Afghanistan’s 46-year-old Director General of the National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA), Prince Mostapha Zaher has laid the foundation for a sustainable and peaceful future in Afghanistan. For the past five years, he has worked tirelessly for the environment in a country ravaged by 25 years of war and continues to find ways to bring clean, efficient and cost-effective solutions to the citizens of one of the world’s poorest nations.
In 2004, after the fall of the Taliban, Zaher and his family returned to his homeland where he gave up his post as Ambassador to Italy to take up the job as Director General of the newly formed NEPA. The opportunity revived Zaher’s lifelong dream of turning the royal hunting grounds into a nature reserve open to all Afghans.
Since taking the post, he has rewritten the nation’s environmental laws, including an act in the Constitution declaring it the responsibility of every Afghan citizen to “protect the environment, conserve the environment, and to hand it over to the next generation in the most pristine condition possible”.
In 2008, he attended the Washington International Renewable Energy Conference (WIREC), where he pledged to improve air quality in Kabul between 10-12 per cent by the year 2012. His commitments work in tandem with Afghanistan’s Environment Act of 2006. At the same time, NEPA announced it would allocate at least 3 per cent of its core budget to environmental research and development.
In partnership with the Ministry of Energy and Water and the international community, NEPA hopes to apply cutting edge solar and wind technology to address environmental concerns in Afghanistan.
Dr. Balgis Osman-Elasha, a senior scientist from Sudan, is at the forefront of global research on climate change. A leading author of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports, she has produced groundbreaking work on global warming - the defining challenge of our era - in Africa, with an emphasis on northern and eastern Africa.
Dr. Osman-Elasha's emphasis on global warming and adaptation in Sudan is vital given the strong interlinkages between climate change and conflict in the country. Her work as a prominent researcher on climate change makes her a true role model for women in Africa.
The award also recognizes Dr. Osman-Elasha's efforts to educate Sudanese university students about the issue of climate change, thus raising awareness among the country's new generation.
There are some individuals so accomplished, so on the nail with their science and insight, and so omnipresent at award ceremonies that one could be forgiven for suspecting they have secretly been busy cloning themselves to carry out so much ground-breaking work. Sir Robert Watson, an eminent scientist who is highly regarded as one of the world’s leading atmospheric chemists, fits so snugly into this category that his creaking trophy cabinet is in need of reinforcement.
Sir Watson’s plaudits include the Award for Scientific Reviewing from the National Academy of Sciences in 1992; the American Association for the Advancement of Science Award for Scientific Freedom and Responsibility in 1993; the insignia of Honorary Companion of St Michael and St George from the British Government in 2003; and in 2012, a knighthood for his service to the government of the United Kingdom.
Now he adds the UNEP Champion of the Earth award to his haul, and justifiably so. Sir Watson has devoted his career to promoting the science behind ozone depletion, global warming and paleoclimatology. He played an important role in the regulation efforts of ozone depletion and global warming by aiding in the process of developing unified assessments for conventions and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
He has served on the Board of Directors of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment as well as the International Scientific Assessment of Stratospheric Ozone, and has testified to the U.S. Congress on numerous occasions regarding global environmental issues. He was the Chief Scientific Officer for the U.K.’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) from 2007. Prior to taking up his post at Defra, Bob Watson was the Chief Scientist and Senior Advisor for Sustainable Development for the World Bank. He has also held senior positions at NASA and the White House, and was a chair of the IPCC from 1997 to 2002. He is now a professor at the University of East Anglia in the UK and Monash University in Australia
As his award and career history show, Sir Watson is yet another example of a committed environmentalist who will not bend, no matter how great the storm. He faced strong criticism from the energy industry and its supporters for his scientific arguments on the need for a reduced dependence on coal and oil, but his position has not wavered. His clarity of vision and sense of purpose has helped build belief in and support for climate science to the unprecedented high levels we see today.
Ms. Thompson has become one of the recognized leaders on environmental issues of the Small Island Developing States.
During her time as Minister of Energy and the Environment of Barbados, she enacted a range of progressive policies for sustainable development and environmental protection. She also became a key voice to raise awareness of global warming in Barbados - a country where the challenges of climate change and conservation are of particular relevance.
Ms. Thompson has also played a role in environmental awareness and protection across the Caribbean region. She has encouraged small island states to diversify their economies, undertake sustainability assessments, and promote community-based programmes that have positive environmental impacts.
Born in Gujarat, India, Tulsi Tanti is the Chairman of Suzlon Energy Ltd, the fifth largest wind turbine manufacturer in the world and the largest in Asia. After graduating in commerce and mechanical engineering, Tulsi Tanti started a textile business and decided to invest in two wind turbines in 1990 due to power unavailability in the area. Suzlon Energy Ltd currently possesses 17.000 MW of wind energy capacity installed in 18 countries and it has demonstrated that renewables not only represent a profound business opportunity, but also contribute significantly to sustainable development and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
Born in Paris, France, and recognized as a member of the Academie des Beaux-Arts, Yann Arthus-Bertrand is a photographer, reporter and environmentalist specializing in wildlife and aerial photography. He has published over 60 books and his photographs have appeared in numerous publications around the world. In 2005, he founded the environmental organization, GoodPlanet, which helps individuals and businesses to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, increase energy efficiency and use renewable energies.
As the Minister of the Environment and International Development of Norway, Erik Solheim put into place the Nature Diversity Act and the Norwegian Climate and Forest Initiative, which facilitates close cooperation with Brazil, Indonesia and Guyana to conserve rainforests and provided critical input to the establishment of UN Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (UN-REDD).
Janine Benyus is the Co-founder of Biomimicry 3.8. She is a biologist, innovation consultant, and author of six books, including Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature. Since the book’s 1997 release, Janine’s work as a global thought leader has evolved the practice of biomimicry from a meme to a movement, inspiring clients and innovators around the world to learn from the genius of nature.
Kevin M. Conrad is a Papua New Guinean lawyer and environmentalist, whose efforts have centered on reducing deforestation, strengthening forest conservation and recognizing the value of tropical forest ecosystems. He has made a significant contribution to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) especially the United Nations Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (UN REDD) programme in developing countries. Conrad also represented Papua New Guinea during the 2007 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bali, where he urged the United States to take leadership on climate change.
In 2004, Ron Gonen co-founded Recyclebank, a company that brings together businesses, schools, communities and individuals to promote household recycling and more sustainable lifestyles. Under his direction, RecycleBank grew from its foundation to a company that services 50 cities and over 1 million households, thereby advancing environmental responsibility and recycling in the United States. To date, Recyclebank has helped to save 98 million gallons of oil and more than one million trees.
