Tamil Nadu IAS officer Supriya Sahu has been awarded the 2025 UN Champions of the Earth honour for Inspiration and Action, the highest environmental recognition given by the United Nations. The award was presented to her in Nairobi on Wednesday by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), which praised her long-standing commitment to tackling some of India’s most critical environmental challenges.
Sahu has been serving as Tamil Nadu’s Additional Chief Secretary in the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Forests for the past four and a half years. During this time, she has played a key role in several conservation projects, community-led environmental initiatives and plastic-reduction programmes across the state.
Who Is Supriya Sahu?
Supriya Sahu is a senior IAS officer with nearly 30 years of experience in public service. Over the years, she has built a reputation as a committed environmentalist who believes in involving local communities in every conservation effort. She has served in various administrative roles, but her most significant work has come from her leadership in the Environment, Climate Change and Forests Department in Tamil Nadu.
Her connection with nature began early in life. Because her father’s job required frequent travel, she spent much of her childhood exploring different parts of India. These experiences shaped her deep affection for wildlife and natural landscapes. She is especially known for her admiration of elephants, often describing them as symbols of strength, patience and family bonding. Her social media accounts frequently feature stories and posts about elephants and other wildlife she encounters in her work.
Recognised for Leadership in Conservation
According to UNEP, Sahu was selected for the award because of her “pioneering and persistent” leadership in areas such as wildlife protection, plastic management and restoration of fragile ecosystems. Her work in mobilising communities, local bodies and young volunteers has been highlighted as a major reason behind Tamil Nadu’s progress on environmental fronts in recent years.
In a press release, UNEP noted that Sahu’s approach stood out because she consistently focused on empowering people at the grassroots level rather than relying only on policy-level changes.
‘My Inspiration Comes From People’
After receiving the award, Sahu spoke about the individuals who shaped her journey. “My inspiration comes from people who stood by me from the local village, working with me to clean up the mangroves as their own,” she said. She also mentioned the children who motivate her to continue her work. “My inspiration also comes from those children who look up to you with the blink in their eyes,” she added.
A Journey Rooted in Childhood
Sahu’s lifelong love for nature has guided her career choices and strengthened her dedication to conservation. Her early experiences with India’s diverse landscapes still influence the way she approaches environmental challenges today.
She believes that elephants, with their resilience and unity, offer lessons that can be applied to public service. This belief has shaped her leadership style and the way she connects with people in the field.
Three Decades of Service
Now completing almost three decades in the Indian Administrative Service, Sahu has designed and led several programmes aimed at restoring wetlands, protecting endangered species and promoting climate-resilient development in rural regions. Her impact has been widely acknowledged within and outside India.
With the UN honour, her work has gained global recognition. Yet Sahu maintains that the award belongs not just to her, but to the communities and teams that joined her in every initiative. For her, environmental protection remains a shared mission—one she intends to continue with the same passion that has driven her for years.
