UN Crowns Supriya Sahu as Champion of the Earth 2025 — But Who Is This Remarkable IAS Officer?

Supriya Sahu, a 1991-batch Indian Administrative Service officer, has emerged as one of India’s strongest voices for climate action and ecological restoration. Sahu has been honored in Nairobi with the 2025 UN Champions of the Earth Award—the United Nations’ highest environmental recognition. Her work stands as a powerful example of how strong, focused leadership at the state level can drive environmental action with global impact. As Tamil Nadu’s Additional Chief Secretary for Environment, Climate Change, and Forests, she has spent the past several years turning environmental challenges into opportunities for communities to thrive. Her initiatives in plastics management, ecosystem restoration, climate adaptation, and sustainable cooling have positioned Tamil Nadu as a model for climate leadership in India and the world.Early Influences: A Childhood Rooted in NatureSahu’s connection with the environment began long before she entered public service. Born on 27 July 1968, she grew up travelling across India due to her father’s job. These journeys exposed her to diverse landscapes—forests, mountains, rivers, and wildlife—that shaped her deep love for the natural world. Her admiration for elephants, often featured on her social media, reflects her belief that these gentle giants teach humanity vital lessons of resilience, leadership, and family bonding. This emotional connection stayed with her throughout her 30-year career, grounding her decisions not just in policy, but in compassion.Why the UN Honoured Supriya SahuThe United Nations recognized Sahu for her groundbreaking leadership in subnational climate action. Her environmental work goes far beyond conventional policymaking. She championed nature-based solutions, combining local traditions with modern interventions to protect fragile communities from the worsening effects of climate change. Her efforts have helped expand Tamil Nadu’s forest cover, restore mangroves, cool cities, revive wetlands, and strengthen the resilience of nearly 12 million people across the state. UNEP praised her for demonstrating that climate solutions become truly powerful when communities are empowered, ecosystems are respected, and governance is transparent and science-driven. Sahu herself often says her inspiration comes from “people who stood by me from the local village and from those children who look up to you with a blink in their eyes.A Career Built on Service, Responsibility, and ImpactOver the past three decades, Sahu has held several major positions in both the Tamil Nadu government and the Government of India. Her leadership roles include serving as Additional Chief Secretary in the Health and Family Welfare Department, overseeing the Tamil Nadu State AIDS Control Society, and managing the small tea growers’ cooperative INDCOSERVE in the Nilgiris. She also led India’s public broadcaster, Doordarshan, as Director-General, where she introduced reforms that significantly boosted revenue and modernized operations. However, it is in her current role leading Tamil Nadu’s Environment, Climate Change and Forests Department that she has delivered her most transformative impact. Her work shows the tremendous difference an experienced administrator can make when environmental protection is treated not as an obligation, but as a mission.Revolutionising Tamil Nadu’s Fight Against Climate ChangeSahu’s environmental leadership is multidimensional, rooted in a clear vision of ecological balance and people-centric governance. She helped launch the Tamil Nadu Green Climate Company, India’s first not-for-profit climate action platform run by a state government. Through missions like the Green Tamil Nadu Mission, Wetlands Mission, and Climate Change Mission, she spearheaded projects that planted over 108 million trees, restored 3,600 hectares of mangroves, and expanded forest and tree cover by nearly 1,000 square kilometers between 2021 and 2023. She was instrumental in notifying 7,000 hectares as new Reserve Forests, securing 19 new Ramsar wetlands, and establishing India’s first Dugong Conservation Reserve and the Slender Loris Sanctuary. These achievements reflect her commitment not just to protecting landscapes but to restoring entire ecosystems and safeguarding endangered species.An Inspiration for India and the WorldSupriya Sahu’s work is a reminder that governance rooted in empathy and science can change lives on a large scale. Her UN Champions of the Earth Award is not just a personal honor but a tribute to millions of Indians working silently to protect forests, coasts, wetlands, and wildlife. Through her leadership, Tamil Nadu has become one of the world’s most inspiring examples of state-driven climate action. Her journey from a nature-loving child to a globally recognized environmental leader proves that when passion meets policy, the planet benefits.