The United Nations invites you to nominate young people for the Young Champions of the Earth awards

The United Nations is calling for nominations for the Young Champions of the Earth. Young Champions of the Earth aims to celebrate and support individuals aged between 18 and 30 who have outstanding potential to create a positive environmental impact. 

In 2020, seven young people – selected from every global region – will be named Young Champions of the Earth. These winners receive seed funding, intensive training and tailored mentoring to bring their big environmental ideas to life. We’re looking for artists, scientists, economists, communicators and entrepreneurs from all walks of life who have big, bold ideas –for the environment, for humanity, for a greener future. 

Whose big idea will change the world? 

Shortlisted finalists from every region will be selected following an open call for applications. A Global Jury will then choose seven winners. Each winner is expected to implement their big idea and keep the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) updated on their progress by producing videos and blogs that we will share on the UNEP website. Winners will also be given funding to support their communication efforts throughout the year, so that they can produce high-quality materials to share with our audiences.The 2020 Young Champions of the Earth will be required to share their journeys through videos and blogs on this website for up to one year.

For more information see here.

The selection process has three rounds:

1. The open call for applications will run until 10 April 2020. Each applicant will be required to submit responses to a series of questions and upload a referee’s letter of endorsement.

2. Finalists drawn from every world region will be shortlisted and requested to submit short videos pitching their big ideas.

3. In the final stage, a Global Jury will review the finalists’ big ideas and choose seven Young Champions of the Earth. The winners will be publicly announced and invited to attend the Champions of the Earth award ceremony.

APPLY HERE by 10 April 2020.

Launched in 2017, the Young Champions of the Earth prize is inspired by the long-running Champions of the Earth Award, which remains the highest environmental honor of the United Nations. By engaging young visionaries, UNEP seeks to engage the next generation of change-makers and thought-leaders as they set out to build a brighter world.

Previous UN Young Champions of the Earth have spearheaded bold, brave ideas addressing numerous sustainable development goals through high and low-tech innovations: from indigenous rooftop gardens tackling air pollution, to a mobile application which tracks and assists in influencing sustainable consumption off users till receipts; from farming coral to restore degraded reefs, to eco-conscious apparel;  from diving centers powered by citizen science, to a novel technology which filters and converts 90% of particulates from diesel generators into printer ink.