Image Source: UNEP 

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has announced the recipients of its prestigious 2024 Champions of the Earth awards, recognizing six individuals and initiatives for their transformative leadership in combating environmental challenges. The honorees have been recognized for their groundbreaking efforts to address land degradation, drought, and desertification—issues that are increasingly threatening ecosystems and communities worldwide.

This year's winners include Brazil’s first Minister of Indigenous Peoples, environmental defenders from Romania and the United States, and scientists and activists driving sustainable change across the globe. The Champions of the Earth award is UNEP’s highest environmental distinction and has recognized 122 changemakers since its inception in 2005.

Trailblazers for People and Planet

The 2024 Champions represent a diverse spectrum of environmental leadership.

• Sonia Guajajara, Brazil’s Minister of Indigenous Peoples, was honored for her policy leadership in safeguarding Indigenous territories and halting deforestation. Guajajara has been an advocate for Indigenous rights for over two decades, and under her leadership, 13 Indigenous territories have been recognized to protect them from illegal logging, deforestation, and drug trafficking. As the first female Indigenous minister in Brazil, she has led transformative policy efforts to preserve the environment and uplift Indigenous communities.

• Amy Bowers Cordalis, an Indigenous rights advocate from the United States, received the Inspiration and Action award for her work restoring the Klamath River and promoting sustainable fishing practices. Cordalis has used her legal expertise to fight for the rights of the Yurok Tribe and their ecosystem, leading efforts to restore vital fish populations and protect water resources critical to the tribe’s future. Her efforts demonstrate the critical intersection of environmental and Indigenous rights.

• Gabriel Paun, founder of Romania's NGO Agent Green, was recognized for his tireless advocacy to save Europe’s last old-growth forests. Paun has been at the forefront of exposing illegal logging in the Carpathian Mountains, helping protect vital biodiversity in the region. His efforts have been fraught with danger, including death threats and physical attacks, but his work continues to play a crucial role in preserving the unique ecosystems of the Carpathians, home to species like lynx and wolves.

• Lu Qi, a Chinese scientist, was honored in the Science and Innovation category for his groundbreaking work in reversing desertification and land degradation in China. As Chief Scientist of the Chinese Academy of Forestry and founding President of the Institute of Great Green Wall, Lu has been a key figure in the world’s largest afforestation project, helping China fight desertification and desert expansion. His work is pivotal to ensuring the resilience of China’s ecosystems and combating the global crisis of land degradation.

• Madhav Gadgil, an Indian ecologist, received the Lifetime Achievement award for his decades-long commitment to environmental protection and research. Known for his work in India’s Western Ghats, a global biodiversity hotspot, Gadgil’s research has influenced policies at both state and national levels. His community-centered approach to conservation has helped safeguard fragile ecosystems, empowering local communities to engage in preserving their natural resources.

• SEKEM, a sustainable agriculture initiative based in Egypt, was honored for its innovative work in transforming desert lands into thriving agricultural businesses. By promoting biodynamic farming practices, SEKEM has successfully turned arid land into fertile soil, benefiting both the environment and local communities. The initiative has become a model for sustainable development, advancing Egypt’s ecological resilience while boosting local economies.

These champions exemplify the powerful combination of science, policy, activism, and Indigenous knowledge that is crucial to reversing environmental damage and promoting sustainability on a global scale.