Champions of the Earth

UNITED NATIONS ENVIROMENT PROGRAME

The Champions of the Earth award, established by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in 2005, is the UN’s highest environmental honor. Its primary purpose is to recognize visionary leaders from government, civil society, and the private sector whose actions have had a transformative, positive impact on the natural world.The award aims to address the triple planetary crisis: climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. By highlighting "Inspiration and Action" (the category won by Ant Forest), the UN seeks to turn environmental challenges into opportunities for innovation. It serves as a global platform to validate sustainable solutions, proving that large-scale change is possible through collective effort and technology.Ultimately, the goal is to inspire global mobilization. By celebrating these "Champions," the UN motivates individuals and organizations worldwide to adopt greener lifestyles and advocate for policies that protect the Earth for future generations.

Sl	Name	Country	Year	Awarded For
127	Imazon	Brazil	2025	Science and Innovation: For developing AI-driven geospatial tools to monitor and curb deforestation in the Amazon.
126	Manfredi Caltagirone	Italy	2025	Lifetime Achievement (Posthumous): For advancing global methane transparency and reduction efforts.
125	Mariam Issoufou	Niger	2025	Entrepreneurial Vision: For redefining sustainable, climate-resilient buildings grounding architecture in local materials.
124	Pacific Island Students Fighting Climate Change	Vanuatu	2025	Policy Leadership: For securing a landmark advisory opinion from the ICJ on states' climate obligations.
123	Supriya Sahu	India	2025	Inspiration and Action: For leading initiatives in ecosystem restoration and plastic waste management in Tamil Nadu.
122	Amy Bowers Cordalis	United States	2024	Inspiration and Action: For her legal expertise and passion for restoration of the Klamath River.
121	Gabriel Paun	Romania	2024	Inspiration and Action: For his work helping save thousands of hectares of biodiversity in the Carpathians.
120	Lu Qi	China	2024	Science and Innovation: For helping China reverse degradation and shrink its deserts through afforestation.
119	Madhav Gadgil	India	2024	Lifetime Achievement: For his seminal work in protecting the ecologically fragile Western Ghats region of India.
118	SEKEM	Egypt	2024	Entrepreneurial Vision: For helping farmers transition to sustainable biodynamic agriculture and afforestation.
117	Sônia Guajajara	Brazil	2024	Policy Leadership: For her leadership in advocating for Indigenous rights and protecting 10 territories in Brazil.
116	Blue Circle	China	2023	Entrepreneurial Vision: For using blockchain and IoT to manage marine plastic waste in Zhejiang province.
115	Council for Scientific and Industrial Research	South Africa	2023	Science and Innovation: For developing a variety of plastics-related innovations to reduce plastic waste.
114	Ellen MacArthur Foundation	United Kingdom	2023	Inspiration and Action: For mainstreaming the circular economy and working to end plastic pollution.
113	José Manuel Moller	Chile	2023	Entrepreneurial Vision: For working to reduce plastic waste through a refillable system for basic goods.
112	Josefina Belmonte	Philippines	2023	Policy Leadership: For her leadership in urban sustainability and fighting plastic pollution in Quezon City.
111	Arcenciel	Lebanon	2022	Inspiration and Action: For its work in creating a national waste management strategy in Lebanon.
110	Cécile Bibiane Ndjebet	Cameroon	2022	Inspiration and Action: For advocating for the rights of women in Africa to secure land tenure.
109	Constantino Aucca Chutas	Peru	2022	Inspiration and Action: For pioneering a community reforestation model driven by local and Indigenous communities.
