First Vietnamese honoured with world's foremost environmental prize

ABO/NDO – Nguy Thi Khanh, Director of Green Innovation and Development Centre (GreenID) has become the first Vietnamese citizen to be honoured with the Goldman Environmental Prize, the world’s highest award for grassroots environmental activists.

Nguy Thi Khanh, Director of GreenID, has become the first Vietnamese winner of the Goldman Environmental Prize.

The Goldman Environmental Foundation announced the seven winners of the 2018 Goldman Environmental Prize on Monday. The annual award is presented to environmental heroes around the world in recognition of their significant achievements to protect the environment.

Khanh is among the seven recipients of this year’s award, honoured for her efforts in using scientific research and engaging Vietnamese State agencies to advocate for sustainable long-term energy projects in Vietnam. Highlighting the cost and environmental impacts of coal power, she partnered with local officials to reduce coal dependency and move toward a greener energy future.

In 2011, she founded the GreenID in order to promote sustainable energy development in Vietnam, as well as good water and air governance and green development. She also established the Vietnam Sustainable Energy Alliance, a network of 11 Vietnamese and international environmental and social organisations that collaborate on regional energy issues.

In 2013, she collaborated with energy experts to conduct a study on the opportunity to reduce the amount of coal used in the power supply mix in favour of sustainable energy sources. She has strengthened her efforts of working with her peers and the government to support Vietnam’s transition to renewable and sustainable energy solutions.

In addition to Khanh, this year’s Goldman Environmental Prize also went to Makoma Lekalakala and Liz McDaid (South Africa), Claire Nouvian (France), Manny Calonzo (the Philippines), LeeAnne Walters (the US), and Francia Marquez (Colombia).

The award ceremony will be held at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Centre in Washington D.C., on April 25 (local time).

The Goldman Environmental Prize was established in 1989 by late San Francisco civic leaders and philanthropists Richard and Rhoda Goldman. Prize winners are selected by an international jury from confidential nominations submitted by a worldwide network of environmental organisations and individuals.

(Source: NDO)