Champions of the Earth

Main image: Sonia Guajajara, Brazil’s Minister of Indigenous Peoples, the first Indigenous minister in Brazil, serving in a newly established ministry created during President Lula’s term

The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) has launched a call for nominations for the annual Champions of the Earth award, the UN’s highest environmental honour, which recognises outstanding leaders from government, civil society and the private sector for their transformative impact on the environment.

This year, UNEP seeks nominations of individuals, organisations and governments developing and implementing innovative and sustainable solutions and policies that drive climate action and deliver positive benefits to people’s health and wellbeing.

This year’s awards will focus on solutions on methane, buildings and construction, sustainable cooling including energy efficiency, clean air and forests.  

A decisive year for climate action

2025 is a critical year for climate action, as governments submit a third round of five-year national climate plans (NDCs) ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference in Belem (COP30).

2025 will also mark the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement.  

Without intensified efforts, current projections show that global temperatures could rise by 2.6–3.1°C above pre-industrial levels by the end of the century.

While this is a marked improvement from the 5°C increase projected in 2010, the world remains far from the 1.5°C Paris Agreement goal.  

Tackling the climate crisis

Sustainable cooling protects people from rising temperatures, maintains food quality and safety and keeps vaccines stable and economies productive.

Action on methane can improve air quality, stop energy waste and strengthen food security – all while creating jobs through methane mitigation efforts and delivering hundreds of billions of dollars in direct economic benefits.