Known as the “Father of Environmental Justice”, Professor Robert D. Bullard is a scholar, activist and leader of the environmental justice movement. Through extensive research and advocacy, he has served as a catalyst of environmental racism for four decades.
Known as “the man who stopped the desert”, Yacouba Sawadogo from Burkina Faso has been working since the early 1980's to turn barren land into forest in the Sahel. By modifying the Zaï technique, he teaches farmers to regenerate their soil with innovative use of indigenous and local knowledge.
Nemonte Nenquimo leads the Waorani people living in Ecuador’s Amazon rainforest. In 2019, the Waorani won a legal victory to protect half-a-million acres of rainforest from oil drilling, setting a precedent for regional indigenous rights. She co-founded Ceibo Alliance to unite indigenous communities in protecting their lands and livelihood.
Roberta Annan, Li Bingbing, Gisele Bündchen, Aidan Gallagher, Ellie Goulding, Dia Mirza, Lewis Pugh, Alexander Rendell and Antoinette Taus present the Champions and Young Champions of the Earth 2020.
On 11 December 2020, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) announced six laureates of the 2020 Champions of the Earth award, the UN’s highest environmental honour. The Champions were chosen for their transformative impact on the environment and their leadership in urging bold and decisive action on behalf of the planet and its inhabitants. Since its inception in 2005, the annual Champions of the Earth award has brought visibility and validation to some of the world’s most dynamic environmental leaders, from pioneering scientists and captains of industry to heads of state and community activists.
The awards celebrate inspirational and motivational examples of the potential of individual and collective action to change the world. Together, they Act #FORNATURE.
The word champion is a powerful one; it can be a noun, or a verb, or even a descriptor of something excellent, someone extraordinary, the best of the best. All three meanings befit the winners of this year’s Champions of the Earth award and the Young Champions of the Earth prize.
On 11 December 2020, it is the privilege of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to announce the six Champions of the Earth laureates. This is the United Nations’ highest possible environmental honour, awarded to activists, heads of state, scientists and business leaders for their transformative impact on the environment, and their unapologetic demands that humans behave better for the sake of our planet and our future.
Then, on 15 December 2020, the seven Young Champions of the Earth prize winners will take the spotlight. These brilliant young environmentalists, aged 18-30, will receive seed funding and mentorship. UNEP designed this award to support their bold, innovative ideas to address some of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges.
These 13 champions were selected by a global jury following a public nomination process. This year was extremely competitive, with a record number of nominations. This demonstrates the increasing commitment to environmental protection, and the importance of doing our part to safeguard and restore our planet.
The stakes could not be higher. From forest fires to floods, from species loss to zoonotic disease, the loss of nature and human expansion into wild spaces is provoking an environmental crisis. The UNEP champions demonstrate through their work that collective action can meet the multiplying and interlinked threats to our planet and its inhabitants. Their work is a challenge to all of us – a challenge to completely recalibrate our relationship with nature, to participate in bold and immediate action in service to our health, our financial stability and the health of our environment.
Where to find out this year’s winners
On 11 December: The six Champions of the Earth laureates will be announced here and on UNEP social media.
On 15 December: The seven Young Champions of the Earth will be announced here and on UNEP social media.
The United Nations Environment Programme’s Champions of the Earth and the Young Champions of the Earth honour individuals, groups and organizations whose actions have a transformative impact on the environment.
The winners are announced in December 2020, on the cusp of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021-2030.
By showcasing news of the significant work being done on the environmental frontlines, both awards aim to inspire and motivate more people to act for nature. The awards are part of UNEP’s #ForNature campaign to rally momentum for the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP15) in Kunming in May 2021, and catalyze climate action all the way to the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow in November 2021.
Preparations are underway in UN Environment Programme (UNEP) for the 2020 Champions of the Earth and Young Champions of the Earth awards. The laureates of the UN’s highest environmental honours will be announced this December 2020, following a record number of nominations received earlier this year.
“Through the Champions of the Earth award, the UN Environment Programme seeks to recognize the immense contributions of people from all walks of life to supporting a healthy planet,” said Inger Andersen, Executive Director of UNEP. “We celebrate those individuals, communities, businesses and governments who go the extra mile to protect the earth.”
