UNEP set to reveal 2023 Champions of the Earth Awardees

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) will announce next week the five winners of the 2023 Champions of the Earth Award, the UN’s highest environmental honour. The award, now in its 19th year, recognises pioneering leaders from government, civil society, academia, and the private sector for their transformative impacts on the natural world.
This year’s awards will honour innovators and initiatives that are helping to tackle plastic pollution, which UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres recently warned is having “catastrophic” consequences on the planet.
The laureates will be announced on October 30, 2023, ahead of the third session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee, which is developing a legally binding international instrument to end plastic pollution.
In 2023, UNEP received 2,500 nominations for the Champions of the Earth award, marking the third consecutive year in which nominations have reached a record high.
Innovative solutions
Plastic, once a boon to society, has evolved into an environmental crisis. Annual plastic production stands at a staggering 430 million metric tonnes, with two-thirds becoming waste. Over 19-23 million tonnes of plastic waste infiltrate aquatic ecosystems annually, harming the environment and contributing to global greenhouse gas emissions.
The urgency to address this crisis is evident, and experts advocate reducing plastic production, phasing out short-lived and single-use plastics, promoting reuse, embracing eco-friendly alternatives, enhancing recycling, and adopting a holistic approach to plastic pollution. The 2023 Champions of the Earth are recognized for their contributions to these vital efforts, providing hope for a sustainable future and the protection of our planet.
Making a difference
The Champions of the Earth award will celebrate visionaries in four categories: Policy Leadership, Inspiration and Action, Entrepreneurial Vision and Science and Innovation. To date, 111 laureates, including heads of state, grassroots activists, ecopreneurs, captains of industry and pioneering scientists, have been honoured as Champions of the Earth.
Last year’s laureates include economist Sir Partha Dasgupta from the United Kingdom, environmental activist Cecile Bibiane Ndjebet from Cameroon, biologist Purnima Devi Barman from India, conservationist Constantino Aucca Chutas from Peru and arcenciel, a non-profit from Lebanon.