Champions of the Earth

Updated on Oct 01, 2024

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The United Nations Environment Programme established Champions of the Earth in 2004 as an annual awards programme to recognize outstanding environmental leaders at a policy level. Six awards are given out each year to a Laureate representing different geographical regions with one additional special prize.

The Champions of the Earth are invited to accept their award at an international ceremony, which publicizes and encourages the worldwide replication of the achievements of the Champions. This special event was held in Singapore in 2006 and 2007.

This awards programme is a successor to UNEP's Global 500 Roll of Honour.

September, 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 - Entrepreneural Vision

2014

Fatima Jibrell, Somalia - Environmental conservation

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

[Veerabhadran Ramanathan]

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