Established in 2005, the Champions of the Earth award recognises the contribution of outstanding leaders from government, civil society and the private sector whose actions and initiatives have a positive, lasting impact on the environment. The Young Champions of the Earth prize launched in 2017. It is a forward-looking prize designed to breathe life into the ambitions of brilliant young environmentalists age 18-30.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s award announcements will be fully digital. A change from last year, where the winners were announced at a star-studded gala event in New York.
The announcement of the 2020 laureates falls during a key time for environmental action. A triple planetary crisis – climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution – puts us at risk of irreversibly changing our relationship with the natural world and how we benefit from it. December 2020 marks five years since the Paris Agreement was adopted. It is also the eve of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration starting in 2021. During the next 10 years, the decade aims to halt and reverse degradation and raise awareness about the need for restoring the natural world and the many benefits it brings to humankind.
“Act for Nature”, the slogan for this year’s award, reflects the commitment and determination of the laureates. Over the years these Champions have consistently presented affordable, achievable and scalable environmental solutions to the world.
Today the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) confirmed over 1,500 nominations from around the world were received for the 2020 Champions of the Earth award. The online nomination portal for the prestigious environmental award closed yesterday, after being open for two months from 21 January to 20 March 2020.
Established in 2005, Champions of the Earth is an award celebrating visionaries in four categories:
- Policy leadership,
- Inspiration and action,
- Entrepreneurial vision,
- and Science and innovation
The award is the UN’s highest environmental honour, recognizing the contribution of outstanding leaders from government, civil society and the private sector whose works has a positive impact on the environment.
A team of UNEP staff and subject experts will now review and consider each nomination, creating a list of finalists. These will be sent to a high level jury who select the laureates. The awards will be presented to this year’s laureates at a ceremony later this year.
Last year UNEP honoured 12 environmental changemakers from around the world with the 2019 UN Champions of the Earth Award and the Young Champions of the Earth Prize.
Since its launch, UNEP has presented the Champions of the Earth award to 93 laureates, ranging from world leaders to environmental defenders and technology inventors. They include 22 world leaders, 57 individuals and 14 groups or organizations.
Nairobi, 20 January 2020 – Nominations for the 2020 Champions of the Earth award, the UN’s highest environmental honour, opened today, aiming to recognize the contribution of outstanding leaders from government, civil society and the private sector whose actions have had a positive impact on the environment. The nominations will remain open until 20th March 2020.
Established in 2005, the award celebrates visionaries in four categories: Policy leadership; Inspiration and action; Entrepreneurial vision, and Science and innovation.
“Through the Champions of the Earth award, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) seeks to recognize the immense contributions of people from all walks of life to supporting a healthy planet,” said Inger Andersen, Executive Director of UNEP. “At a time when humanity continues to wreak havoc on our environment, we celebrate those individuals, communities, businesses and governments who go the extra mile to protect the earth.”
Every year, Champions are selected from hundreds of nominees globally, submitted through a public nomination process; the list of nominees is ultimately submitted to a jury – made up of a wide range of environmental experts – which then selects the laureates.
Since its launch, UNEP has presented the Champions of the Earth award to 93 laureates, ranging from world leaders to environmental defenders and technology inventors. They include 22 world leaders, 57 individuals and 14 groups or organizations.
“Being named Champions of the Earth was a huge honour for us, and inspired us to work even harder to protect South Africa’s animals,” said Collet Ngobeni from the Black Mambas, South Africa’s first majority-woman anti-poaching ranger unit. “We can all be Champions of the Earth by protecting nature.”
The 2019 Champions of the Earth were: The nation of Costa Rica, for Policy Leadership; Ant Forest, a Chinese mini-programme and tree-planting initiative, and the climate youth movement, Fridays for Future, in the category of Inspiration and action; Professor Katharine Hayhoe, a climate scientist from Texas Tech University in the Science and innovation category; and outdoor clothing brand Patagonia, in the category of Entrepreneurial vision.
The awards will be presented to this year’s laureates at a ceremony later this year.
Nominate a Champion of the Earth
NOTES TO EDITORS
About the UN Environment Programme
UNEP is the leading global voice on the environment. It provides leadership and encourages partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations.
