Deadline: 12-Feb-21
The UN Environment Programme’s Champions of the Earth Award honours individuals, groups and organizations whose actions have a transformative impact on the environment.
The Champions of the Earth award is the United Nation’s highest environmental honour. It recognizes outstanding leaders from government, civil society and the private sector whose actions have a transformative impact on the environment. Champions of the Earth inspire, defend, mobilize and act to tackle the greatest environmental challenges of our time.
The call for nominations comes a month after UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that humanity is waging war on nature with biodiversity collapsing, ecosystems disappearing, air and water pollution killing millions of people and climate change worsening with apocalyptic fires and floods.
For the past 15 years, the Champions of the Earth award has shone a spotlight on the work of people and organizations that have dedicated their lives to working for a healthier, more just and more sustainable planet. Laureates have ranged from heads of state and community activists to captains of industry and pioneering scientists.
Nomination Categories
Every year, individuals, groups and organizations who have made outstanding contributions to the protection and restoration of the environment are recognized in four categories:
- Policy Leadership:This award category recognizes individuals or organizations in public service whose actions and leadership have brought about profound, positive change for the environment within their country or internationally.The Champions of the Earth laureates are selected by a global jury following a public nomination process. The high volume of nominations reflects how an increasing number of people understand what is possible and see the opportunities in protecting and restoring nature.
The Champions of the Earth are part of a legacy of people whose effective action led to the environmental victories that have transformed our societies for the better. The phasing out of ozone-depleting chemicals, the removal of lead from petrol, the banning of single-use plastic, the protection of endangered species and the increasing use of renewable energy stem from people’s determination, commitment, collaboration and innovation.
- Inspiration and Action:This award category recognizes individuals or organizations who have taken bold environmental action in urging and creating decisive positive change on behalf of the planet and its inhabitants. Their leadership and example inspires and motivates others.The Champions of the Earth laureates are selected by a global jury following a public nomination process. The high volume of nominations reflects how an increasing number of people understand what is possible and see the opportunities in protecting and restoring nature.
The Champions of the Earth face down adversity and affirm that humanity has the ingenuity and the ambition to protect and restore our environment. Their initiatives confront the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, and they remind us environmental sustainability is key to achieving sustainable development.
- Entrepreneurial Vision
This award category recognizes individuals or organizations that challenge the status quo. The laureates in this field demonstrate how environmental sustainability is compatible with financial profitability.
The Champions of the Earth laureates are selected by a global jury following a public nomination process. The high volume of nominations reflects how an increasing number of people understand what is possible and see the opportunities in protecting and restoring nature.
The solutions are here and people and organisations from all over the world are stepping forward to implement them. The Champions of the Earth face down adversity and affirm that humanity has the ingenuity and the ambition to protect and restore our environment. The Champions are chosen for their transformative impact on the environment and their leadership in urging bold and decisive action on behalf of the planet and its inhabitants.
- Science and Innovation
This award category recognizes individuals or organizations whose groundbreaking work pushes the boundaries of human knowledge and technology, with positive impacts on the environment.
The Champions of the Earth laureates are selected by a global jury following a public nomination process. The high volume of nominations reflects how an increasing number of people understand what is possible and see the opportunities in protecting and restoring nature.
The Champions of the Earth are part of a legacy of people whose effective action led to the environmental victories that have transformed our societies for the better. The phasing out of ozone-depleting chemicals, the removal of lead from petrol, the banning of single-use plastic, the protection of endangered species and the increasing use of renewable energy stem from people’s determination, commitment, collaboration and innovation.
Eligibility Criteria
- Nominations are open to everyone and nominees can be individuals, government entities, companies and other organizations.
Selection Process
The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Champions are selected from over global 1,500 nominations. These are received from the public nomination process.
A team of UNEP staff and subject experts reviews and considers each nomination, creating a list of finalists. These are sent to a high level jury who select the laureates. In 2020, the jury consisted of five leaders of United Nations and other international organizations.
The criteria for selection are:
- Impact – Have the nominee’s actions resulted in profound environmental gains or demonstrated significant potential for replication and scaling?
- Novelty – Has the nominee done or achieved something new and innovative?
- Power of the story – How compelling and inspiring is the nominee’s story?
For more information, visit https://www.unenvironment.org/news-and-stories/press-release/unep-opens-2021-nominations-prestigious-champions-earth-award