WWF International Director General Jim Leape felicitated the two Climate-for-Life Ambassadors with the highest honor given to an individual by WWF, the global conservation organization.[break]
With the recognition, the duo became the first Nepali citizens to be bestowed with the honor. The same award has been given in the past to the Hungarian and Croatian prime ministers in recognition of their governments´ commitment to establish the largest river-protected area in the world between the two countries. It was also awarded to the Paraguay government for introducing its Zero Deforestation Law.
A press release issued by WWF-Geneva quoted Leape as saying, "Apa and Dawa represent real people from the real world. Their experiences are not based on somebody else´s data or research; they have witnessed with their own eyes the melting Himalayas. Their examples make us realize that Climate Change is not just a term, rather it will have very real and very severe impacts on the lives of billions of people in the world."
WWF said that the award was given to Apa in recognition of his taking up “the role of a true global citizen by drawing the attention of world leaders to the impacts of climate change” being felt by the people of the Himalayas and the need for urgent action.
Dawa received the award for his “dynamic leadership and personal drive in helping people throughout the world to realize the perils faced by the people of the Himalayas as a result of climate change.”
WWF´s Leaders For A Living Planet award gives recognition to institutions, organizations and individuals for extraordinary efforts in furthering nature conservation around the world.
WWF-Nepal quoted Apa as saying after receiving the award, “The Sherpa people have always been close to nature and in turn nature has taken good care of us. But in recent times, we have had to face the wrath of nature and we realize that this is not because of our own doing but stems from the actions of industrialized nations."
A release quoted Dawa Sherpa as saying, “We represent the Sherpa community who are at the forefront of Climate Change impacts; however we also represent the millions of people living downstream from the Himalayas who will also be directly impacted by this phenomenon.”
Apa and Dawa are in Geneva to raise awareness about Climate Change in the Himalayas as a part of the European Expedition of the Climate-for-Life Campaign spearheaded by WWF Nepal. After Geneva they will be traveling through Chamonix, Vienna, Brussels and finally to Copenhagen for the United Nations COP-15 Climate Change Conference.
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