives of people who use the resources in their daily lives;
Al Gore, United States from North America - For making environmental protection a pillar of his public service and for educating the world on the dangers posed by rising greenhouse gas emissions;
His Royal Highness Prince Hassan Bin Talal, Jordan from West Asia - For his belief in transboundary collaboration to protect the environment and for addressing environmental issues in a holistic manner;
Special Prize
Jacques Rogge and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) - For advancing the sport and environment agenda by providing greater resources to sustainable development and for introducing stringent environmental requirements for cities bidding to host Olympic Games
2006
Rosa Elena Simeon Negrin, Cuba
Women's Environment & Development Organization
Tewolde Berhan Gebre Egziabher, Ethiopia
Masoumeh Ebtekar, Iran
Mohamed El-Ashry, Egypt
Tommy Koh Thong Bee, Singapore
Mikhail Gorbachev, Russia
2005
King Jigme Singye Wangchuck and the people of Bhutan, Bhutan
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, United Arab Emirates
Thabo Mbeki, South Africa
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, Native Greek
Sheila Watt-Cloutier, Canada
Julia Carabias Lillo, Mexico
Zhou Qiang and the All-China Youth Federation, China
Awardees: Young Champions of the Earth
2020
Xiaoyuan Ren, China.
Vidyut Mohan, India.
Nzambi Matee, Kenya.
Niria Alicia Garcia, United States of America.
Max Hidalgo Quinto, Peru.
Lefteris Arapakis, Greece.
Fatemah Alzelzela, Kuwait.
2019
Molly Burhans, United States of America.
Omar Itani, Lebanon.
Sonika Manandhar, Nepal.
Marianna Muntianu, Russia.
Louise Mabulo, Philippines.
Anna Luísa Beserra, Brazil.
Adjany Costa, Angola.
2018
Shady Rabab, Egypt.
Miranda Wang, United States of America.
Miao Wang, China.
Hugh Weldon, Ireland.
Heba Al-Farra, Kuwait.
Gator Halpern, Bahamas.
Arpit Dhupar, India.
2017
Omer Badokhon, Yemen.
Adam Dixon, Europe.
Kaya Dorey, North America.
Eritai Kateibwi, Earth for Asia & the Pacific
Mariama Mamane, Niger.
Liliana Jaramillo Pazmiño, Latin America & the Caribbean.
See also
Heroes of the Environment
Forest Hero Award
List of environmental awards
References
External links
Champions of the Earth, United Nations Environment Programme
Young Champions of the Earth, United Nations Environment Programme
Database of all laureates at:
Awards established in 2005
Environmental awards
United Nations Environment Programme
United Nations awards