Context

• PM Narendra Modi has been awarded with the UN’s highest environmental honour for his leadership of the International Solar Alliance and pledge to eliminate single use plastic in India by 2022.
• Six of the world’s most outstanding environmental change makers have been recognised with the UN’s highest environmental honour.
• The laureates are recognised for a combination of bold, innovative, and tireless efforts to tackle some of the most urgent environmental issues of our times.

About

• French President Mr. Macron and PM Modi have been jointly recognised in the Policy Leadership category for their pioneering work in championing the International Solar Alliance.
• They have been promoting new areas of cooperation on environmental action, including Macron’s work on the Global Pact for the Environment and Modi’s unprecedented pledge to eliminate all single-use plastic in India by 2022.
• The other recipients of the award include indigenous activist Joan Carling, Food company Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods, which develops plant-based substitutes for meat and dairy products, and China’s Zhejiang’s Green Rural Revival Programme
• Cochin International Airport has also been honoured this year with the award for Entrepreneurial Vision, for its leadership in the use of sustainable energy.

Champions of the Earth

• The United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment) established Champions of the Earth in 2005 as an annual awards programme to recognize outstanding environmental leaders from the public and private sectors, and from civil society.
• Typically, five to seven laureates are selected annually.
• Each laureate is invited to an award ceremony to receive a trophy, give an acceptance speech and take part in a press conference.
• No financial awards are conferred.
• This awards programme is a successor to UNEP’s Global 500 Roll of Honour.