Tamil Nadu official Supriya Sahu among UNEP 2025 Champions of Earth

Sahu’s sustainable cooling and ecosystem restoration initiatives recognised

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has honoured Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary of Tamil Nadu, as one of its 2025 Champions of the Earth.

The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) has announced its 2025 Champions of the Earth, recognising five outstanding leaders driving bold action on climate change.

In  a press statement, UNEP says that these trailblazers focus on critical areas including climate justice, sustainable cooling and forest protection, demonstrating that strong leadership can bring meaningful change for both people and the planet.

Among the winners is Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary of Tamil Nadu, who has been recognised for her pioneering work in sustainable cooling and ecosystem restoration. UNEP says that her initiatives have created 2.5 million green jobs, expanded forest cover, and integrated heat adaptation into infrastructure, benefitting 12 million people and setting a benchmark for climate resilience, it says.

Other honourees include the Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change for policy leadership in global climate law, Mariam Issoufou for sustainable architecture in the Sahel, Brazil’s Imazon for using AI and science to tackle deforestation, and Manfredi Caltagirone (posthumous) for lifetime achievement in methane emissions transparency.

“As the global impacts of the climate crisis intensify, innovation and leadership across every sector of society have never been more essential. 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,” says  Inger Andersen, Executive Director of UNEP.

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“Even as the planet heats up, the world’s cities are heating ever faster. Into these concrete jungles, Supriya Sahu has brought the cooling spray of nature, helping millions of people, among them thousands of schoolchildren, cope with the debilitating summer heat of Tamil Nadu, India. Her leadership demonstrates not just the importance of using nature to cool passively avoiding the huge energy burden of air-conditioning but the importance of sub-national leadership in addressing the climate crisis,” says Inger Andersen on Supriya Sahu.

According to the statement the work of this year’s laureates focusses 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 USD 310 to USD 365 billion annually by 2035, 12 times current funding levels.

Yet, UNEP says, 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, it says.