Asia-Pacific

Mexican president wins UN environmental prize

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-05-11 16:23
Large Medium Small

MEXICO CITY - Mexican president Felipe Calderon was awarded by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) Monday night for his leadership in addressing climate change at both global and national levels.

The UNEP awarded Calderon its 2011 Champions of the Earth prize for policy leadership as the Mexican president hosted the recent UN Climate Change Conference in Cancun. He was also credited with promoting the creation of a Green Climate fund which will better allow developing countries to adapt to climate changes.

Calderon has also implemented domestic programs for replacing old household appliances with energy efficient models and promoted initiatives for replanting millions of trees to reverse widespread deforestation in Mexico.

The Mexican capital, Mexico City, has implemented its own programs, which have promoted the use of bicycles, removed polluting vehicles from the roads and provided bus transportation that emit less greenhouse gases.

Calderon accepted the UNEP award on Monday in New York City.

"There is a very clear way in which we can fight climate change and at the same time fight against extreme poverty in our countries," Calderon was quoted as saying by local news media.

分享按钮