Young Champions of the Earth UNEP’s Prestigious Award for Young Environmental Trailblazers. In a world facing interconnected environmental crises, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is shining a spotlight on the next generation of changemakers. The Young Champions of the Earth is UNEP’s flagship global youth initiative and its most prestigious award for environmental action by young people. Launched in 2017 and relaunched in 2025 through a partnership with American cleantech CEO and climate philanthropist Chris Kemper, the competition honours inspiring young entrepreneurs, activists, scientists, economists, artists, communicators, and innovators who are turning bold ideas into real solutions to protect and restore the planet.
Since its inception, the programme has recognised 33 young trailblazers from around the world. It celebrates groundbreaking initiatives that tackle climate change, biodiversity and nature loss, pollution and waste, and land degradation while delivering tangible economic benefits for communities and advancing the Sustainable Development Goals.
Who Can Apply?
The competition is open to young people aged 18 to 30 (at the end of the calendar year) from all backgrounds and regions. Applicants must have been actively working on their environmental “big idea” for at least six months to demonstrate commitment and feasibility. There are no geographic restrictions the award selects globally.
What Do Winners Receive?
Each selected Young Champion receives:
- US$10,000 in seed funding to grow their skills and business (supported by Chris Kemper). unep.org
- Comprehensive mentorship, workshops, and communications training.
- A smartphone multimedia production kit to document their journey.
- Access to a worldwide network of environmental experts and influential change-makers.
- VIP opportunities to attend the award ceremony, high-level UN events, and build a global platform through interviews, speaking engagements, and international media coverage.
- The chance to compete in a pitch competition in New York for a Planet A grant of up to US$100,000. unep.org
Winners are also required to share their journeys through self-shot videos and short articles on the UNEP website for up to one year, amplifying their impact and inspiring others.
The 2026 Cycle: Applications Now Open
UNEP officially launched the call for the 2026 Young Champions of the Earth on 24 February 2026. Applications (or nominations) are open until 15 April 2026 (extended from the original 31 March deadline). Interested candidates can apply directly through the online form.
UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen emphasised the programme’s importance:
“Tackling the interconnected crises of climate change, land degradation, biodiversity and nature loss, and pollution and waste is not an act of charity. It can deliver tangible economic benefits for countries, communities, and individuals. We are proud that through the Young Champions programme, these amazing individuals get mentorship, training, and seed funding to turn ambitious ideas into viable solutions for people and planet.”
Chris Kemper added:
“We are proud to support these amazing young people who are changing the world… I am excited to meet the 2026 Young Champions.”
Real Impact
Meet the 2025 Winners.
In September 2025, UNEP and Chris Kemper awarded the prize to three outstanding entrepreneurs whose innovations exemplify the competition’s spirit:
- Jinali Mody (28, India): Founder and CEO of Banofi Leather, a women-led company that transforms banana crop waste into plant-based leather alternatives. Her solution reduces water use, toxic waste, and CO₂ emissions compared to traditional leather, making fast fashion more sustainable.
- Joseph Nguthiru (27, Kenya): Founder of HyaPak, which converts invasive water hyacinth from Lake Naivasha into biodegradable packaging and seedling wrappers. His work replaces single-use plastics, restores agricultural land, and offsets carbon emissions. Joseph went on to win the US$100,000 Planet A grant.
- Noemi Florea (24, United States): Inventor of Cycleau, a compact greywater reuse system that turns wastewater from sinks, showers, and laundry into drinking water using less energy than conventional methods. Developed with input from marginalised communities, it expands access to clean water.
Each 2025 winner received US$20,000 in seed funding, along with the full suite of mentorship and global visibility.
Why It Matters
The Young Champions of the Earth competition does more than recognize talent it equips young leaders with the resources, networks, and platforms they need to scale solutions that benefit both people and the planet. By focusing on innovation, feasibility, passion, and execution, UNEP and its partners are investing in a more sustainable and prosperous future.
With applications open for the 2026 cohort, now is the time for the next generation of environmental leaders to step forward. If you’re between 18 and 30 and have been developing a big idea to protect the planet for at least six months, visit the official application page to apply before the 15 April 2026 deadline.
The future of our planet is in the hands of young innovators and UNEP’s Young Champions of the Earth is ensuring their ideas get the recognition and support they deserve.
Conclusion
The Young Champions of the Earth programme stands as a powerful testament to the UN Environment Programme’s commitment to empowering the next generation of environmental leaders. By providing seed funding, world-class mentorship, global visibility, and access to influential networks, UNEP and its partner Chris Kemper are equipping bold young innovators with the tools they need to scale transformative solutions for climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, and land degradation.
In a time when urgent and creative action is needed, this competition does more than recognise talent — it invests in real-world impact that benefits both people and the planet. The success of past winners, from banana-waste leather to invasive plant packaging and greywater recycling systems, proves that young people with big ideas can deliver practical, scalable solutions.If you are between 18 and 30 years old and have been developing an innovative environmental project for at least six months, this is your opportunity to step onto the global stage.
Apply now for the 2026 Young Champions of the Earth award.
The application deadline is 15 April 2026.Official Application Link:
Apply for Young Champions of the Earth 2026
Don’t miss your chance to join a prestigious community of changemakers who are shaping a more sustainable future. The planet needs your ideas and UNEP’s Young Champions programme is ready to help you turn them into reality.
