Deadline:
April 30, 2025
Location(s)
Germany United States of America Worldwide
Overview
Are you a change-maker, rain-maker, ground-breaker? Do you see opportunity, where others see crisis? Do you want to change the world? 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.
Details
Lead a new wave
Global warming is forcing our societies, our economies and our world to change. Our ways of doing business; careers and job opportunities need to change too.
With this change comes unprecedented opportunity to take action. For brave entrepreneurs and trend-setting role-models to carve their place in a new and greener economy; to pioneer revolutionary technology and radical innovations - to lead a new wave of green careers.
Selection process
UNEP staff and subject experts select Champions from a list of nominations received from across the world. Nominations are open to everyone. In 2023, UNEP received a record 2,500 nominations, the third consecutive year that nominations reached a high-water mark.
The selection criteria is as follows:
- Impact: Have the nominee’s actions resulted in profound environmental gains or demonstrated significant potential for replication and scaling?
- Novelty: Has the nominee done or achieved something new and innovative?
- Influence: How compelling and inspiring is the nominee’s story?
Whose big idea will change the world?
Following an open call for applications, shortlisted finalists from every region will be selected. A Global Jury will then choose seven 2025 winners. Each winner is expected to implement their big idea and keep us updated on their progress by producing videos and blogs that we will share on our 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.
Opportunity is About
Eligibility
Candidates should be from:
Description of Ideal Candidate
- To be eligible to enter the 2025 Young Champions of the Earth competition (hereafter referred to as “the Competition”), applicants must be between the ages of 18 and 30 on 31 December 2025.
- Additionally, each applicant must have at least 6 months of prior experience working on their environmental project.
- Individuals who submitted applications in the 2024 cycle of the Competition are entitled to do so again in 2025. However, only one entry is allowed per person per year.
- Employees of Covestro, CoalitionWILD, The Do School, any other Competition partners, the United Nations Environment Program (hereinafter “UN Environment”) and the immediate family members of such employees are not eligible to participate in the Competition, either as applicants or as sponsors. The term “immediate family” of such employees includes spouses, siblings, parents, children, grandparents and grandchildren, whether as “in-laws” or by current or past marriage(s), remarriage(s), adoption, co-habitation or other family extension, and any other persons residing at the same household as such employees, whether or not they are related to them.
Dates
Deadline: April 30, 2025
Cost/funding for participants
What do the Young Champions receive?
The Prize
In 2025, seven Young Champions of the Earth will be selected from each global region: one from each of Africa, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, North America, West Asia, and two from Asia and the Pacific. Each winner will receive the following:
- US$15,000 in seed funding;
- US$ 9,000 in funding to communicate and capture your idea and document and broadcast the stories of hope and change that you’re catalyzing on the ground.
- Attendance at a high-level UN meeting;
- An introduction to dignitaries at the Champions of the Earth Award Ceremony;
- Publicity and recognition through interviews and online and global media;
- Access to a community of Covestro experts offering insights and mentoring; and
- Participation in an entrepreneurial training program.
The 2025 Young Champions will be required to share their journeys through blogs and vlogs posted on this website for a period of up to one year.
The community
More than just an honorary title, Young Champions of the Earth Prize aims to nurture the next generation of environmental leaders. Applicants who demonstrate a strong willingness to learn will be granted access to mentorship and skills building opportunities and access to a community of likeminded entrepreneurs and experts.
Un-save Opportunity
Internships, scholarships, student conferences and competitions.
