China nominated ten new environmental ambassadors on Tuesday night to advocate for individual behavior changes to tackle environmental challenges.

Nominated by the Ministry of Environmental Protection, these ten new environmental ambassadors, including renowned Chinese singers, a former Chinese Olympic medallist, an expert and a high school student, were appointed to a two-year term for their contributions to environmental sustainability.

"To me, the title is an honor, which is not only recognition for what I have done, but is more an expectation of what I will do for a greener China," said one of the environmental ambassadors Deng Yaping, who is also a former Olympic table tennis champion and now the vice director of BOCOG Olympic Village to promote Green Olympics.

Jointly organized by the Ministry of Environmental Protection, the Ministry of Commerce and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the nomination also coincided with a stage celebration of Earth Day on Tuesday, linking culture and entertainment through a national platform to deliver a powerful message on climate change.

"It is important that we leverage on their public prominence to engage all sectors in society and individuals in taking part in the fight against climate change by adopting simple lifestyle habits such as eating less meat and taking public transport," said Khalid Malik, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in China.

China has nominated environmental ambassadors every two years since 2003 with a total of 20 former environmental ambassadors taking an active part in public events of environmental protection, raising green suggestions with the government as well as doing field trip research in environmental problem areas.

(Xinhua News Agency April 23, 2008)