♦ The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has awarded prominent Indian Environmentalist Madhav Gadgil with the Lifetime Achievement Award on 20 December 2024.

♦ This is the United Nations’ highest environmental honour. Gadgil now joins the hall of fame with other esteemed laureates such as David Attenborough and Joan Carling.

♦ In total, six individuals have been named recipients of the Champions of the Earth 2024 Award: Amy Bowers Cordalis and Gabriel Paun for Inspiration and Action; Lu Qi for Science and Innovation; Sekem for Entrepreneurial Vision; and Sonia Guajajara for Policy Leadership.

♦ Madhav Gadgil has authored seven books and over 200 scientific papers. His landmark work, famously known as the Gadgil Report, called for the protection of India’s ecologically sensitive Western Ghats mountain range.