"Climate heroes are people who take a special initiative, who go beyond the normal responsibilities that we have, who pioneer with unusual initiatives and ideas. They show the kind of commitment, enthusiasm and understanding of how important it is that we all become heroes in order to address climate change," said Executive Director Achim Steiner.

Climate Heroes include: Charles and Sho Scott, a father and son team who will cycle 4,700 kilometers across mainland Japan to encourage action on climate change and UNEP's Billion Tree Campaign to plant seven billion trees.

Project Kaisei will set out on its first research mission this summer to study how to capture plastic waste in the ocean, detoxify, and recycle it into diesel fuel.