PM Modi receives 'United Nations Champions of the Earth' award

Earlier, when the award was announced, Modi in a video message had said, "I would like to express my gratitude to the global community for conferring this honour upon me. This honour is not meant for an individual, but rather for the great Indian tradition, through which for centuries, we have been taught values like co-exisiting with nature," Modi said in a video message.

PM @narendramodi receives 'United Nations Champions of the Earth' award.

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron"on Wednesday received the United Nation's highest environment honour 'Champions of The Earth' Award on October 3 here for his exemplary leadership and advocate action on sustainable development and climate change. Speaking at the occasion, PM said, "this honour is the commitment of 100 million people of India to protect the environment." Modi and Macron jointly received Champions of The Earth Award at the Pravasi Bharatiya Kendra from United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres. WATCH: Reason behind 'Champions Of Earth Award' conferred to PM Modi Last month when the award was announced, Modi in a video message had said, "I would like to express my gratitude to the global community for conferring this honour upon me. This honour is not meant for an individual, but rather for the great Indian tradition, through which for centuries, we have been taught values like co-exisiting with nature," Modi said in a video message. Congratulating Modi and hailing his initiatives, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said, ""When it comes to the environment, PM @narendramodi has said on the world stage that India will always adhere to our commitments and complete our various targets before time. It is such a thought process that is being honoured today." "This is the highest environmental honour (of UN). The award recognises the Prime Minister's bold environmental leadership on the global stage for his pioneering work and championing the solar alliance and for promoting new areas of...cooperation in environment action including Prime Minister's unprecedented pledge to eliminate all single use plastics by 2020, " the External Ministry had said.

Global recognition of India's leadership in solar power & renewable energy@UN ‘s highest environmental honour Champions of the Earth Award was conferred on PM @narendramodi by UNSG @antonioguterres in policy leadership category for pioneering work in #InternationalSolarAlliance pic.twitter.com/NF9qOFQgKY

— Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) October 3, 2018

आज भारत दुनिया के उन देशों में है जहां सबसे तेज़ गति से शहरीकरण हो रहा है।

ऐसे में अपने शहरी जीवन को Smart और Sustainable बनाने पर भी बल दिया जा रहा है। Infrastructure को Sustainable Environment and Inclusive Growth के लक्ष्य के साथ बनाया जा रहा हैं: PM — PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 3, 2018

The award is also a global recognition of India, particularly in the realm of solar parks and renewable energy.