{President Paul Kagame has received an award from the United Nations for outstanding leadership in fighting climate change and in national environmental action.}
The recognition is one of awards presented during a global conference on biological diversity in Cancún, Mexico.
President Kagame received the highest environmental accolade dubbed ‘the Champions of the Earth award’ along with other five inspirational environmental leaders representing government, research and grassroots action yesterday.
These include President of Rwanda, Australian eco-innovator, Moroccan Agency for Sustainable Energy, Indian organizer of world’s largest beach clean-up, Honduran indigenous activist Berta Cáceres, and veteran Mexican biologist.
The award of president Kagame was handed to the Minister of Natural Ressources, Biruta Vincent who attended the global conference on biological diversity.
The annual award recognizes outstanding figures from the public and private sectors and from civil society whose actions have had a significant positive impact on the environment.
From an indigenous activist killed for protecting the environment, to the world’s largest beach clean-up organizer, this year’s awards recognize bold visionaries who confront the defining challenges of our generation, such as climate change, marine litter and the depletion of natural resources.
Each of the laureates, in different ways, shows how shifting the world onto a path that is low-carbon, efficient, inclusive, and socially, economically and environmentally sustainable is not only possible, but already in progress.
Commenting on the awards, the head of UN Environment Erik Solheim said: “All around the world, we have seen significant efforts to translate last year’s historic sustainable development agreements into action, from the ratification of the Paris Agreement on climate change and the New Urban Agenda to the intensifying of efforts to combat illegal wildlife trafficking.
“But governments know they cannot do it alone, and this year’s Champions have demonstrated the vision and engagement needed at all levels to improve our stewardship of the planet, to develop it sustainably, and secure the prosperity of all of its people.”
{{About Champions of the Earth}}
The annual Champions of the Earth prize is awarded to outstanding leaders from government, civil society and the private sector whose actions have had a positive impact on the environment.
Since being founded twelve years ago, the awards have recognized 78 laureates – ranging from leaders of nations to grassroots activists – in the categories of policy, science, business and civil society.
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