2012 Champions of the Earth Award

Award Comes in Run Up to Rio+20 and UNEP's 40th Anniversary Celebrations

The 2012 Champions of the Earth - the United Nations' flagship environment award that recognizes outstanding visionaries and leaders in the fields of policy, science, entrepreneurship and civil society action - comes in the run up to Rio+20 or two decades after the Rio Earth Summit of 1992 that established treaties on biodiversity, climate change and land desertification and set the course for contemporary sustainable development. It also comes 40 years after the Stockholm Conference that established the UN Environment Program (UNEP).

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Photo Galleries

The 2011 Champions of the Earth Award in pictures. Jumbo Screens in New York's Times Square featuring
the 2011 UNEP Champions of the Earth laureates

Videos

Watch highlights of the 2011 Champions of the Earth award ceremony.Jumbo Screens in New York's Times Square featuring the 2011 UNEP Champions of the Earth

Quotes

Olga Speranskaya, Russia
Champions of the Earth Laureate, 2011 - Science and Innovation

“I believe that chemical contamination of the environment and humans is the greatest threat we are facing now. However, by promoting environmentally sound elimination of hazardous waste, switching to environmentally friendly technologies, and finding safe alternatives to toxic chemicals, we will make a real change in achieving sustainable development.”