Deadline: 5 May 2024
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has launched a call for nominations for the annual Champions of the Earth award – the UN’s highest environmental honour, which recognizes outstanding leaders from government, civil society, and the private sector for their transformative impact on the environment.
This year, UNEP encourages nominations of individuals and organizations developing and implementing sustainable policies and solutions to restore land, enhance drought resilience, and combat desertification.
Restoring and reviving nature is critical to improving human and planetary health. Leaders from all sectors and regions are actively working to address the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity and nature loss, and pollution and waste. The Champions of the Earth help lead that push. They reminds that environmental sustainability is key to achieving sustainable development.
Every year, UNEP honours individuals and organizations working on innovative and sustainable solutions to address the triple planetary crisis of climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste. Champions transform the economies, innovate, lead political change, fight environmental injustice, and defend the natural resources.
Award Categories
- Policy leadership: Public sector officials leading global or national action for the environment. They shape dialogue, lead commitments and act for the good of the planet.
- Inspiration and action: Leaders taking bold steps to inspire positive change to protect the world. They lead by example, challenge behavior and inspire millions.
- Entrepreneurial vision: Visionaries challenging the status quo to build a cleaner future. They build systems, create new technology and spearhead a groundbreaking vision.
- Science and innovation: Trailblazers pushing the boundaries of technology for profound environmental benefit. They invent possibilities for a more sustainable world.
Eligibility Criteria
- UNEP staff and subject experts select Champions from a list of nominations received from across the world. Nominations are open to everyone.
Selection Criteria
- The selection criteria is as follows:
- Impact: Have the nominee’s actions resulted in profound environmental gains or demonstrated significant potential for replication and scaling?
- Novelty: Has the nominee done or achieved something new and innovative?
- Influence: How compelling and inspiring is the nominee’s story?
For more information, visit UNEP.
