In addition to the tragic loss of life, COVID-19 has rolled back decades of progress on poverty, gender and health. It has exposed social and economic inequalities and the inextricable link between human and planetary health.

Drive through northern India in winter and you'll find a landscape shrouded in smoke. The haze, which at times is so thick it can be seen from space, is the by-product of the widespread burning of crop leftovers across India's sprawling farm belt.

But the smoke is more than an eyesore – it's also hazardous. During the burning season, the air pollution in Delhi, India's capital, is 14 times the safe limit.

Shady Rabab is the Young Champion of the Earth for Africa. The Young Champions of the Earth Prize is powered by Covestro.

Rabab is Founder of Rabab Luxor Art Collective, and Co-Founder of the Malakout music band.

Emmanuel Macron, President of France and Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, are recognized in the Policy Leadership category for their pioneering work in championing the International Solar Alliance and promoting new areas of levels of cooperation on environmental action, including Macron’s work on the Global Pact for the Environment and Modi’s unprecedented pledge to eliminate all single-use plastic in India by 2022.

• African ministers of health and environment discuss how to turn health and environmental policies into action.
• In the African region, 23% of deaths are linked to the environment.
• New environmental threats have emerged in recent decades, including climate change and rapid and unplanned urbanization.

Libreville, 5 November 2018 – Aiming to identify emerging environmental threats to peopl

Inger Andersen, Executive Director, UN Environment Programme

There is something in the air. I am not talking about pollution or greenhouse gas emissions. I am talking about the change humanity needs to address these and other environmental challenges, which have placed our planet and societies in imminent peril.