SEOUL, South Korea, Friday April 23, 2010 – Guyana’s President Bharrat Jagdeo has received the United Nation’s highest environmental award, and he isn’t keeping a cent of the prize money for himself.
Jagdeo, who was among six people to receive the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) 2010 Champion of the Earth Award yesterday, will donate the US$40,000 to Amerindian communities in Guyana, according to a government statement.
The Guyana President received the prestigious award for his outstanding international leadership on combating climate change and his pioneering model on low carbon economic development.
“His tireless advocacy, particularly on the urgent need to protect the world’s forests, has made a tremendous contribution to the international climate change agenda”.--Lord Nicholas Stern
“President Jagdeo is a powerful advocate of the need to conserve and more intelligently manage the planet’s natural and nature-based assets,” said UN Under-Secretary-General and UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner in presenting the award.
“He has recognised more than most the multiple Green Economy benefits of forests in terms of combating climate change, but also in terms of development, employment, improved water supplies and the conservation of biodiversity.”
According to the UNEP, the award is given to “people and organisations truly distinguished’ when it comes to making a real difference in protecting the planet earth.
It said the Champions of the Earth Award honours the “best and brightest as they strive to take action for our planet through their visionary thinking, unwavering dedication and committed action towards the sustainable use of the planet’s resources for global green growth”.
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