Call for Nominations! 2025 UNEP Champions of the Earth Award for Global Climate Champions (Open to All Nationalities)
Nominate a Champion of the Earth: Celebrating Transformative Climate Action
The Champions of the Earth award is the United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) highest environmental honor, celebrating individuals and organizations whose efforts have made a transformative impact on the environment.
For 2025, UNEP is seeking nominations of outstanding climate champions who have pioneered innovative and sustainable solutions in critical areas of environmental action.
What is the Champions of the Earth Award?
The Champions of the Earth award is a prestigious accolade recognizing those who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and action toward environmental sustainability. It acknowledges efforts across various sectors, with an emphasis on solutions that drive climate action.
The 2025 edition will shine a spotlight on individuals and organizations tackling pressing environmental challenges such as methane reduction, sustainable building and construction, clean air, energy efficiency, and forest conservation.
Through this award, UNEP aims to inspire a global movement of environmental champions who lead by example and create solutions that can be scaled and replicated worldwide. This is an opportunity to honor those whose groundbreaking work contributes to a healthier planet.
Key Focus Areas for the 2025 Award
The Champions of the Earth 2025 award will specifically recognize achievements in the following critical areas:
- Methane Mitigation: Solutions aimed at reducing methane emissions, one of the most potent greenhouse gases contributing to climate change.
- Buildings and Construction: Innovations in sustainable construction practices, energy-efficient building materials, and green infrastructure that help reduce carbon footprints.
- Sustainable Cooling: Solutions promoting energy-efficient cooling systems, reducing the environmental impact of air conditioning and refrigeration.
- Clean Air: Initiatives focused on reducing air pollution and improving air quality, which is essential for public health and combating climate change.
- Forests: Actions that protect, restore, and manage forests sustainably, helping to preserve biodiversity and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
These focus areas aim to drive positive environmental change, addressing some of the most urgent challenges of our time.
Categories for Nomination
The Champions of the Earth award recognizes individuals and organizations in the following four categories:
- Policy Leadership: Awarding leaders who have implemented transformative environmental policies or influenced major environmental changes at the governmental or institutional level.
- Inspiration and Action: Honoring individuals and organizations whose actions inspire others and bring about substantial environmental change.
- Entrepreneurial Vision: Recognizing innovative entrepreneurs who have developed and scaled environmentally-friendly technologies or sustainable business models.
- Science and Innovation: Acknowledging groundbreaking scientific contributions or innovations that push the boundaries of environmental solutions and sustainable practices.
These categories aim to ensure that a diverse range of champions, from policymakers to entrepreneurs, are recognized for their unique contributions to environmental sustainability.
The Nomination Process
Nominations for the Champions of the Earth 2025 award are open from April 2 to April 30, 2025. Anyone can submit a nomination, whether they are part of an organization, a member of the public, or a fellow environmental champion. Past nomination cycles have seen over 2,500 submissions from around the world, highlighting the global nature of the search for climate leaders.
How Are Champions Selected?
The selection process is rigorous and involves UNEP staff and subject matter experts who review each nomination carefully. The process ensures that only the most impactful and innovative environmental leaders are chosen for recognition.
Nominees are evaluated based on the following key criteria:
- Impact: Has the nominee’s work led to significant environmental improvements or demonstrated the potential to scale and replicate globally?
- Novelty: Did the nominee introduce new, groundbreaking ideas or approaches that challenge traditional ways of thinking about environmental issues?
- Influence: How compelling and inspiring is the nominee’s story? Do their efforts have the power to inspire others to take action?
Why Nominate a Champion of the Earth?
The Champions of the Earth award is not just about celebrating achievements; it’s about spreading inspiration and encouraging more people and organizations to take bold steps toward environmental sustainability. By nominating a deserving candidate, you help raise awareness of impactful initiatives and contribute to amplifying the global movement for environmental action.
How to Nominate a Champion
Submitting a nomination for the Champions of the Earth award is easy. Visit the UNEP website to complete the nomination form and submit relevant details about the nominee’s work.
The process is open to everyone, and all it takes is a few minutes to shine a light on the environmental changemakers you admire.
Don’t miss the chance to honor the champions of our time. If you know someone whose work is making a positive environmental impact, nominate them for the Champions of the Earth award and help inspire the next generation of climate leaders.
Conclusion
The Champions of the Earth award is a testament to the power of collective action in the fight against climate change and environmental degradation. Whether through groundbreaking scientific innovations, inspirational leadership, or entrepreneurial vision, the individuals and organizations recognized by this award are shaping the future of our planet. If you know a deserving champion, now is the time to nominate them and be a part of the global effort to build a more sustainable and resilient world.
