Chinese diver wins UN environmental award

Young Champions of the Earth prize is global initiative, aimed at talented and inspired people who can make a difference

Chinese diver and entrepreneur Wang Miao won the Young Champions of the Earth prize, one of the United Nations' highest environmental honors, for her ocean restoration and protection initiative on Sept 26 in the US.

Launched in 2017, the Young Champions of the Earth prize is a global initiative aiming to identify, celebrate and support talented individuals between the ages of 18 and 30 who have outstanding potential to create a positive environmental impact.

This year, 750 young people from around the world put forward their big ideas, with seven winners ultimately being selected.

The winning projects covered topics ranging from coral farms and women in engineering, to chemical recycling technology and musical instruments made from trash.

Wang launched her Better Blue initiative in June last year, with the aim of building a global network of divers and empowering them to become advocates and practitioners of marine conservation through capacity building programs and education.

The 30-year-old, who started diving in 2015, said that the world's oceans are facing great environmental challenges from plastic pollution and unsustainable fishing methods, among other issues.

"The ocean ecosystem plays an irreplaceable role in supporting human development. However, many people are not aware of this," she said.

Wang described divers as a group of people who can "let human and marine life be friends".

"Divers not only have the chance to appreciate the beauty of the ocean but also witness the changes to the environment under water," she said.

The increasing number of divers in China, who are often well-educated, makes their contribution to marine protection in the future even more valuable, Wang added.

"We hope everyone who uses water resources, not just marine resources, learns how to interact with our oceans," she said.

To date, the network has attracted more than 600 volunteer divers from six countries, including the Philippines and Malaysia, and organized more than 250 events to promote protection of the ocean environment. Projects range from saving coral reefs and protecting dolphins and whales to reducing plastic waste in the oceans.

Wang said she will strive to expand the network and strengthen cooperation with organizations to increase awareness of the initiative.

As recipients of the Young Champions of the Earth prize, Wang and her six fellow winners will each receive $15,000 in seed funding as well as training and mentoring.

They will be given the tools to scale up their projects over the next year, thanks to support from the UN Environment, German materials developer Covestro, The DO School and CoalitionWILD.

Project milestones will be documented on social media through regular updates and video blogs.

"Once again, young people across the world have come up with amazing new ideas for environmental protection," said Markus Steilemann, CEO of Covestro, which has sponsored the prize since its inception.

"The second year of the Young Champions of the Earth competition has become a huge success. As one of the world's leading suppliers of high-tech materials for sustainable development, we are partnering with UN Environment in motivating innovators to tackle the enormous challenges our planet is facing."

Wang said Covestro could provide support to her projects by offering mentorship and technological support, as well as sharing its experience and providing sustainable materials to build protection stations.

"As a leading new-material developer, Covestro can help reduce plastic trash from getting into the oceans in the first place," she said.

"We can all work together to grow the seed of an idea into a big tree."

tangzhihao@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 09/29/2018 page7)