The Prime Minister of Barbados, the Honourable Mia Amor Mottley has been honoured as one of this year's Champions of the Earth. (Graphic created by Regina Thomas)
By Regina Thomas on Wednesday, 8 December, 2021 at 01:12 PM
Prime Minister of Barbados, the Honourable Mia Amor Mottley is the United Nations' (UN) 2021 Champion of Earth for Policy Leadership.
The United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) Champions of Earth is an award given to individuals who have proven to be very impactful and beneficial to the environment. It is regarded as the UN’s highest environmental honour.
The Prime Minister, who has been very vocal about climate change affecting Small Island Developing States would have started a host of initiatives such as the Barbados National Energy Policy (BNEP) which is focused on making Barbados a 100% renewable energy and carbon-neutral island.
The UNEP has referred to her as a “driving force” for climate change.
Especially given her viral speech delivered at the Opening of the United Nations Climate Change Conference where she pleaded with her fellow world leaders to “try harder” to combat the global crisis.
“This year's champions are women who not only inspire us but also remind us that we have in our hands the solutions, the knowledge and the technology to limit climate change and avoid ecological collapse”, said Inger Anderson, Executive Director of UNEP, as she congratulated the women who were deemed Champions of the Earth.
Except for the Prime Minister, the remaining recipients of the award were a group of indigenous women - Sea Women of Melanesia for Inspiration and Action, a Ugandan scientist - Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka for Science and Innovation, and a Kyrgyz entrepreneur - Maria Kolesnikova for Entrepreneurial Vision.