Award winners are honored for their outstanding leadership, courageous action and sustainable solutions to address land degradation, drought and desertification.
Protect people and planet
the Champion of Earth The award is the United Nations’ highest environmental honor and recognizes pioneers from the public and private sectors, civil society and academia, who are at the forefront of efforts to protect all human beings. people and planet.
It has been awarded annually since 2005, with 122 winners to date.
This year, nominations focus on finding champions who are restoring degraded lands, increasing drought resilience and preventing desertification.
Honoring “extraordinary individuals”
UNEP CEO Inger Andersen noted that nearly 40% of the world’s land is degraded. At the same time, desertification is increasing and devastating droughts are becoming more frequent.
“The good news is that today there are solutions and around the world, extraordinary individuals and organizations are proving that it is possible to protect and heal our planet.she said.
“The efforts of the 2024 Earth Champion are a reminder of that The fight to protect our lands, rivers and oceans is a fight we can win. With the right policies, scientific breakthroughs, systemic reforms, activism, and the critical leadership and wisdom of Indigenous Peoples, we can restore our ecosystems .”
Meet the champion
Sonia GuajajaraBrazil’s Minister of Indigenous Peoples, was honored in Policy leadership type.
Ms. Guajajara has advocated for Indigenous rights for more than two decades. She became Brazil’s first Indigenous Minister and the country’s first female Indigenous Minister in 2023. Under her leadership, 10 territories were recognized as indigenous lands to prevent deforestation, illegal logging and drug trafficking.
Amy Bowers Cordalisan advocate for indigenous rights, received an award in Inspiration and action type
Ms. Cordalis is using her legal expertise and passion for recovery to ensure a better future for the Yurok and Klamath River tribes in the United States. UNEP said her work to restore river ecosystems and encourage the adoption of sustainable fishing methods shows how bold environmental action can bring about significant positive change, while while maintaining the rights and livelihoods of indigenous peoples.
Gabriel Pauna Romanian environmentalist, was honored in the competition Inspiration and action type.
Mr. Paun is the founder of Agent Green, a non-governmental organization (NGO) that has helped save thousands of hectares of precious biodiversity in the Carpathians since 2009 by exposing the destruction and illegal exploitation of the area. Europe’s last old growth forest.
He has received death threats and been physically attacked for his work documenting deforestation in an area that is important to the ecosystem and supports unique biodiversity such as lynx and dogs. Wolves are in danger of extinction.
Chinese scientist Luc Ky was honored in Science and Innovation type. He has worked in science and policy for three decades, helping China reverse recession and shrink desert areas.
As Chief Scientist of the Chinese Academy of Forestry and Founding Chairman of the Great Wall Institute, Mr. Lu played a key role in implementing the world’s largest afforestation project, establishing a network network of expert research and partnerships, and promote multilateral cooperation to prevent desertification, land degradation and drought.
Madhav GadgilAn Indian ecologist was named the winner of the competition Lifetime achievement type. He has spent decades protecting people and the planet through research and community engagement.
“From landmark environmental impact assessments of national and state policies to grassroots environmental engagement, Gadgil’s work has greatly influenced public opinion and policy knowledge about protecting natural resources.
“He is renowned for his important work in India’s ecologically fragile Western Ghats region, which is a unique global biodiversity hotspot,” UNEP said.
the SEKEM initiative in Egypt was honored in Entrepreneurial vision section to support farmers transitioning to more sustainable agriculture.
The promotion of biological agriculture combined with afforestation and reforestation has turned vast desert areas into thriving agribusinesses, promoting sustainable development across the country.
A woman carries a baby and a water container as she walks through arid lands in Niger.
Restore the world’s ecosystem
According to UNEP, about 3.2 billion people worldwide are currently threatened by desertification. Additionally, by 2050, more than three-quarters of the world’s population is expected to be affected by drought.
In March 2019, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution declaring 2021–2030 as the United Nations Decade of Ecosystem Restoration.
Led by UNEP and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and supported by partners, it aims to halt, halt and reverse the loss and degradation of ecosystems worldwide to revitalize billions of hectares of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems .
The announcement of the 2024 Earth Champion on December 10 coincided Human Rights Day and Day of resilience at the 16th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) under the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) taking place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
