THE FORMER executive director of the UN Environmental Programme (UNEP), Mostafa K Tolba, has been awarded the UNEP Sasakawa Environment Prize for 1993. Misael Pastrana-Borrero, former president of Colombia and chairperson of the selection committee, said Tolba went far beyond the call of duty in his commitment to protect the environment.

Tolba, who served as UNEP's executive director for 17 years, said, "The prize is in recognition of my successful leadership of a small team that managed to put environment on top of the world's agenda."