For more information, please contact:
Keishamaza Rukikaire, Head of News & Media, UNEP, +254717080753
As Cipriani restaurant in New York filled with guests on 26 September 2019, the Champions of the Earth award ceremony came alive with colour and energy.
At a time when climate change is at the top of the agenda, action to tackle our environmental crisis was central to the night’s activities.
As leaders gathered in New York to tackle the climate crisis during talks at the United Nations throughout the week, the Champions of the Earth award—the UN’s highest environmental honour—celebrated action.
Laureates and Young Champions of the Earth reminded the 450 high-level guests and delegates that there are solutions—and bold people who search for and find them.
It was an evening of achievement, with winners including the country of Costa Rica, climate scientist Professor Katharine Hayhoe, the company Patagonia, Chinese mobile app Ant Forest and the movement Fridays for Future, honoured for their remarkable achievements towards environmental protection.
Patagonia’s Chief Executive Officer Rose Marcario spoke of severe setbacks to democracy and social and environmental justice in Patagonia’s acceptance speech.
There has been too much greed at the expense of those who have little or nothing, she said. “Even the largest, most powerful businesses realize that short-term financial gain at the expense of long-term economic health as well as social and environmental well-being will fail,” she added.
“It is now time, high time, for civil society and the private and public sectors, but business especially, to evolve capitalism to develop an economy that serves Mother Earth and all her people. It is time to answer roguery and greed with action.”
It was also an evening of hope, as young champions aged between 20 and 30 took to the stage to share their stories and remarkable inventions.
From safe drinking water to forest restoration in the Russian Federation and community conservation in Angola, the young champions charmed the audience with their stories of incredible drive, courage and vision.
UN Environment Programme’s Executive Director, Inger Andersen, began the evening by recognizing the grit and determination of the laureates who “refuse to back down in the face of daunting challenges but instead seek, and find, solutions.” There is no time to waste, she said.
Presenting the awards were Alec Baldwin, 2011 Champion of the Earth and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, Angelique Kidjo and UN Environment Programme Goodwill Ambassador, Dia Mirza
Angelique Kidjo, Champion of the Earth and Beninese singer-songwriter, actress and activist noted for her diverse musical influences, said: “Tonight is special because since we have been talking about climate change, it’s the first time we have seen the young pushing for this agenda… They suddenly wake up to this nightmare saying, if we don’t stand up, nothing is going to change.
Youth climate strike movement Fridays for Future founded by Greta Thunberg were awarded for their remarkable ability to galvanize action and attention around the topic of climate change around the world.
In a video message, Thunberg said the recognition would “make us do even more and work even harder to fight for a liveable future.”
Speaking on behalf of Greta Thunberg’s Fridays for Future movement, Kallan Benson said: “We will not put down our signs and go back to school until you act to stop fossil fuel emissions. Giving up is not an option.”
Goodwill Ambassador Rocky Dawuni was among the guests and spoke of the importance of celebrating youth action. “For me, the youth are an incredible part of really bringing the message of the environment,” he said.
“Not only among their own peers, but spreading around the world as has been evident in the youth movement that has sprouted and inspired people into the streets. Today being there and celebrating that energy, this is really an important day for me.”
American football star Ovie Mughelli and founder of the Ovie Mughelli foundation to train youth as thought leaders on environmental issues, said:
“The reason I’m here tonight is to celebrate what the world’s doing because we’re finally starting to get it. We’re finally acting with the urgency that climate change and the climate crisis deserves. We’re getting a lot closer.”
The event’s sponsors also spoke during the ceremony. Chief Executive Officer of Weibo—China’s social media giant—Charles Chao, spoke about the importance of reaching more people with environmental messages.
Covestro’s Head of Sustainability Christian Haessler noted that the environmental crisis cannot be solved without big businesses driving change and a circular economy.
Their invaluable support for this event and their commitment to sustainability in business made honouring these change makers possible.
Watch the ceremony again in full
Take action Everyone can join the young activists insisting on radical changes to address the climate emergency.
- Make sustainable choices and log your own actions on the #ActNow bot
- Share the stories of the winners
- Tell others about climate leadership that inspires you
New York, 27 September 2019 – The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has officially honoured 12 environmental changemakers from around the world with the 2019 UN Champions of the Earth Award and the Young Champions of the Earth Prize.
