Dhaka: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina achieved the United Nation’s top environmental accolade, Champions of the Earth award, in recognition of Bangladesh's far-reaching initiatives to address climate change on Monday.

United News of Bangladesh (UNB) reports, prime minister will accept the Champions of the Earth Award in the Policy Leadership category at a ceremony in New York on 27 September.

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) established Champions of the Earth in 2004 as an annual awards programme to recognize outstanding environmental leaders at a policy level.

The annual Champions of the Earth awards are the highest environmental honour that the UN can confer upon individuals and organisations. The Champions of the Earth have recognised 67 laureates in the categories of policy, science, business and civil society.

UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner said, ‘Through a number of forward-looking policy initiatives and investments, Bangladesh has placed confronting the challenge of climate change at the core of its development.’

‘These initiatives, from climate change adaptation measures to

ecosystem preservation legislation, mean that current and future generations of Bangladeshis are better prepared to address climate change risks and reverse the impacts of environmental degradation,’ added Achim Steiner.

He said, ‘Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has demonstrated leadership and vision in both making climate change an issue of national priority and advocating for an ambitious global response.’