聯合國環境規劃署(UNEP)的「地球鬥士獎」(Champions of the Earth)的七名得主因傑出的環境成就而獲獎，其中包括一名現任總理、一名卸任總理及一位王儲。今年來自世界各地的得獎者，其成就皆與全球暖化有關。
除此之外，環境規劃署還頒發特別獎給克拉克總理（Helen Clark），以讚揚她的特殊貢獻。環境規劃署在1月28日頒獎時表示：「克拉克為紐西蘭確立『碳中和』目標，讓紐西蘭在自然環境充滿挑戰的今天，領先其他國家。」
克拉克最受聯合國環境規劃署青睞的三個主要政策提案分別是：排放交易方案、能源政策以及能源效率節約政策。「地球鬥士獎」將在今年世界地球日4月22日於新加坡的典禮中正式頒發。
2008年的「地球鬥士獎」得主：
非洲：Balgis Osman-Elasha；蘇丹環境與自然資源高等協調會的資深研究員。
亞太地區：Atiq Rahman；高等學術Bangladesh中心的執行長。
歐洲：摩洛哥王儲亞柏特二世。
拉丁美洲和加勒比海：Liz Thompson；巴貝多的前任能源暨環境部長。
北美洲：Timothy Wirth；聯合國基金會和好世界基金(Better World Fund)主席，美國科羅拉多洲前參議員。
西亞：Abdul-Qader Ba-Jammal；葉門人民代表大會的秘書長，前葉門總理。
環境規劃署的執行長史坦納(Achim Steiner)表示：「今天，環境面臨前所未有的挑戰。我們迫切的需要像2008年的『地球鬥士獎』得主，這些肯對環境投注心力的領導者，他們驅策實際而正面的改變，刺激環境問題的解決方案。與此同時，這些激勵人心的人士也證明了不同發展途徑的可能性，且轉型綠色經濟的過程更充滿各種機會。」
A prime minister, a former prime minister, and a prince are among seven Champions of the Earth selected for recognition as outstanding environmental achievers by the UN Environment Programme. The work of this year's champions - one from each region of the world - is all related to global warming in some way.
Prime Minister Helen Clark is being honored with a UNEP Special Prize in addition to the Champion of the Earth recognition. "By setting a carbon neutral goal for New Zealand, Clark has put her country at the forefront of today's environmental challenges," UNEP said, announcing the awards on Monday.
Three major policy initiatives launched by Clark attracted UNEP's favorable attention - the Emissions Trading Scheme; the Energy Strategy; and the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy. The Champions of the Earth prizes will be presented at a ceremony in Singapore on Earth Day April 22.
The 2008 Champions of the Earth:
Africa: Balgis Osman-Elasha, a senior researcher at Sudan's Higher Council for Environment and Natural Resources;
Asia and the Pacific: Atiq Rahman, executive director of the Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies
Europe: Prince Albert II of Monaco
Latin America and the Caribbean: Liz Thompson, the former energy and environment minister of Barbados
North America: Timothy Wirth, president of the United Nations Foundation and Better World Fund, former U.S. Senator from Colorado
West Asia: Abdul-Qader Ba-Jammal, secretary-general of the Yemen People's General Congress, former prime minister of Yemen
"Today, we face environmental challenges of unprecedented magnitude. More than ever, our planet needs committed leaders and achievers like the 2008 Champions of the Earth who spur real, positive change and fuel innovative solutions to environmental problems," said UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner.
"In doing so, these inspirational individuals demonstrate not only that action and different development paths are possible but also the abundant opportunities arising as a result of a transformation towards a green economy," he said.
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作者
In my healing journey and learning to attain the breath awareness, I become aware of the reality that all the creatures of the world are breathing the same breath. Take action, here and now. From my physical being to the every corner of this out of balance's planet.
