SINGAPORE: Seven environmentalists have been recognised for their work at a gala dinner in Singapore, held by the United Nations Environment Programme.

The recipients, who have successfully balanced economic, social and environmental realities of the 21st century in their efforts, were honoured as Champions of the Earth.

The winners were recognised for their different, individual efforts with the one same objective - to protect the environment.

Elisea "Bebet" Gillera Gozun was recognised for championing environmental causes in the Philippines.

She was chosen because of the trust that she had gained through working with the government, business leaders, and non-governmental organisations.

"It's really a process of consensus building and that can really only happen if we try to see the perspective of other sectors, and from that, try to identify what are the commonalities," she said.

Another winner was awarded for setting out what nations needed to do to stop environmental degradation.

In his acceptance speech read out by Daryl Hannah, Al Gore said he hoped the award will raise awareness about climate change and other environmental issues.

And in an acceptance video, the president of the International Olympic Committee, Jacques Rogge, said he had set strong criteria for the upcoming host cities Beijing and London.

Behind the glitz of the night was an underlying challenge which Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme, Achim Steiner, urged others to take on.

"To put it simply - it is to decarbonise our economy. We have spent the last 200 years relying on fossil fuel, coal, oil and timber. Our economic, political and social challenge is how do we produce energy, how do we help our society develop less carbon? And that's what all of us are facing as a major challenge," Steiner said.

Thursday’s ceremony was attended by heads of states as well as celebrities. - CNA/yy