UN Champions of the Earth

UN Champions of the Earth
Name	Champions of the Earth
Presenter	United Nations Environment Programme
Country	International
First awarded	2005

UN Champions of the Earth is an environmental award presented by the United Nations Environment Programme to recognize outstanding leaders from the worlds of politics, science, business, civil society, and the arts who have made transformative contributions to the protection of the environment and implementation of sustainable solutions. The prize highlights individuals and institutions that advance international action on issues such as biodiversity, climate change, pollution, and sustainable development across regions including Africa, Asia, Europe, the Americas, and Oceania. Recipients have included heads of state, corporate executives, researchers, activists, and international organizations linked to major multilateral processes such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Convention on Biological Diversity, and the Paris Agreement.

Overview

Champions of the Earth is administered by the United Nations Environment Programme and has been presented in partnership with entities like the European Union and private philanthropic foundations. Laureates have ranged from political leaders who signed or implemented global treaties such as the Montreal Protocol and the Kyoto Protocol to scientists associated with institutions like the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and conservationists working with organizations such as World Wildlife Fund, The Nature Conservancy, and Conservation International. The award seeks to elevate figures whose actions intersect with major venues and events including the United Nations General Assembly, the United Nations Climate Change Conference, and the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment.

History and Development

Launched in 2005 by the United Nations Environment Programme, the initiative built on precedents set by awards like the Right Livelihood Award and honours such as the Nobel Peace Prize when that prize recognized environmental diplomacy. Early laureates included leaders connected to initiatives stemming from the Rio Earth Summit, the Sustainable Development Goals, and post-2015 frameworks shaped at the United Nations. Over time the prize evolved to reflect shifts in global governance influenced by actors such as the G20, the World Bank, and multilateral banks including the International Monetary Fund and the European Investment Bank. The programme has periodically aligned ceremonies with major gatherings such as the UN Environment Assembly and the COP meetings of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Selection Criteria and Nomination Process

Nominations are accepted from member states of the United Nations, intergovernmental organizations, foundations, and accredited non-governmental organizations such as Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth International. A panel convened by UNEP experts evaluates candidates based on measurable outcomes tied to instruments like the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora and national policies influenced by leaders comparable to those in Costa Rica or Bhutan. Selection emphasizes demonstrable impact across metrics used by institutions such as the Global Environment Facility and the World Resources Institute, and considers contributions to multilateral agreements including the Montreal Protocol and the Paris Agreement.

Categories and Awardees

Champions of the Earth has recognized diverse categories including Policy Leadership, Science and Innovation, Entrepreneurial Vision, and Inspiration and Action. Laureates have included heads of state from countries such as Norway, Rwanda, India, and Kenya; corporate figures from firms listed on exchanges like the New York Stock Exchange and the London Stock Exchange; scientists affiliated with Harvard University, University of Oxford, Stanford University, and University of Cape Town; and activists associated with movements like Fridays for Future and leaders such as Wangari Maathai-era peers. Institutional awardees have included organizations akin to UNICEF, World Bank Group programs, major research centers such as Smithsonian Institution initiatives, and multilateral conservation projects supported by the Global Green Growth Institute.

Impact and Legacy

The award has helped raise the profiles of recipients in forums including the World Economic Forum, the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, and national parliaments. Through laureates’ advocacy, policies influenced by recipients have contributed to initiatives under the Sustainable Development Goals and informed negotiations at COP26 and subsequent climate conferences. Champions have catalyzed finance flows from entities like sovereign wealth funds and development banks, inspired partnerships with corporations such as Unilever and IKEA, and spurred academic collaboration involving institutions like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Cambridge. Their work is often cited in reports by IPCC, UNEP assessments, and analyses published by think tanks such as the Brookings Institution and Chatham House.

Criticism and Controversies

Critics have questioned award decisions when recipients have been linked to contentious policies or corporations involved in disputes adjudicated by bodies like the International Court of Justice or scrutinized in investigative reporting by outlets including The Guardian and The New York Times. Debates have arisen over perceived greenwashing when honorees were affiliated with industries regulated under agreements like the Paris Agreement or implicated in cases examined by the International Labour Organization and human rights mechanisms such as the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Transparency advocates and NGOs including Transparency International and Corporate Accountability have called for clearer disclosure of nomination dossiers and conflict-of-interest safeguards comparable to procedures used by the Nobel Committee and the Pulitzer Prize board.

Category:United Nations awards