Trailblazing Climate Leadership by Supriya Sahu

Global Recognition for Climate Action

Trailblazing Climate Leadership by Supriya Sahu: Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary of Tamil Nadu, has been honoured with the Champions of the Earth 2025 Award, the highest environmental recognition of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The award, announced at UNEA-7 in Nairobi, celebrates her contribution to sustainable cooling, ecosystem restoration, and climate adaptation.
This recognition places Tamil Nadu among the leading global models for climate-resilient governance.

Why the Award Matters

She was selected under the Inspiration and Action category, which recognises individuals generating measurable environmental benefits.
Her initiatives have expanded green jobs, strengthened climate resilience, and positioned Tamil Nadu as a key driver of adaptation solutions.
Static GK fact: UNEP was founded in 1972 and is headquartered in Nairobi.

Key Climate Achievements

Supriya Sahu’s leadership resulted in 2.5 million green jobs, expanded forest cover, and improved climate resilience for nearly 12 million people.
These results come at a time when global temperatures may cross 1.5°C in the next decade, heightening heat-related challenges.
Static GK fact: The Paris Agreement aims to limit global warming to well below 2°C.

Sustainable Cooling Innovations

Tamil Nadu has pioneered heat-resilient public infrastructure under her guidance.
Tree-lined corridors, community shade systems, and targeted heat-action plans now support vulnerable populations.
These measures provide scalable models for urban climate governance across India.

Advancing Ecosystem Restoration

Her policy interventions strengthened mangrove restoration, wetland protection, and grassland regeneration.
These ecosystems enhance carbon sequestration and safeguard biodiversity across Tamil Nadu.
Static GK Tip: India has 19 major wetlands designated under the Ramsar Convention.

Community-Centric Climate Governance

A defining feature of her work is the integration of citizen participation with administrative action.
Her programs use both low-tech and advanced digital tools to create community-driven climate solutions.
This hybrid model shows how people-centric governance strengthens long-term environmental resilience.

Other Champions of the Earth 2025 Laureates

The 2025 laureates represent diverse climate solutions across continents.
They include a Pacific Islands youth group advocating climate justice, Imazon from Brazil for AI-based forest monitoring, Mariam Issoufou for climate-resilient architecture, and Manfredi Caltagirone (posthumous) for methane-reduction research.
Their work underlines the global demand for innovative and justice-oriented environmental action.

Award’s Wider Significance

The Champions of the Earth Award, established in 2005, marks its 20th year of honouring global environmental leaders.
Its categories include policy leadership, entrepreneurial vision, inspiration and action, and science and innovation.
With adaptation costs for developing countries projected to reach USD 365 billion annually by 2035, the award stresses the urgency of climate-ready development strategies.
Static GK fact: India’s first national climate policy framework was the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC), launched in 2008.

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