Champions of the Earth Award 2023

In 2023, UNEP’s Champions of the Earth seeks innovations, solutions, actions and initiatives working to ‘Beat Plastic Pollution’.

It is the UN’s highest environmental honour which is awarded annually.
Awarded by - United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
Launch – 2005
Recognition – To leaders from government, civil society and private sector for their transformation impact on the environment
Categories - It is celebrated under 4 categories.
It has recognised 116 laureates (27 world leaders, 70 individuals, and 9 organisations).
2023 Award - It focuses on initiatives addressing plastic pollution.

Categories	Reason	2023 Award	Reason
Policy Leadership	For global or national action for the environment	Josefina Belmonte Belmonte (Philippines)	For using local authorities in solving global environmental problems
Inspiration and action	For taking steps to inspire positive change to protect our world	Ellen MacArthur Foundation (UK)	For driving global shift towards lifecycle approach for plastics
Inspiration and action		José Manuel Moller (Chile)	For reusing plastic to enable economic, social and environmental benefits
Entrepreneurial vision	For challenging status quo to build a cleaner future	Blue Circle (China’s largest marine plastic waste programme	For using blockchain technology for future environmental action
Science and innovation	For pushing boundaries of technology for profound environmental benefit	Council for Scientific & Industrial Research (South Africa)	For science based, data driven solutions to tackle plastic pollution

By 2040, carbon emissions associated with plastics could account for nearly one-fifth of global greenhouse gas emissions.

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