UN Environment

This award recognises the UN Environment Programme’s Law Division for providing the legal intelligence and capacity‑building that makes climate accountability measurable, particularly in the most vulnerable nations. In 2025, the Division co‑released the Global Climate Litigation Report: 2025 Status Review, documenting a cumulative 3,099 climate‑related cases filed in 55 national jurisdictions and 24 international or regional courts as of June 2025. The report tracks how lawsuits are forcing governments and corporations to align with Paris‑Agreement goals, covering greenwashing claims, carbon offset disputes and human‑rights‑based climate cases.

Beyond the global report, the Division directly supported developing countries in building the legal frameworks needed for decarbonisation. In 2025, a UNEP official called on African governments to enact forward‑looking climate laws, emphasising that the Model Climate Change Law can provide a legal framework for African countries to access climate finance. The Division also supported countries such as Djibouti, Kiribati and Timor‑Leste to review or strengthen climate‑related legislation. For building the legal capacity that turns international climate commitments into enforceable national action – particularly in the Global South – the UNEP Law Division receives this recognition.