Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
In one of India’s most heat-vulnerable regions, Supriya Sahu is leading a powerful transformation to protect communities from extreme heat. As temperatures in Tamil Nadu reach dangerous highs, Sahu Additional Chief Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Forest has championed cooling solutions, nature-based adaptation, and climate-resilient policies that put vulnerable families first.
Under her leadership, Tamil Nadu became the first Indian state to officially recognize heat as a state-specific disaster. Her work blends simple, low-cost cooling methods with large-scale environmental restoration: from painting school roofs white under the Cool Roof Project, expanding mangroves and wetlands, establishing 65 new reserve forests, to launching projects that reduce cooling energy demand and protect biodiversity.
These measures are not only keeping classrooms and homes safer; they are improving the quality of life for disadvantaged communities, cutting energy bills, and influencing state-wide building regulations. Her nature-first approach has created 2.5 million green jobs and contributed significantly to India’s national emissions-reduction goals.
Through climate-smart urban planning, massive tree-planting efforts, and a deep commitment to environmental stewardship, Sahu continues to shape Tamil Nadu into a model of resilience, innovation, and hope for future generations.
Learn more about the Champions of the Earth:
unep.org/championsofearth
About UNEP: The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global authority on the environment and the United Nations' voice for environmental action. Working with governments, businesses, civil society and communities around the world, UNEP drives efforts to tackle climate change, nature, land and biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste. Through leadership, partnerships and innovation, UNEP inspires, informs and enables nations and people to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations. Learn more about the UN Environment Programme and global environmental action at unep.org
In one of India’s most heat-vulnerable regions, Supriya Sahu is leading a powerful transformation to protect communities from extreme heat. As temperatures in Tamil Nadu reach dangerous highs, Sahu Additional Chief Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Forest has championed cooling solutions, nature-based adaptation, and climate-resilient policies that put vulnerable families first.
Under her leadership, Tamil Nadu became the first Indian state to officially recognize heat as a state-specific disaster. Her work blends simple, low-cost cooling methods with large-scale environmental restoration: from painting school roofs white under the Cool Roof Project, expanding mangroves and wetlands, establishing 65 new reserve forests, to launching projects that reduce cooling energy demand and protect biodiversity.
These measures are not only keeping classrooms and homes safer; they are improving the quality of life for disadvantaged communities, cutting energy bills, and influencing state-wide building regulations. Her nature-first approach has created 2.5 million green jobs and contributed significantly to India’s national emissions-reduction goals.
Through climate-smart urban planning, massive tree-planting efforts, and a deep commitment to environmental stewardship, Sahu continues to shape Tamil Nadu into a model of resilience, innovation, and hope for future generations.
Learn more about the Champions of the Earth:
unep.org/championsofearth
About UNEP: The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global authority on the environment and the United Nations' voice for environmental action. Working with governments, businesses, civil society and communities around the world, UNEP drives efforts to tackle climate change, nature, land and biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste. Through leadership, partnerships and innovation, UNEP inspires, informs and enables nations and people to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations. Learn more about the UN Environment Programme and global environmental action at unep.org