108	Purnima Devi Barman	India	2022	Entrepreneurial Vision: For leading the 'Hargila Army' to protect the Greater Adjutant Stork.
107	Partha Dasgupta	United Kingdom	2022	Science and Innovation: For his landmark review on the economics of biodiversity.
106	Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka	Uganda	2021	Science and Innovation: For her pioneering 'One Health' approach linking human, animal and environment health.
105	Maria Kolesnikova	Kyrgyz Republic	2021	Entrepreneurial Vision: For her work as an environmental activist improving air quality in Bishkek.
104	Mia Mottley	Barbados	2021	Policy Leadership: For her powerful voice for a sustainable world and raising the alarm on climate change.
103	Sea Women of Melanesia	Papua New Guinea	2021	Inspiration and Action: For training local women to monitor the health of coral reefs.
102	David Attenborough	United Kingdom	2021	Lifetime Achievement: For his extraordinary commitment to sharing the natural world.
101	Fabian Leendertz	Germany	2020	Science and Innovation: For his work on zoonotic diseases and protecting ecosystem health.
100	Frank Bainimarama	Fiji	2020	Policy Leadership: For global climate action and leadership in protecting the Pacific Islands.
99	Mindy Lubber	United States	2020	Entrepreneurial Vision: For mobilizing capital markets for climate action through Ceres.
98	Nemonte Nenquimo	Ecuador	2020	Inspiration and Action: For protecting the Amazon rainforest and Indigenous territories.
97	Robert D. Bullard	United States	2020	Lifetime Achievement: For his work on environmental justice and the rights of communities of color.
96	Yacouba Sawadogo	Burkina Faso	2020	Inspiration and Action: For restoring degraded land through traditional farming.
95	Ant Forest	China	2019	Inspiration and Action: For transforming green actions into real trees, restoring degraded land.
94	Costa Rica	Costa Rica	2019	Policy Leadership: For its commitment to the protection of nature and ambitious climate policies.
93	Fridays For Future	International	2019	Inspiration and Action: Youth-led movement that put climate action on the political agenda.
92	Patagonia	United States	2019	Entrepreneurial Vision: For commitment to sustainability and donating profits to protection.
91	Katharine Hayhoe	Canada	2019	Science and Innovation: For efforts to explain climate science and motivate action.
90	Cochin International Airport	India	2018	Entrepreneurial Vision: For becoming the world's first fully solar-powered airport.
89	Emmanuel Macron	France	2018	Policy Leadership: For global leadership on climate action and the International Solar Alliance.
88	Impossible Foods	United States	2018	Science and Innovation: For plant-based meat alternatives to reduce environmental impact.
87	Beyond Meat	United States	2018	Science and Innovation: For plant-based meat alternatives to reduce environmental impact.
86	Joan Carling	Philippines	2018	Lifetime Achievement: For defending the land and environmental rights of Indigenous peoples.
85	Narendra Modi	India	2018	Policy Leadership: For his bold commitment to eliminate single-use plastic in India.
84	Zhejiang's Green Rural Revival Programme	China	2018	Inspiration and Action: For transforming polluted villages into eco-friendly areas.
83	Jeff Orlowski	United States	2017	Inspiration and Action: For cinematic work revealing climate change effects.
82	Michelle Bachelet	Chile	2017	Policy Leadership: For her commitment to marine protection.
81	Mobike	China	2017	Entrepreneurial Vision: For reducing carbon emissions through bike-sharing technology.
80	Paul A. Newman & NASA's Goddard	United States	2017	Science and Innovation: For leadership in protecting the ozone layer.
79	Saihanba National Forest Park	China	2017	Inspiration and Action: For transforming degraded land into a lush forest.
78	Wang Wenbiao	China	2017	Lifetime Achievement: For a life dedicated to desertification control.
