Indian government official receives UNEP award

Indian pioneer in sustainable cooling and ecosystem restoration, Ms Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary, Government of Tamil Nadu, has been honoured as a UN Environment Programme (UNEP) ‘Champion of the Earth’ for 2025, according to a UNEP press release. The UN body recently named five climate forerunners as its 2025 Champions of the Earth. These five extraordinary leaders, who work on issues ranging from climate justice to sustainable cooling and forest protection, show that bold action can drive real change for people and planet. Ms. Sahu’s initiatives have created 2.5 million green jobs, expanded forest cover, and integrated heat adaptation into infrastructure, benefiting 12 million people and setting a model for climate resilience, says the UNEP press release.

In one of India’s most heat-vulnerable regions, Ms Sahu is putting in place a suite of effective cooling regulations and nature-based adaptation measures to improve the health and safety of families, another press release adds. Residents of Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu state in southern India, often use the saying ‘hot, hotter, and hottest’ to describe the temperature variations in their rapidly growing city. And the risk of extreme heat bouts is also increasing. In 2024, India experienced its most prolonged heatwave since 2010, with Tamil Nadu being one of the states most affected by high temperatures. The problems stemming from extreme heat disproportionately impact disadvantaged communities and are often overlooked. However, one public servant made cooling initiatives and support for vulnerable families her priority, helping lead Tamil Nadu to become the first state in India to officially declare heat a state-specific disaster. Ms Sahu has served as Additional Chief Secretary in the Department of Environment, Climate Change, and Forest for over four years. During this time, she has positioned Tamil Nadu as a global leader in climate mitigation, adaptation and heat resilience. Her initiatives have showcased how integrated governance and nature-based solutions, along with a mix of low- and high-tech interventions, can protect vulnerable communities, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The press releases states that UNEP’s 2025 Champions of the Earth are laureates whose work, including Ms Sahu’s, focuses on the crisis of climate change: global temperatures are on track to exceed 1.5°C within the next decade, and current pledges fall short of Paris Agreement goals. Adaptation costs for developing countries could reach $310 — $365 billion annually by 2035, twelve times current funding levels. Yet, these Champions prove that action is possible and powerful. Cutting methane today can cool the planet within years, improve air quality, and create jobs. Restoring forests safeguards water, reduces disasters, and protects biodiversity. Sustainable cooling and resilient buildings save lives, preserve food and vaccines, and keep economies productive. Climate justice ensures that vulnerable communities have a voice and legal protection.

The other pathbreaking laureates are listed below.

The Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change was awarded for policy leadership. A youth-led NGO that secured a landmark opinion from the International Court of Justice affirming states’ legal obligations to prevent climate harm and protect human rights, their campaign is reshaping global climate law and empowering vulnerable nations.

Mariam Issoufou, Principal and Founder, Mariam Issoufou Architects, Niger/France received it for entrepreneurial vision. By grounding her architecture in local materials and cultural heritage, Ms. Issoufou is redefining sustainable, climate-resilient buildings across the Sahel and inspiring a new generation of designers shaping Africa’s built environment. Through projects like the Hikma Community Complex in Niger, she pioneers passive cooling techniques that keep buildings up to 10°C cooler without air conditioning.

Imazon, Brazil got the award for science and innovation. A research institute combining science and AI-driven geospatial tools to curb deforestation, Imazon’s work has strengthened forest governance, supported thousands of legal cases, and revealed the scale of illegal deforestation — driving systemic change in the Amazon.

Manfredi Caltagirone (posthumous) was awarded the Lifetime Achievement award. Former head of UNEP’s International Methane Emissions Observatory, Mr. Caltagirone championed transparency and science-based action on methane, influencing the EU’s first regulation on methane emissions and shaping global energy policy.

Now in its 20th year, UNEP’s Champions of the Earth award is the UN’s highest environmental honour. Since 2005, the award has recognized 127 leaders whose vision and courage inspire global action.