PM among three recipients of 2025 Zayed Award

Prime Minister Mia Mottley has been named a recipient of the prestigious 2025 Zayed Award for Human Fraternity, recognising her global leadership on climate action and policy.

The annual international award, which carries a prize of $2m (US$1 m) honours individuals or organisations who work tirelessly to bridge divides and create human connection, often at great personal sacrifice.

Mottley was selected alongside two other honourees for her efforts in addressing climate inequality, particularly through the launch of the Bridgetown Initiative in 2022. This initiative calls for “decisive action to reform global financial systems” to better support climate-vulnerable nations.

The award announcement highlighted Mottley’s commitment to achieving 100 per cent renewable energy in Barbados by 2030 and her investment in solar, wind, and other clean energy sources to reduce reliance on fossil fuels. It also noted her pioneering of debt-for-climate swaps, enabling countries to reallocate national debt toward climate resilience projects.

Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam, secretary-general of the award, said: “It is the judging committee’s honour to spotlight three outstanding honourees who are addressing some of today’s most urgent challenges—climate resilience, humanitarian relief, and youth-driven innovation.”

The other recipients include World Central Kitchen (WCK), a food relief organisation founded by Chef José Andrés, and 15-year-old health innovator Heman Bekele. WCK has provided over 300 million meals across 30 countries, including more than 70 million meals to Palestinians in Gaza since October 2023. Bekele developed an affordable soap to prevent and treat early-stage skin cancer at just 14 years old and is collaborating with Johns Hopkins researchers to expand access to life-saving healthcare solutions.

Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, director-general of the World Trade Organisation and member of the 2025 judging committee, praised the honourees: “The honourees have gone the extra mile to make a difference in the everyday lives of people around the globe, which will benefit humanity going forward.”

The award ceremony will take place on Tuesday at 11 a.m. (7 pm UAE time) at the Founder’s Memorial in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, and will be livestreamed on the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity’s YouTube channel.