Supriya Sahu, a senior IAS officer from Tamil Nadu, just received the prestigious 2025 UN Champions of the Earth award in Nairobi. This honor recognizes her significant impact on environmental issues. She excels in areas such as plastics pollution, wildlife conservation, and ecosystem restoration.
For more than thirty years, Sahu has dedicated her life to protecting nature. Currently, she serves as the Additional Chief Secretary for Environment and Forests in Tamil Nadu. Her love for nature started in childhood, as she traveled across India with her family and witnessed both its beauty and the damage caused by human activities.
A turning point in her career occurred while she was District Collector in the Nilgiris. She saw animals eating plastic waste and understood the urgent need for change.
The UN highlighted Sahu’s innovative ideas in local climate action. Her work includes pioneering projects that boost ecosystem health and enhance cooling solutions. She employs both technology and natural methods to protect vulnerable communities, all while creating millions of green jobs. It’s estimated that about 12 million people in Tamil Nadu have benefited from her initiatives.
One groundbreaking project Sahu launched was “Operation Blue Mountain,” aimed at banning single-use plastics in the Nilgiris. This effort came long before plastic pollution gained global attention. More recently, she founded the Tamil Nadu Green Climate Company to bolster coastal resilience and led efforts to plant over 100 million trees, increasing mangrove cover and establishing 65 new reserve forests.
Her story shows how local actions can lead to global change. As Sahu herself notes, her work draws inspiration from the resilience of local villagers and the strength of families, much like elephants in the wild.
This award not only celebrates her achievements but also serves as a reminder of the importance of dedicated leadership in environmental preservation.
The UN Champions of the Earth award is the highest environmental honor given by the United Nations, acknowledging transformative efforts to protect our planet.
In a world increasingly impacted by climate change, Sahu’s work provides a compelling example of how one person can inspire a state, and potentially the globe, to prioritize ecological health.
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