Supriya Sahu Named 2025 Champion Of The Earth For Climate Leadership

Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary to the Government of Tamil Nadu, has been selected as one of the 2025 Champions of the Earth, the highest environmental recognition awarded by the United Nations.

UNEP announced five global laureates during the seventh UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-7) in Nairobi, celebrating bold and transformative climate action.

Sahu received the award in the Inspiration and Action category, which honours individuals whose initiatives deliver measurable benefits for both people and the planet.

Her pioneering interventions in sustainable cooling, forest restoration and heat-adaptation have made Tamil Nadu a model for climate-resilient governance.

Transformative Climate Impact in Tamil Nadu

According to UNEP, Sahu’s sustained climate efforts have generated 2.5 million green jobs, expanded the state’s forest cover and integrated passive cooling and heat-adaptation measures across public buildings and infrastructure.

These initiatives now strengthen climate resilience for nearly 12 million people in Tamil Nadu, at a time when global temperatures are on track to surpass 1.5°C within the next decade.

UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen praised Sahu’s leadership, calling her approach a blueprint for regions facing intensifying heatwaves.

Andersen said, “Even as the planet heats up, the world’s cities are warming ever faster. Into these concrete jungles, Supriya Sahu has brought the cooling spray of nature, helping millions of people, including thousands of schoolchildren, cope with the debilitating summer heat of Tamil Nadu.”

She added that Sahu’s work demonstrates the importance of sub-national leadership in shaping climate solutions that reduce reliance on energy-intensive air-conditioning and promote nature-based cooling.

A Celebrated Global Honour

Now in its 20th year, the Champions of the Earth award recognises individuals and organisations delivering decisive environmental progress.

This year’s laureates include a Pacific Islands youth group that secured a landmark International Court of Justice advisory opinion on climate justice; Sahel-based architect Mariam Issoufou for climate-resilient design; Brazil’s research institute Imazon for AI-enabled deforestation monitoring; and a posthumous lifetime achievement award for methane researcher Manfredi Caltagirone.

Accepting the award, Sahu expressed deep gratitude, saying, “I accept this award with deep humility on behalf of my team, whose work has brought me here, and on behalf of the people of Tamil Nadu, whose love and support have shaped my journey.”

Reflecting on key moments in her career, she recalled witnessing wildlife foraging through plastic waste in the Nilgiris and the protective power of mangroves during the 2004 tsunami. “From these moments I learnt a simple truth: nature protects those who protect her,” she said.

She thanked the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu for his leadership on climate action and for enabling her work in a state “that has always been ahead of its time”.

Driving Solutions for Global Climate Challenges

UNEP emphasised that the 2025 Champions of the Earth address urgent climate issues ranging from methane reduction and forest restoration to passive cooling and climate justice.

With adaptation costs in developing countries projected to rise to USD 365 billion a year by 2035, the award highlights the need for bold and innovative climate action.

Sahu’s recognition underscores Tamil Nadu’s growing reputation as a leader in climate-resilient development and demonstrates how visionary local governance can inspire global environmental progress.

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