On 21 January 2026, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) celebrated the fifth edition of the Kipepeo Awards, which honor outstanding projects and initiatives addressing the planet’s most urgent environmental crises: climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. The Kipepeo Awards stand as a testament to the power of collaboration, innovation, and dedication in environmental protection.
This year, a Special Mention was awarded to the Mediterranean Action Plan of UNEP (UNEP/MAP), in recognition of its commitment to protecting the Mediterranean Sea over the past 50 years. UNEP Executive Director, Inger Andersen, highlighted the importance of UNEP/MAP’s collaboration with governments, scientists, civil society, and local communities across the Mediterranean region, emphasizing their efforts to tackle some of the most pressing environmental challenges.
The Mediterranean Action Plan was launched in 1975 to coordinate the efforts of countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea to safeguard marine and coastal environments. The programme promotes cooperation among governments, scientists, international organizations, and local communities to address environmental issues such as marine pollution, biodiversity loss, and the impacts of climate change.
The recognition received at the 2026 Kipepeo Awards represents an important acknowledgment of the work carried out by UNEP/MAP and of the international cooperation that, for decades, has contributed to the protection of one of the world’s most important and vulnerable marine ecosystems, the Mediterranean Sea.