WASHINGTON, DC: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has been awarded the National Geographic Planetary Leadership Award 2020.
The Washington DC-based National Geographic Society presented the award to Trudeau and eight others at a virtual celebration last Thursday.
The prize ceremony is usually a hallmark celebratory event for the society every year with honours for “some of the world’s most innovative and inspiring trailblazers who have made astounding contributions to science, conservation, education, technology and storytelling.”
The award citation to the Prime Minister said that “Under his leadership, Trudeau has increased Canada’s protected marine areas from less than one percent in 2015 to 14 percent today.
Though the award is being given to the Prime Minister, it also recognizes Canada’s partnership with the Qikiqtani Inuit Association and the Government of Nunavut to invest almost $200 million to establish Tallurutiup Imanga National Marine Conservation Area and Tuvaijuittuq Marine Protected Area,”
“This transformative partnership with Indigenous peoples will help build a true conservation economy and protect over 425,000 square kilometres of ocean,“ it added.
”This year’s honorees are bold individuals with transformative ideas who have defined some of the critical challenges of our time, driven new knowledge, advanced cutting-edge solutions, and inspired transformative change,” read a statement from National Geographic.
“Through challenges and adversity, they have led the charge to protect our planet for future generations and embody the Society’s mission to illuminate and protect the wonder of our world.” Nine individuals have recognized at the 2020 National Geographic Awards virtual event.
They include:
• The Hubbard Medal went to the late mathematician Katherine Johnson
• The Rolex National Geographic Explorer of the Year went to engineer Corey Jaskolski
• The Eliza Scidmore Award for Outstanding Science Media went to photographer Erika Larsen
• The further award went to documentary filmmakers Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi
• The Gilbert M. Grosvenor Educator of the Year went to Jennifer Chavez-Miller
• The National Geographic Society/Buffett Awards for Leadership in Conservation went to Jeannie Raharimampionona and Angela Maldonado
• The Planetary Leadership Award went to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
The National Geographic Society is a global nonprofit organization that uses the power of science, exploration, education and storytelling to illuminate and protect the wonder of our world.
Since 1888, National Geographic has pushed the boundaries of exploration, investing in bold people and transformative ideas, providing more than 14,000 grants for work across all seven continents, reaching 3 million students each year through education offerings, and engaging audiences around the globe through signature experiences, stories and content.