IAS officer Supriya Sahu wins United Nation’s highest environmental honour

Tamil Nadu’s Additional Chief Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Forests, IAS officer Supriya Sahu, has been honoured with the United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) Champions of the Earth award, the UN’s highest recognition for environmental leadership.

At a ceremony in Nairobi, Sahu was celebrated for her bold, solutions-driven work on some of India’s most urgent environmental challenges.

The Champions of the Earth award is presented annually to individuals and institutions whose actions have had a significant impact on environmental protection and climate action.

At the ceremony, Sahu’s recent efforts, including her innovative work on sustainable cooling, were highlighted as models for addressing a warming world.

Sahu spoke about why climate action must become a people’s movement. She emphasised that, while governments have a role in tackling climate change, real and lasting change begins when ordinary people take action.

Sahu is part of the 2025 cohort of global laureates recognised by UNEP for their contributions to tackling environmental issues such as plastics, biodiversity conservation, and ecosystem restoration.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin took to social media platform X to congratulate Sahu, calling her achievement a moment of pride for Tamil Nadu. He noted that her dedicated work has helped secure a “special place for Tamil Nadu at the global level in climate action,” and expressed hope that the recognition would further boost ongoing environmental initiatives in the state.

In his post, Stalin also encouraged continued focus on priorities such as wetland protection, mangrove expansion, conservation of endangered species, and reduction of plastic use.

Sahu’s win reflects India’s growing role in global environmental leadership, particularly through work on climate resilience and community-centred conservation strategies.