VP Jagdeo receives prestigious Sustainable Development Leadership Award

Guyana’s Vice President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, continues to be celebrated on the global stage for his pioneering role in climate action and sustainable development, having been conferred with the prestigious Sustainable Development Leadership Award (SDLA) 2025.
Jagdeo, alongside Brazil’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Marina Silva, has been honoured with the SDLA on Wednesday, at the opening of the 24th edition of the World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS) 2025, hosted by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) in New Delhi, India.
During his presidency, Jagdeo had been labelled as one of the “Heroes of the Environment” in 2008, and had been given the “Champion of the Earth” award in 2010 by the United Nations for his visionary Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS).
This prestigious Award, instituted by TERI in 2005, recognizes global visionaries whose leadership has had a transformative impact on sustainability and climate action.
According to TERI, this year’s awardees exemplify bold and pioneering leadership, forging pathways for a sustainable future. It noted that SDLA is more than just an accolade — it is a global testament to leadership that defies convention and drives transformation. It also honours those who step forward with vision, courage, and an unwavering commitment to a sustainable future. This award is not for those who wait for change; it is for those who make it happen, the organization has stated.
Prime Minister Brigadier (retd) Mark Phillips, who accepted the award on behalf of VP Jagdeo on Wednesday in New Delhi, stated during that occasion, “Guyana stands as a testament to leadership, partnerships, and convergence in the pursuit of sustainability. In Guyana, growth does not come at the expense of environmental sustainability.”
TERI said Dr Bharrat Jagdeo has been a driving force in global climate policy and sustainable development. As one of the world’s youngest heads of government, he spearheaded Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) in 2009, positioning the country as a global leader in forest conservation and climate finance.
Under his leadership, Guyana established one of the world’s first national-scale payment systems for ecosystem services, setting a benchmark for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) initiatives. His role as a member of the UN Secretary-General’s Advisory Group on Climate Finance and as Chair of the Board of Governors of the IMF and World Bank Group (2005-2006) highlights his impact on global financial frameworks for climate action.
His efforts in championing sustainable development while advancing the aspirations of his country and safeguarding its natural wealth for future generations exemplify the principles of the SDLA.
According to the Indian High Commission in Guyana, “The award is a recognition of Honourable Vice President Dr Jagdeo’s pivotal contribution to the area of sustainable development, but also to the exemplary work by Guyana and her leadership in sustainable development and climate action.
“As a longstanding partner of Guyana, India recognises the leadership role of Guyana in creating awareness and setting an example, not only in the region, but globally, through various sustainable development initiatives. We look forward to work closely with Guyana towards our common objective of creating a better and sustainable world for our future generations,” the High Commission stated in a social media post on Wednesday.

Brazil’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change
Sharing her thoughts on being honoured with the award in India, Minister Silva stated, “As we move towards COP30, we must accelerate the implementation of the commitments made in Dubai and Baku. We must advance on our transitions from fossil fuels while stepping up on climate finance.”
Marina Silva is internationally renowned for her relentless efforts in combatting deforestation and advancing climate crisis. As Brazil’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change, she has led groundbreaking initiatives to curb illegal deforestation in the Amazon, achieving an 84% reduction between 2004 and 2012. Her advocacy for climate education and alignment of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) with global temperature targets ahead of COP30 in 2025 underscores her commitment to lasting environmental change.
Over the years, she has received multiple accolades, including the Goldman Prize (1996), UN’s Champions of the Earth Award (2007), and the Duke of Edinburgh Medal (2008).
TERI leadership: Nitin Desai, Chairman of TERI, and Dr Vibha Dhawan, Director General of TERI, lauded the awardees for their exemplary leadership.
The WSDS 2025 inaugural session emphasized the urgency of global cooperation in tackling climate change, with both awardees serving as beacons of hope and action. The recognition of these distinguished leaders aims to catalyse greater momentum in climate governance, reinforcing the summit’s commitment to sustainable development.
It may be noteworthy that the Sustainable Development Leadership Award is awarded every year for global leadership in sustainable development. Some of the previous recipients of this award include Former Prime Minister of Japan, Mr Yukio Hatoyama; Former Prime Minister of India, Dr Manmohan Singh; Former United Nations Secretary General, Mr Ban Ki Moon, and Former Governor of California, USA, Mr Arnold Schwarzenegger.