Champions of the Earth Award: 5 Climate Heroes Taking on Global Warming Head-On

By: Abudu Olalekan

So, the world’s on fire. Figuratively. And literally in some places. We’re all scrambling for solutions, right? Feels overwhelming. But then, you get a reminder. A nudge that the fight isn’t some abstract global thing. It’s people. Extraordinary people. On Wednesday, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) gave us exactly that. Their 2025 Champions of the Earth award. Five names. Five stories. Proof that bold action isn’t just a slogan. It’s a reality.

Inger Andersen, UNEP’s Executive Director, put it bluntly. “As the global impacts of the climate crisis intensify, innovation and leadership across every sector of society have never been more essential.” No kidding. But then she highlighted the mosaic of this year’s winners. “Young students… subnational governments and architects… research institutes… passionate individuals.” It’s this mix, she says, that “will inspire the world to face down the challenge.”

This award is a big deal. The UN’s top environmental honor. Twenty years running now. This year’s ceremony, on the sidelines of a major UN assembly, spotlighted leaders tackling the gritty, urgent stuff. Climate justice. Methane. Sustainable cooling. Resilient buildings. Forests. Since 2005, they’ve honored 127 visionaries. This year’s five? They’re a masterclass in getting stuff done.

Let’s meet them.

First, the Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change. Policy Leadership. Just kids, really. But they did what seasoned diplomats often can’t. They took the fight to the world’s highest court. And won a landmark opinion. It says states have a legal duty to prevent climate harm. To protect human rights. This isn’t just a paper victory. It’s reshaping global law. Giving the most vulnerable nations a powerful new tool. Imagine that.

Then there’s Supriya Sahu, from the Government of Tamil Nadu in India. Inspiration and Action. She’s a force of nature. Her focus? Cooling. Not with more AC units, but with nature. Restoring ecosystems, creating urban shade. Her work has spun off 2.5 million green jobs. Expanded forests. Integrated heat planning for millions. She’s building a blueprint for climate resilience that actually works for people.

Architect Mariam Issoufou brings Entrepreneurial Vision. Based in Niger and France, she looks at the scorching Sahel and sees opportunity. Not in imported glass boxes, but in local materials, ancient cultural wisdom. Her buildings, like the stunning Hikma Community Complex, use passive design to stay up to 10°C cooler. No AC needed. She’s not just designing buildings; she’s redefining what sustainable living looks like in Africa.

Over in Brazil, the research institute Imazon represents pure Science and Innovation. They’re the detectives of the Amazon. Using satellites, AI, and guts to track deforestation in real-time. Their data isn’t just for reports. It fuels thousands of legal cases, holds the powerful to account, and reveals the true scale of the destruction. They’re providing the hard evidence needed for systemic change.

Finally, a posthumous Lifetime Achievement honor for Manfredi Caltagirone. He was the methane man. Led UNEP’s push to track this super-pollutant. Methane is a beast—it traps insane heat, but fades fast if we stop emitting it. Caltagirone championed transparency, science-based action. His work directly influenced the EU’s first-ever methane regulations. His legacy is a cooler planet, sooner.

Look, the numbers are still terrifying. We’re blowing past the 1.5°C target. Funding for adaptation is a joke compared to what’s needed. The cost is staggering.

But here’s the thing these Champions remind us. Action is possible. It’s powerful. Slashing methane can cool the planet within years. Restoring forests safeguards everything from water to jobs. Smart cooling design saves lives and vaccines. Climate justice gives the voiceless a legal shield.

These five aren’t waiting for a miracle. They’re building it. Brick by brick, case by case, tree by tree. And that’s the real story. Not an award, but a signal. The fight has champions. And they’re just getting started.