77	Afroz Shah	India	2016	Inspiration and Action: For leading the world's largest beach cleanup.
76	Berta Cáceres	Honduras	2016	Inspiration and Action: For her struggle to protect Indigenous lands.
75	José Sarukhán Kermez	Mexico	2016	Lifetime Achievement: For work in ecology and biodiversity conservation.
74	Leyla Acaroglu	Australia	2016	Science and Innovation: For work in sustainability design.
73	MASEN	Morocco	2016	Entrepreneurial Vision: For large-scale solar energy production.
72	Paul Kagame	Rwanda	2016	Policy Leadership: For environmental initiatives like the plastic ban.
71	Black Mamba APU	South Africa	2015	Inspiration and Action: For female-led anti-poaching work.
70	Sheikh Hasina	Bangladesh	2015	Policy Leadership: For response to climate change.
69	National Geographic Society	United States	2015	Science and Innovation: For a century of storytelling.
68	Natura Brasil	Brazil	2015	Entrepreneurial Vision: For carbon-neutral practices.
67	Paul Polman	Netherlands	2015	Entrepreneurial Vision: For leading Unilever towards sustainability.
66	Boyan Slat	Netherlands	2014	Inspiration and Action: For technology to clean ocean plastic.
65	Fatima Jibrell	Somalia	2014	Conservation: For environmental protection and peacebuilding.
64	Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono	Indonesia	2014	Policy Leadership: For forest conservation and climate action.
63	Tommy Remengesau, Jr.	Palau	2014	Policy Leadership: For marine sanctuaries.
62	Mario Molina	Mexico	2014	Lifetime Leadership: For identifying ozone threats.
61	Robert Watson	United Kingdom	2014	Science and Innovation: For climate and biodiversity assessments.
60	Sylvia Earle	United States	2014	Lifetime Leadership: For work as an oceanographer and explorer.
59	U.S. Green Building Council	United States	2014	Entrepreneurial Vision: For green building practices.
58	Brian McClendon	United States	2013	Entrepreneurial Vision: For Google Earth's contribution.
57	Carlo Petrini	Italy	2013	Inspiration and Action: For the Slow Food movement.
56	Izabella Teixeira	Brazil	2013	Policy Leadership: For reducing Amazon deforestation.
55	Jack Dangermond	United States	2013	Entrepreneurial Vision: For ESRI's GIS technology.
54	Janez Potočnik	Slovenia	2013	Policy Leadership: For EU environmental policy.
53	Martha Isabel Ruiz Corzo	Mexico	2013	Inspiration and Action: For community-based conservation.
52	Veerabhadran Ramanathan	India	2013	Science and Innovation: For research on climate pollutants.
51	Bertrand Piccard	Switzerland	2012	Inspiration and Action: For Solar Impulse.
50	Sander Van der Leeuw	Netherlands	2012	Science and Innovation: For human-environment interactions.
49	Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber	UAE	2012	Entrepreneurial Vision: For leadership of Masdar.
48	Fabio Coletti Barbosa	Brazil	2012	Entrepreneurial Vision: For corporate sustainability.
47	Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj	Mongolia	2012	Policy Leadership: For sustainable development.
46	Samson Parashina	Kenya	2012	Grassroots Initiatives: For Maasai community conservation.
45	Angélique Kidjo	Benin	2011	Inspiration and Action: For justice advocacy in Africa.
44	Dr. Olga Speranskaya	Russia	2011	Science and Innovation: For toxic chemical safety.
43	Felipe Calderón	Mexico	2011	Policy Leadership: For climate change and green growth leadership.
42	Louis Palmer	Switzerland	2011	Inspiration and Action: For solar taxi world tours.
41	Zhang Yue	China	2011	Entrepreneurial Vision: For energy-efficient building.
40	Taro Takahashi	Japan	2010	Science and Innovation: For ocean carbon cycles research.
39	Bharrat Jagdeo	Guyana	2010	Biodiversity: For Low Carbon Development Strategy.
38	Mohamed Nasheed	Maldives	2010	Policy Leadership: For climate and sea-level rise leadership.
37	Mostapha Zaher	Afghanistan	2010	Inspiration and Action: For environmental governance.
