UNEP on Tuesday announced the transformative impact of champions on the environment and their leadership role in promoting bold and decisive action on behalf of people and the planet.

In addition to the Prime Minister, a scientist, indigenous women and an entrepreneur were nominated for the award.

Since its inception in 2005, the annual Champions of the Earth award has been presented to some of the world’s most dynamic environmental leaders.

To date, it has been awarded to 101 winners, including 25 world leaders, 62 individuals and 14 organizations. This year UNEP received a record number of nominations from around the world.

“As we enter a crucial decade to reduce emissions and protect and restore ecosystems, UNEP’s Champions of the Earth show that we can all contribute. Every single act counts for nature. The entire spectrum of humanity has both a global responsibility and a great opportunity, “said Inger Andersen, Executive Director of UNEP.

“This year’s champions are women who not only inspire us, but also remind us that we have the solutions, knowledge and technology in our hands to limit climate change and avoid ecological collapse.”

UNEP Champions of the Earth 2021 are Prime Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados, who was honored in the Policy Leadership category for her powerful voice for a sustainable world from the global south, which constantly raises the alarm about the vulnerability of the small island developing states due to the climate emergency.

The prime minister is a driving force behind climate change across the Latin American and Caribbean region – he was the first to agree on the action plan for the UN Decade for Ecosystem Restoration.

Under her leadership, Barbados has set ambitious renewable energy targets and committed to a fossil fuel free electricity and transportation sector by 2030. At the same time, Barbados is implementing numerous conservation and restoration projects, from forests to cities to the coast and the sea.

She is also the co-chair of the One Health Global Leaders’ Group on Antimicrobial Resistance.

Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka (Uganda), recognized in the Science and Innovation category, was the Uganda Wildlife Authority’s very first wildlife vet and is a recognized world authority on primates and zoonoses.

As the founder and CEO of Conservation Through Public Health (CTPH), she leads the implementation of three integrated strategic programs based on the aOne Health approach.

Maria Kolesnikova (Kyrgyz Republic), awarded in the Entrepreneurial Vision category, is an environmental activist, youth advocate and director of MoveGreen, an organization that works to monitor and improve air quality in Central Asia.

Under Kolesnikova, MoveGreen developed an app called AQ.kg, which collects data on the concentration of pollutants in the air, including PM2.5 and PM10 and nitrogen dioxide, every 20 minutes from the two largest Kyrgyz cities, Bishkek and Osh.

By reinforcing the significant work that is being done at the forefront of the environment, the Champions of the Earth Awards aim to inspire and motivate more people to face the triple planetary crisis – climate change, loss of nature and biodiversity, and pollution, Chemicals and waste – to ask.

This year’s awards highlight the UN Decade for Ecosystem Restoration, which runs until 2030, coinciding with the deadline for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

By stopping and reversing the destruction of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, the world can prevent the loss of a million endangered species. Scientists say restoring just 15 percent of ecosystems in priority areas and thereby improving habitats can reduce extinction by 60 percent.

It has never been more urgent to revive damaged ecosystems. Ecosystems support all life on earth. The healthier the ecosystem, the healthier the planet – and its people.

The restoration of ecosystems will only succeed if everyone joins the #GenerationRestoration movement to prevent, stop and reverse the destruction of ecosystems worldwide.

**

The above article was published by a news agency with minimal changes to the headline and text.