UN’s highest environmental honor for Modi and Cochin International Airport

New Delhi, Sep 27: World's most outstanding environmental change makers will be recognized with UN's highest environmental honor a Champions of the Earth Award.

The list included Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi who will be awarded under Policy Leadership category jointly with French President Emmanuel Macron. Another feat for India as Cochin International Airport will take home the award for Entrepreneurial Vision, for its leadership in the use of sustainable energy.

Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi and President of France Emmanuel Macron are recognized in the Policy Leadership category for their pioneering work in championing the International Solar Alliance and promoting new areas of levels of cooperation on environmental action, including Macron's work on the Global Pact for the Environment and Modi's unprecedented pledge to eliminate all single-use plastic in India by 2022.

The UN's highest environmental honor will be presented to outstanding environmental change makers which was announced on September 26. The champions are recognized for their achievements in the categories including Policy Leadership, Entrepreneurial Vision, Science and Innovation, Inspiration and Action, and Lifetime Achievement.

The winners of the 2018 Champions of the Earth Awards are: Joan Carling is recognized with the lifetime achievement award for her work as one of the world's most prominent defenders of environmental and indigenous rights. China's Zhejiang's Green Rural Revival Programme is awarded for Inspiration and Action for the transformation of a once heavily polluted area of rivers and streams in East China's Zhejiang province.

Cochin International Airport will take home the award for Entrepreneurial Vision, for its leadership in the use of sustainable energy. Cochin is showing the world that its ever-expanding network of global movement doesn't have to harm the environment.

The awards will be presented during the Champions of the Earth Gala in New York, on the sidelines of the 73rd UN General Assembly. The gala, hosted by actor and environmental activist Alec Baldwin and model, actress, producer and UN Environment Goodwill Ambassador Dia Mirza, will bring together a cross section of world leaders and influences to celebrate momentum for change in defense of our one planet.