36	Vinod Khosla	India	2010	Entrepreneurial Vision: For investment in clean technology.
35	Zhou Xun	China	2010	Inspiration and Action: For green living ambassador role.
34	Erik Solheim	Norway	2009	Policy Leadership: For conservation and climate advocacy.
33	Kevin Conrad	Papua New Guinea	2009	Policy Leadership: For Rainforest Nations leadership.
32	Janine Benyus	United States	2009	Science and Innovation: For biomimicry.
31	Ron Gonen	United States	2009	Entrepreneurial Vision: For waste reduction efforts.
30	Tulsi Tanti	India	2009	Entrepreneurial Vision: For wind energy development.
29	Yann Arthus-Bertrand	France	2009	Inspiration and Action: For aerial photography.
28	Balgis Osman-Elasha	Sudan	2008	Science and Innovation: For adaptation research in Africa.
27	Atiq Rahman	Bangladesh	2008	Science and Innovation: For environment management.
26	Prince Albert II	Monaco	2008	Policy Leadership: For sustainable development and polar research.
25	Liz Thompson	Barbados	2008	Policy Leadership: For Small Island States leadership.
24	Timothy E. Wirth	United States	2008	Policy Leadership: For UN Foundation leadership.
23	Abdul-Qader Ba-Jammal	Yemen	2008	Policy Leadership: For Socotra Island protection.
22	Helen Clark	New Zealand	2008	Policy Leadership: For low-carbon strategies.
21	Cherif Rahmani	Algeria	2007	Policy Leadership: For combating desertification.
20	Elisea Gozun	Philippines	2007	Policy Leadership: For environmental governance.
19	Viveka Bohn	Sweden	2007	Policy Leadership: For chemical safety diplomacy.
18	Marina Silva	Brazil	2007	Policy Leadership: For protection of the Amazon.
17	Al Gore	United States	2007	Policy Leadership: For prioritizing climate change.
16	Prince Hassan Bin Talal	Jordan	2007	Policy Leadership: For transboundary cooperation.
15	Jacques Rogge & IOC	Belgium	2007	Special Award: For greening the Olympic Games.
14	Rosa Elena Simeon Negrin	Cuba	2006	Policy Leadership: For science and environment in Cuba.
13	WEDO	United States	2006	Inspiration and Action: For women's rights and health.
12	Tewolde Gebre Egziabher	Ethiopia	2006	Policy Leadership: For biodiversity and community rights.
11	Masoumeh Ebtekar	Iran	2006	Policy Leadership: For leadership as Vice President of Iran.
10	Mohamed El-Ashry	Egypt	2006	Lifetime Achievement: For leadership at the GEF.
9	Tommy Koh Thong Bee	Singapore	2006	Policy Leadership: For the Earth Summit role.
8	Mikhail Gorbachev	Russia	2006	Lifetime Achievement: For Green Cross International.
7	King Jigme Singye	Bhutan	2005	Policy Leadership: For Bhutan's green development.
6	Sheikh Zayed Al Nahyan	UAE	2005	Lifetime Achievement: For afforestation and protection.
5	Thabo Mbeki	South Africa	2005	Policy Leadership: For sustainable development.
4	Patriarch Bartholomew	Turkey	2005	Inspiration and Action: For religious concern for nature.
3	Sheila Watt-Cloutier	Canada	2005	Inspiration and Action: For global warming's impact on Inuit.
2	Julia Carabias Lillo	Mexico	2005	Policy Leadership: For research and policy in Mexico.
1	Zhou Qiang & ACYF	China	2005	Inspiration and Action: For mobilizing youth in China.

UNITED NATIONS ENVIROMENT PROGRAME

Champions of the Earth

Champions of the Earth

Champions of the Earth Laureates (2025)

IMAZON

Manfredi Caltagirone

Mariam Issoufou

P I S F C C

Supriya Sahu

Champions of the Earth Laureates (2024)

Amy Bowers Cordalis

Gabriel Paun

Lu Qi

Madhav Gadgil

SEKEM

Sonia Guajajara

Champions of the Earth Laureates (2023)

Blue Circle

C S I R

Ellen Macarthur Foundation

Jose Manuel Moller

Josefina Belmonte

Champions of the Earth Laureates (2022)

Arcenciel

Cecile Bibiane Ndjebet

Constantino Aucca Chutas

Dr. Purnima Devi Barman

Partha Dasgupta

Champions of the Earth Laureates (2021)

Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka

Maria Kolesnikova

Mia Mottley

Sea Women of Melanesia

David Attenborough

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