The awards ceremony, held in New York on 26 September, comes days after UN Secretary-General António Guterres called on the world to take urgent action on climate change and make concrete commitments to curb greenhouse gas emissions.
The Champions of the Earth award – the UN’s highest environmental honour – is presented every year to outstanding leaders from government, civil society and the private sector whose actions have had a positive impact on the environment. This year’s awards ceremony recognized laureates in the categories of Inspiration and Action, Policy Leadership, Entrepreneurial Vision and Science and Innovation.
President Carlos Alvarado Quesada of Costa Rica accepted the Policy Leadership award on behalf of his country, which has shown exemplary commitment to the protection of nature and spearheaded ambitious policies to combat climate change.
Ant Forest, a digital Chinese initiative, won in the Inspiration and Action category. The mini-programme encourages users to record their low-carbon footprint through daily actions like taking public transport or paying utility bills online; for each action, they receive ‘green energy’ points, which accumulate and result in actual trees planted.
Professor Katharine Hayhoe, a prominent Canadian climate scientist, was honoured in the Science and Innovation category for her stalwart commitment to quantifying the effects of climate change and her tireless efforts to transform public attitudes.
US outdoor clothing brand Patagonia received the 2019 Champions of the Earth award in the category of Entrepreneurial Vision for a dynamic mix of policies that has put sustainability at the heart of its successful business model.
Taking home the final award of the night, Fridays for Future, the youth climate strike movement inspired by Swedish teenager and climate activist Greta Thunberg, was named Champion of the Earth for Inspiration and Action. In a video message to the event, Ms. Thunberg said she hoped the recognition would “make us do even more and work even harder to fight for a livable future”.
Speaking at the ceremony, Fridays for Future representative Kallan Benson said: “We will not put down our signs and go back to school until you act to stop fossil fuel emissions. Giving up is not an option.”
Also winning important recognition on the night were seven Young Champions of the Earth from across the world whose outstanding ideas serve to protect the environment in their local contexts.
Young Champion Molly Burhans, from the United States of America, digitally maps the world’s biggest land owners, encouraging environment stewardship, while Adjany Costa, the winner from the African region, is protecting Angola’s last wild spaces and remote biodiversity hotspots. Russia’s Marianna Muntianu educational gaming initiative, which makes making virtual trees a reality, saw her win the prize for the European region.
Brazilian Anna-Luisa Beserra won the prize for an innovation that uses energy to purify water, and Omar Itani from Lebanon is redesigning the future of fashion with his distribution project. Sonika Manandhar from Nepal is leading an initiative to capture big data from electric vehicles and cut emissions by making transportation efficient, while empowering women, and the joint Asia and the Pacific winner, Louise Mabulo, from the Philippines, is passionate about feeding the future.
Speaking at the event, UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen said: “I have been struck by the grit and determination of individuals who refuse to back down in the face of daunting challenges but instead seek, and find, solutions.
“Our 2019 Champions and Young Champions dare to dream bigger; they try harder, and they go further. Their actions speak louder than words,” she added.
NOTES TO EDITORS
About Champions of the Earth
The annual Champions of the Earth prize is awarded to outstanding leaders from government, civil society and the private sector whose actions have had a positive impact on the environment. Since 2005, Champions of the Earth has recognized 88 laureates, ranging from world leaders to technology inventors.
About the Young Champions of the Earth
The Young Champions of the Earth Prize was first started in 2017, offering the prestigious and highly successful Champions of the Earth platform – with laureates including heads of state, inspiring scientists, and environmental visionaries – to brilliant young environmentalists with a vision.
About the UN Environment Programme
The UN Environment Programme is the leading global voice on the environment. It provides leadership and encourages partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations.
About Weibo
The Champions of the Earth are organised in partnership with Weibo – China’s leading social media outlet for people to create, share and discover content online. Weibo has over 486 million monthly active users.
About Covestro
With 2018 sales of EUR 14.6 billion, Covestro is among the world’s largest polymer companies. Business activities are focused on the manufacture of high-tech polymer materials and the development of innovative solutions for products used in many areas of daily life.
For more information contact:
Keishamaza Rukikaire, Head of News and Media, UN Environment Programme,
