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  UNEP 23 Mar 06
UNEP announces Champions of the Earth 2006
Singapore to Host Top United Nations Environment Prize

Today Online 24 Mar 06
Tommy Koh is a Champion of the Earth

Channel NewsAsia 23 Mar 06
Prof Tommy Koh among seven worldwide winners of UN environment awards
By Rita Zahara, Channel NewsAsia

SINGAPORE : Singapore's Ambassador-At-Large, Professor Tommy Koh, is one of seven leaders from each region of the world who have been recognised for their environmental efforts.

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) will be presenting the Champions of the Earth awards for the second time. The prestigious award recognises those who make national and policy decisions for the good of the environment.

Professor Koh is recognised for his contributions to the cause of the environment by chairing the Earth Summit and the UN Conference on the Law of the Sea.

Others include Iran's first female vice-president and a champion of cleaner production in the petrochemical industry. The other five winners are from Ethiopia, Russia Federation, Cuba, the Women's Environment and Development Organisation (WEDO) and Egypt.

The winners will be honoured in Singapore on April 21 at a gala event hosted by UNEP, the Singapore Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources and the Singapore Tourism Board. - CNA/de

Today Online 24 Mar 06
Tommy Koh is a Champion of the Earth

SINGAPORE'S Ambassador at Large Tommy Koh was named as one of seven Champions of the Earth by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) yesterday.

The awards, presented for the second time, recognise prominent and inspirational environmental leaders from each region of the world. Other winners this year include former Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbachev and Iran's first female Vice-President Massoumeh Ebtekar.

The winners will be honoured in Singapore on April 21 at an event hosted by UNEP, the Singapore Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources and the Singapore Tourism Board.

The event and the inspiring stories of the champions will be broadcast across the Asia Pacific region by CNN and featured in such publications as Time and Fortune magazines.

Prof Koh is being recognised for his significant contributions to the protection of the environment and sustainable development. Apart from being asked to chair the preparatory committee for the 1992 UN Conference on Environment and Development, he helmed the main committee at the Earth Summit. Subsequently, the UN Secretary-General appointed him to the High-Level Advisory Board on Sustainable Development.

Prof Koh also spent a decade helping to negotiate the landmark 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, and was elected President of that Conference in its critical final year.

UNEP 23 Mar 06
UNEP announces Champions of the Earth 2006
Singapore to Host Top United Nations Environment Prize

Singapore/Nairobi - Seven 'green' leaders are to be celebrated as the 2006 Champions of the Earth by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

The awards, presented for the second time, recognize prominent and inspirational environmental leaders from each region of the world. Through leadership, vision and creativity, each Champion has made an impact at the policy level.

As announced today, the 2006 Champions of the Earth are:

Tewolde Gebre Egziabher of Ethiopia, a champion against the patenting of life forms and for community rights in Africa.

Tommy Koh of Singapore for his contributions to the cause of the environment by chairing the Earth Summit and the UN Conference on the Law of the Sea.

Mikhail Gorbachev of the Russian Federation, a champion in the field of international environmental politics and for conflict prevention on waterways globally.

Rosa Elena Simeon Negrin of Cuba, a champion of small island developing states and a subscriber and regional force behind the philosophy of 'thinking globally and acting locally'.

The Women's Environment and Development Organization (WEDO), a champion for over 15 years in the field of women's economic, social and gender rights and a beacon for the empowerment of women across the environment and development debate.

Mohamed El-Ashry of Egypt, a champion for the wise use of natural resources and a former head of the multi-billion Global Environment Facility, which helps developing countries onto the sustainable development path.

Massoumeh Ebtekar, Iran's first female vice-president and a champion of cleaner production in the petrochemical industry.

The winners will be honoured on 21 April at a gala event hosted by UNEP, the Singapore Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources and the Singapore Tourism Board, with the support of various sponsors and partners including the Asia Pacific Resources International Holdings (APRIL), the Lien Foundation and Nanyang Technological University. Other supporters of the ceremony include: CNN Fortune, Time, Eco 4 The World Foundation, Singapore Environment Council, Channel News Asia and Today.

The event and the inspiring stories of the Champions will be broadcast across the Asia Pacific region by CNN and featured in such leading publications as Time and Fortune magazines.

Klaus Toepfer, UNEP's Executive Director, thanked the sponsors and the people of Singapore for supporting and hosting the prestigious event.

"I believe that this event comes at an exciting time, where the last 12 months will go down as a period in history when we rediscovered the crucial importance of the environment for our economic, social and spiritual lives," he said.

"A renaissance in environmental politics and policy does not come in a vacuum. It emerges as a result of the collective efforts of governments, organizations and private business. It needs the long-term commitment and vision of men and women. It needs people who have been and continue to be Champions of the Earth," added Mr Toepfer.

Extracted from write-ups of award winners

ASIA AND THE PACIFIC Tommy Koh, Singapore

Tommy Koh has had a life-long love of nature. It began with his long years in the Boy Scout Movement. In Singapore, he is the Patron of The Nature Society (Singapore), Chairman of the Asia-Pacific Centre on Environmental Law and Chairman of the Advisory Committee of the Master's degree on environment management at the National University of Singapore.

At the international level, he has made significant contributions to the protection of the environment and sustainable development. He was elected to chair the preparatory committee for the 1992 UN Conference on Environment and Development. He chaired the main committee at the Earth Summit. Subsequently, the UN Secretary-General appointed him to the High-Level Advisory Board on Sustainable Development. He also spent a decade helping to negotiate the landmark 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. He was elected President of that Conference in its critical final year.

The Convention represents an important chapter in the protection of the marine environment. For his contributions to the Environment, he was made a Commander of the Order of the Golden Ark by Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands and received the Elizabeth Haub Prize for Environmental Law from the Free University of Brussels and the World Conservation Union (IUCN).

Contact: tommy_koh@mfa.gov.sg
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