Ma was presented with the award on Wednesday, in recognition for his work in raising awareness of the environment whilst proposing achievable solutions.
Originally an investigative journalist, Ma rapidly gained a reputation through his hard hitting reports on China’s environment, which appeared in the South China Morning Post from 1993 to 2000. His book, China’s Water Crisis, has been described by Time magazine as "China’s first great environmental call to arms".
He has since founded the Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs, which is among those leading the charge to clean up the air and rivers of China.
Read Ma Jun’s latest article on chinadialogue:
Ecological civilisation is the way forward for development