Environmental (Commonwealth Union)—Every four years, the IUCN World Conservation Congress convenes scientists, policymakers, and green leaders from far-off horizons to map the path ahead for global conservation. Beyond debates on policy, science sessions, and strategic planning workshops, the Congress is also a celebratory occasion hailing those whose work has changed the way humans safeguard the natural world.
Awards this year at Congress were presented to a remarkable set of individuals whose vision, innovation, and life’s work are creating the global conservation movement. IUCN recognizes its leaders through its awards of excellence by recognizing individuals who not only pushed forward environmental science but also encouraged cooperation and change at every level.
John C. Phillips Memorial Medal—Recognizing Global Environmental Leadership
IUCN bestows the John C. Phillips Memorial Medal, the highest award, for outstanding international conservation service. Founded in memory of Dr. John C. Phillips, the father of medicine, zoology, taxonomy, and genetics, the medal has been awarded at each Congress since 1963.
This year, the award was conferred upon The Hon. Marina Silva, Brazil‘s Minister of Environment and Climate Change, for her staunch leadership in environment management. A former co-founder and spokeswoman of the Sustainability Network (REDE), Minister Silva has been a passionate campaigner for sustainable development and forest protection and is thus one of the most powerful environmental policymakers in the world.
During her acceptance speech, Silva reflected on the greater significance of the award:
This distinction is not an individual recognition but a tribute to the endeavor of all the Brazilian people and of the numerous communities and institutions that fight relentlessly for the protection of life, forests, and climate.”
Harold Jefferson Coolidge Memorial Medal—A Lifetime of Conservation Excellence
The Harold Jefferson Coolidge Memorial Medal is awarded to practitioners who have made distinguished, lifetime contributions to the conservation of nature and natural resources. In memory of Harold Jefferson Coolidge, co-founder of IUCN and early advocate of women in science, the award is given to individuals whose professional careers have shaped conservation thought globally.
The 2025 medal was awarded to Dr. Simon Stuart, Synchronicity Earth’s Chief Scientific Advisor, A Rocha International’s Senior Advisor, and former Chairman of the IUCN Species Survival Commission. His far-sighted leadership has influenced conservation strategy and inspired generations of scientists.
When he accepted the award, Dr. Stuart was humble and generous:
“I am deeply grateful to be receiving this award, which is really in the hands of all the outstanding people I have worked with. Conservation work is a team effort, and the real heroes are sometimes not always in the spotlight. Seeing those whom I mentored now working towards change around the world is the ultimate reward.”
Honorary Membership of IUCN: Honoring Lifetime Commitment to Nature Conservation
Individuals who have rendered exceptional service to conservation and IUCN’s worldwide mission hold the IUCN Honorary Membership. This distinction recognizes a lifetime of dedication, scientific contribution, and leadership in nature conservation and in working towards sustainability.
This year’s recipients are three exemplary individuals:
- Dr. Sylvia A. Earle – Global leader in oceanography, exploration, and conservation activism. Dr. Earle, the founder of Mission Blue, a National Geographic Explorer at Large, and an IUCN Patron of Nature, continues to be a global leader in ocean conservation.
“Being named an Honorary Member of IUCN is an overwhelmingly humbling recognition. This organization embodies the past, the present, and future of Earth’s billions of species, including ours. Knowledge is our superpower,” she added.
- Mr. Jeffrey McNeely—A conservationist for a lifetime whose working life started at the Los Angeles Zoo and continued for decades in leadership with IUCN in Switzerland, where he had an impact on some of the world’s most effective conservation strategies.
“I devoted 50 years to rescuing nature and natural resources. My stay with the IUCN family were the most rewarding,” he recalled.
- Dr. John Robinson—Former IUCN Council Vice President and elder Wildlife Conservation Society leader, Dr. Robinson has directed campaigns in Africa, Asia, and Latin America to protect biodiversity and empower local communities.
“I feel privileged to be receiving this award. To work in conservation is a privilege that I never underestimate. I accept it as a representative of all of us who are members of the IUCN family.”
Inspiring the Future of Global Conservation
These awards do not just celebrate individual accomplishments but also the combined human spirit needed to save the earth. Both scientists and policymakers, all the award recipients share the spirit of environmental conservation, cooperation, and determination.
As the Congress goes on, their success is the best reminder that the battle for nature is everyone’s business, one that calls for vision, unity, and unshakeable dedication. In honoring such global heroes, IUCN reaffirms its commitment: to protect life on Earth and give our children and grand-children a sustainable future.