U.N. chief lauds Narendra Modi for climate action

Pat for work on solar alliance and single-use plastic ban

Prime Minister Narendra Modi receiving the Champions of the Earth Award from UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres in New Delhi on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred the Champions of the Earth Award by United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres at a ceremony here on Wednesday.

“In PM Narendra Modi, we have a leader who realises the issue of climate change and understands the benefits of climate action. He knows the problems and also works to solve them,” UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said at the presentation.

“It is a proud moment for India,” said External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj who was also present at the function.

Mr. Modi, while accepting the award, said the “honour is the result of the commitment that the people of India have towards the environment.”

‘Pioneering work’

Mr. Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron were among others conferred the Champions of the Earth Awards, the UN’s “highest environmental honour.” Mr. Modi is the third Indian after Tulsi Tanti, the Chairman of the Suzlon Group, and Afroz Alam, a lawyer who led the clean-up at Mumbai’s Versova beach, to be given the award. However, they have all been awarded for different categories.

Mr. Modi and Mr. Macron’s prizes were announced last week, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, in the ‘Policy Leadership category’ for their “pioneering work in championing the International Solar Alliance and promoting new areas of cooperation on environmental action, including Macron’s work on the Global Pact for the Environment and Modi’s unprecedented pledge to eliminate single-use plastic in India by 2022.”

The Cochin International Airport also received the UN award on Wednesday for ‘Entrepreneurial Vision,(and) for its leadership in the use of sustainable energy.’

The annual Champions of the Earth prize is awarded to outstanding leaders from government, civil society and the private sector whose actions have had a positive impact on the environment. Since being founded 13 years ago, the awards have recognized 84 persons – ranging from leaders of nations to grassroots activists – in the categories of policy, science, business and civil society.

( With inputs by PTI )