The prestigious 2024 Champions of the Earth award, granted by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), honored six outstanding leaders from the public and private sectors, civil society, and academia for their work in environmental conservation. This recognition, considered the highest environmental honor from the UN, highlights pioneering efforts in protecting the planet and its inhabitants.
On this occasion, the nominations focused on initiatives that aimed to restore degraded lands, increase resilience to drought, and combat desertification. Since 2005, the award has recognized 122 individuals and organizations committed to sustainability.
Inger Andersen, Executive Director of UNEP, emphasized the urgency of addressing environmental degradation, noting that 40% of the world’s lands are affected. However, she stressed that “there are solutions” and that the efforts of the 2024 Champions of the Earth are proof that “the fight to protect our ecosystems is a battle we can win.”
The Winners of the 2024 Champions of the Earth Award
The awardees of this edition were:
Sonia Guajajara (Brazil): Political Leadership
As the first Minister of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil, Guajajara has defended indigenous rights for over two decades. Her management led to the official recognition of ten indigenous territories, protecting them from deforestation, illegal logging, and drug trafficking.
Amy Bowers Cordalis (United States): Inspiration and Action
As a lawyer and indigenous activist, she works for the restoration of the Klamath River and the ecosystem supporting the Yurok tribe. Her work combines environmental sustainability and the defense of indigenous rights.
Gabriel Păun (Romania): Inspiration and Action
As the founder of Agent Green, he protected thousands of hectares of primary forest in the Carpathian Mountains, facing personal risks. His work safeguards endangered species like wolves and lynxes in a vital ecosystem.
Lu Qi (China): Science and Innovation
As the chief scientist of the Chinese Academy of Forestry and leader of the Great Green Wall project, Lu played a key role in reforestation and desertification reduction initiatives in China, establishing models of international cooperation.
Madhav Gadgil (India): Lifetime Achievement
Recognized for his influence in environmental protection of the Western Ghats, Gadgil combined scientific research with community involvement to preserve biodiversity and natural resources.
SEKEM Initiative (Egypt): Business Vision
SEKEM transformed desert areas into productive farmlands by promoting biodynamic agriculture. Their approach drives sustainable development and reforestation in Egypt.
SEKEM. Photo: UNEP
Restoring Global Ecosystems
UNEP warned that 3.2 billion people are at risk of desertification, and by 2050, over 75% of the world’s population could suffer the effects of drought. In response, the UN launched the Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030), with the goal of preventing, halting, and reversing environmental degradation.
The efforts of the 2024 Champions of the Earth are an inspiring example of how innovative policies, community leadership, and scientific advancements can converge to protect and heal our planet.
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