Kochi: The Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL) was presented with the UN’s highest environmental prize, the ‘Champions of Earth-2018,’ at a gala ceremony held in New York on the sidelines of the 73rd General Assembly on Wednesday.
Mr V.J.Kurian, managing director, CIAL, received the prize from Mr. Sathyapal Thripati, assistant secretary, UN, on behalf of CIAL, for it becoming the first fully solar -powered airport in the world.
The award was presented in the Entrepreneurial Vision category for CIAL’s leadership in the use of sustainable energy. “Cochin is showing the world that our ever-expanding network of global movement doesn't have to harm the environment. As the pace of society continues to increase, the world's first fully solar-powered airport is proof positive that green business is good business,” said the official press communique issued by the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) in connection with the award ceremony.
In his acceptance speech, Mr Kurian said that at a time when Kerala was slowly rebuilding itself after the floods, the CIAL had pledged to fight climate change and global warming and to make this a better world. “I am proud that our Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also a recipient of this year’s Champion of Earth Award. I wish to dedicate this award to the people of Kerala, who recently suffered the worst monsoon flooding since 1924, and to our Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan who led us during the difficult days with his tenacity, fortitude and determination,” he said.
