The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) today launched a call for nominations for the 2026 cycle of the Young Champions of the Earth award, which honours outstanding young people driving innovative solutions to protect the planet.
The Young Champions of the Earth prize is UNEP’s flagship global youth initiative. Since 2017, it has recognized 33 young trailblazers – activists, entrepreneurs, and environmental innovators from age 18 to 30 – for their outstanding ideas to protect the environment. The programme is run in partnership with American cleantech CEO Chris Kemper, who is also UNEP’s Advocate for Partnerships and co-founder of Planet A.
2026 Young Champions will receive US$10,000 seed funding from Kemper, mentorship, access to a network of experts, and opportunities to engage in high-level United Nations events. They will also be brought to New York to compete in a pitch competition for a US$100,000 grant from Planet A.
UNEP encourages applications from young entrepreneurs, scientists, economists, artists, and communicators from all backgrounds who are advancing bold ideas for people, planet, and prosperity. To demonstrate feasibility and commitment, applicants must have actively pursued their ideas for a minimum of six months.
“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,” said Inger Andersen, Executive Director of UNEP. “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.”
The 2025 Young Champions of the Earth awardees were: Jinali Mody of India, founder and CEO of Banofi Leather, which transforms banana crop waste into a plant-based leather alternative; Joseph Nguthiru, founder of Kenyan startup HyaPak, which produces biodegradable packaging from water hyacinth pulp; and Noemi Florea, inventor of Cycleau, a system that converts greywater into drinking water. Nguthiru then went on to win a $100,000 grant from Planet A.
“We are proud to support these amazing young people who are changing the world,” said Kemper. “Joseph, Jinali, and Noemi showed us last year that individuals can do so much to safeguard our planet. I am excited to meet the 2026 Young Champions.”
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