Annan Awarded for Leadership on Sustainable Development

UN secretary-general Kofi Annan has been given one of the most prestigious environmental awards, the Zayed Prize. The citation noted his "personal leadership" on sustainable development. The 1,360 scientists whose research contributed to the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment were also honoured, as were activists from Trinidad and Indonesia. The winners of the prize, which honours former UAE President Sheikh Zayed, share $1m (�564,000); previous awards have gone to Jimmy Carter and the BBC. Mr Annan's prize, for Global Leadership on the Environment, nets him $500,000. "One person has done more than most to catalyse political and public opinion to an understanding that the environment is a fundamental pillar of sustainable development," said the jury in its citation. "That person is Mr Kofi Annan." Jury chair Klaus Toepfer, executive director of the United Nations Environment Programme, added: "When you look at the overall global impact on politics, business and civil society of Mr Annan's environment and sustainable development-related initiatives, we came to the conclusion that he is deservedly the global winner."