Xie Zhenhua, China's Special Envoy for Climate Change, was horned First Special Contribution Award for Sustainable Development by Nobel Sustainability Trust on Tuesday for his tackling the global climate problem and sustainable development, according to the Ministry of Ecology and Environment.

Xie extended his gratitude to the foundation via video link for the world's highest honor in sustainable development.

The honor is the recognition of achievements China has made after years of coping with climate change and promoting sustainable development as well as its efforts in the global environmental governance process, he said.

In recent decades, China has been coordinating multiple tasks such as economic development, people's livelihoods, poverty reduction, and environmental protection. It has demonstrated through its own practices that protecting the ecological environment and addressing climate change have helped cultivate new growth momentum and improve the quality and efficiency of development, he added.

Xie called on society, especially young people, to participate in green and low-carbon transformation and innovation. He also announced that he would donate all the prize money to public welfare projects for sustainable development.

The Nobel Sustainability Fund was established in Switzerland in 2007 by Michael Nobel, the then-head of the Nobel family, and three other family members. The fund is committed to promoting sustainable development worldwide. The Special Contribution Award for Sustainable Development was established in 2022.