Awards & Appointments
Supriya Sahu among UNEP's 2025 Champions of the Earth
Tamil Nadu's Supriya Sahu was named a UNEP Champion of the Earth 2025 on 10 December, for work on cooling and heat resilience.
On 10 December 2025, on the margins of the seventh UN Environment Assembly in Nairobi, the UN Environment Programme named five Champions of the Earth — the UN's highest environmental honour, now in its 20th year.
One was Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary of Tamil Nadu, in the Inspiration and Action category, for work on sustainable cooling and heat resilience. Under her, Tamil Nadu became the first Indian state to recognise heat as a state-specific disaster, painted school roofs white under a Cool Roof project and expanded mangroves, wetlands and reserve forests.
Test yourself
Question 1
Supriya Sahu of Tamil Nadu was named one of UNEP's 2025 Champions of the Earth for work in which area?
- AOcean plastic clean-up
- BSustainable cooling and heat resilience
- CSnow leopard conservation
- DSolar power for villages
Show the answer and explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
She was recognised for leading sustainable cooling and heat adaptation in Tamil Nadu.
Her work includes the Cool Roof project and nature-based adaptation.
- Concept
- Champions of the Earth 2025, India
- Typical time
- 40 seconds
- Written from
- unep.org
Question 2
Which organisation gives the Champions of the Earth award?
- AThe UN Environment Programme
- BThe World Wide Fund for Nature
- CThe International Union for Conservation of Nature
- DThe UN Development Programme
Show the answer and explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
Champions of the Earth is UNEP's award, described as the UN's highest environmental honour.
UNEP is headquartered in Nairobi, where the 2025 laureates were announced.
- Concept
- Champions of the Earth award
- Typical time
- 50 seconds
- Written from
- unep.org
Question 3
Under Supriya Sahu, Tamil Nadu became the first Indian state to do what?
- ABan single-use plastic
- BDeclare a climate emergency in its assembly
- CRecognise heat as a state-specific disaster
- DSet a net-zero target for 2040
Show the answer and explanation
Correct answer: C
Explanation
Tamil Nadu officially recognised heat as a state-specific disaster, which opens disaster funds to heat relief.
UNEP cites this as one of the reasons for her award.
- Concept
- Heat as a state-specific disaster
- Typical time
- 65 seconds
- Written from
- unep.org