Nairobi, 10 December 2025 – As the world moves to slow climate change and create a more sustainable future, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) today 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.
“As the global impacts of the climate crisis intensify, innovation and leadership across every sector of society have never been more essential,” said Inger Andersen, Executive Director of UNEP. “Young students demanding climate justice, subnational governments and architects leading on sustainable cooling and smart building design, research institutes slowing deforestation, and passionate individuals driving methane emissions reductions – this year’s Champions of the Earth show the kind of leadership that will inspire the world to face down the challenge of climate change.”
Now in its 20th year, UNEP’s Champions of the Earth award is the UN’s highest environmental honour, celebrating environmental leaders who deliver important solutions in their fields. This year’s laureates – announced on the margins of the seventh session of the UN Environment assembly - are tackling some of the most urgent challenges of our time: climate justice, methane emissions, sustainable cooling, resilient buildings, and forest conservation. Since 2005, the award has recognized 127 leaders whose vision and courage inspire global action.
内罗毕，2025年12月10日——在全球携手减缓气候变化、共建可持续未来的关键阶段，联合国环境规划署 (UNEP) 于今日宣布，授予五大气候行动先锋2025年“地球卫士奖”。这五大领军人物的行动领域覆盖气候公正、可持续降温及森林保护等多个关键方向，以实际行动印证：唯有秉持果敢担当，方能为人类与地球带来切实变革。
环境署执行主任英格·安德森 (Inger Andersen) 表示：“随着气候危机的全球性影响持续加剧，社会各界的创新实践与先锋引领作用比以往任何时候都更为关键。今年的获奖者中，有为气候公正奔走呼吁的青年学子，有主导可持续降温与智慧建筑设计的地方政府与建筑师群体，有致力于遏制毁林现象的科研机构，亦有矢志推动甲烷减排的个人。他们所展现的引领力量，必将激励全球共同直面气候变化的挑战。”
环境署“地球卫士奖”今年迎来设立20周年，该奖项是联合国最高级别的环保荣誉，旨在表彰在各自领域为环境保护提供重要解决方案的杰出领导者。本年度获奖者名单于第七届联合国环境大会期间正式公布，获奖者致力于攻克当下若干最紧迫的挑战：气候公正、甲烷减排、可持续降温、有抵御灾害能力的建筑及森林保护。自2005年设立以来，该奖项已先后表彰127位领袖，他们凭借远见卓识与无畏担当，持续激励全球行动。

UNEP’s 2025 Champions of the Earth are:
Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change – 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.
     
Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary, Government of Tamil Nadu – Inspiration and Action
A pioneer in sustainable cooling and ecosystem restoration, 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.
     
Mariam Issoufou, Principal and Founder, Mariam Issoufou Architects, Niger/France– 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 – 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) – Lifetime Achievement
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.

环境署2025年“地球卫士奖”获奖者名单如下：
太平洋岛国遏制气候变化学生组织 (Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change) ——政策领导力奖
该组织是由青年领导的非政府组织，成功推动了国际法院发表具有里程碑意义的意见，明确各国负有防止气候危害、保护人权的法律义务。其发起的行动正重塑全球气候法律体系，为弱势国家赋权赋能。
苏普丽雅·萨胡（Supriya Sahu, 印度泰米尔纳德邦政府副首席秘书）——激励与行动奖
作为可持续降温与生态系统恢复领域的先驱人物，萨胡女士主导的系列举措已创造250万个绿色就业岗位，扩大了森林覆盖面积，并将热适应系统融入基础设施规划，惠及1200万人，为提升气候韧性树立了典范。
玛丽亚姆·伊素福（Mariam Issoufou, 尼日尔/法国，玛丽亚姆·伊素福建筑事务所创始人兼负责人）——商界卓识奖
她的设计理念根植于本土材料与文化传统，正改变非洲萨赫勒地区的建筑设计格局，也重新定义了可持续、抵御气候灾害型住房的标准，激励着萨赫勒及更广地区涌现新一代具有抵御灾害能力的建筑设计。她设计的尼日尔“希克玛”(Hikma) 社区综合体，运用了被动式降温手段，无需空调即可实现10°C降温效果。
亚马逊人类与环境研究院（Imazon, 巴西）——科学与创新奖
该研究院融合前沿科学与人工智能地理空间技术工具，有效遏制森林砍伐。其研究成果不仅强化了森林治理体系，为数千起诉讼案件提供支撑，更揭示了非法毁林的真实规模与影响，推动亚马逊地区实现系统性变革。
曼弗雷迪·卡尔塔吉罗内（Manfredi Caltagirone, 追授）——终身成就奖
作为环境署国际甲烷排放观察站前负责人，卡尔塔吉罗内先生毕生倡导基于科学与透明的甲烷治理行动，推动了欧盟出台首部甲烷排放法规，深刻影响了全球能源政策走向。

The work of this year’s laureates 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. 
本年度获奖者的工作聚焦气候变化危机这一核心议题：全球气温预计将在未来十年内突破1.5°C的升温阈值，而当前各方作出的承诺仍未达到《巴黎协定》设定的目标。到2035年，发展中国家的气候适应成本或将达到每年3100亿至3650亿美元，这一数字是当前资金投入规模的12倍。然而，这些“地球卫士”证明：行动不仅切实可行，而且力量非凡。当下减少甲烷排放，可在数年内实现地球降温，同时改善空气质量、创造就业岗位。森林生态恢复工作能够保障水资源安全、降低灾害风险、保护生物多样性。可持续降温和有抵御灾害能力的建筑能够挽救生命、保障食品及疫苗安全，维持经济高效运转。气候公正则能确保弱势群体的诉求被听见，并获得法律层面的坚实保障。

NOTES TO EDITORS
About Champions of the Earth 
UNEP's Champions of the Earth honours individuals, groups, and organizations whose actions have a transformative impact on the environment. The award is the UN's highest environmental honour. #EarthChamps
About the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
The UN Environment Programme is the leading global voice on the environment. It provides leadership and encourages partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations.
编者注
关于“地球卫士奖”
环境署“地球卫士奖”旨在表彰通过行动对环境产生变革性影响的个人、团体及组织。该奖项是联合国最高级别的环保荣誉。#地球卫士奖
关于联合国环境规划署（环境署/UNEP）
环境署是全球环境事务的牵头机构。通过激励、宣传并促进各国及其人民在不损害后代利益的情况下提高生活质量，环境署在爱护环境方面发挥领导作用，鼓励伙伴关系。

（Translation from UNEP's）

（翻译来源于环境署）