UNEP Young Champions of the Earth Prize

UNEP Young Champions of the Earth Prize Latest News

Recently, three entrepreneurs from India, Kenya and the United States have been awarded the UN Environment Programme’s 2025 Young Champions of the Earth prize.

About UNEP Young Champions of the Earth Prize

• It is the UN Environment Programme’s flagship initiative on youth engagement.
• It was established in 2017, relaunched in 2025 in partnership with Planet A.
• Eligibility: The annual prize recognises individuals under 30 for pioneering solutions to the planet’s most pressing environmental challenges.
• Prize money: Each winner receives $20,000 in seed funding, mentoring and access to a global platform to scale their ideas.
• The 2025 Young Champions of the Earth are:
  • Jinali Mody (India):  Founded Banofi Leather, which produces leather alternatives made from banana crop waste. This reduces water use, toxic waste, and CO₂ emissions.
  • Joseph Nguthiru (Kenya):  Started HyaPak company converts the invasive species hyacinth in Lake Naivasha into packaging bags and biodegradable seedling wrappers.
  • Noemi Florea (US):  She has founded Cycleau, a compact water reuse system, in consultation with dozens of marginalized communities. The company transforms greywater into drinking water.

What is the UN Environment Programme?

• UNEP is the leading global voice on the environment founded in 1972, 
• It has served as a neutral convener of Member States, civil society, the private sector and UN agencies to address humanity’s most pressing environmental challenges.

 Source: DTE

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