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The annual this year honors Achim Steiner (Administrator of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP)) for his career-long service to environmental conservation. Among his accomplishments he served as ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ��’s Senior Advisor for Global Policy in the ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ��-US office in the mid-1990’s involved in coordinating ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ��’s input at key policy and law meetings, particularly marine issues, as environmental issues became regular agenda items of the United Nations. He then served as ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ�� Director General from 2001-2006 where he was a strong supporter of the , as well as the ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ�� World Commission on Environmental Law’s (WCEL) work to highlight the role, and increase the capacity, of the judiciary in upholding the rule of law to protect the environment and human rights.

As Executive Director of from 2006-2015, Steiner provided leadership and vision for a number of accomplishments including the groundbreaking report, putting the concept on the international agenda and building toward adoption of the outcome document by the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20). Furthermore, these efforts drove  vital contributions to the adoption of the (SDGs), the , and the . Scott Fulton, ELI President, is quoted as saying that, “Achim Steiner has been a singular champion for the rule of law in the environmental sphere, positioning environmental law at the heart of sustainable development and a just, fair, and sustainable future for everyone.” Such leadership includes inspiring the , and playing a key role to launch the Global Judicial Institute on the Environment in 2016.

Since 1984, the ELI Environmental Achievement Award has honored individuals and organizations for demonstrating outstanding commitment to environmental protection. have included David Sive, Joseph Sax, Stewart Udall, Jane Lubchenko, the City of New York, and late WCEL members Bill Futrell, Françoise Burhenne-Guilmin, and Wolfgang E. Burhenne.