Deadline Date: April 29, 2026
The Nordic Council Environment Prize invites nominations for initiatives that empower children and young people with knowledge, skills, and a voice to influence their future and contribute to sustainable development and climate adaptation.
The focus areas for the prize include teaching children and young people about nature and climate issues, strengthening knowledge, commitment, and opportunity to influence, countering misinformation and promoting democratic participation, developing critical thinking and source criticism, fostering responsibility for the environment and nature, elucidating the connection between the climate crisis and biodiversity loss, promoting green innovation and solution-oriented thinking, increasing awareness of climate change impacts on Nordic ecosystems, and supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals 4, 12, 13, 14, 15, and 17.
The winner of the 2026 Nordic Council Environment Prize will be announced at a ceremony in Helsinki during the Nordic Council Session in October and will receive the “Nordlys” statuette along with DKK 300,000. This prize represents a unique opportunity to highlight initiatives that prepare the next generation to preserve ecosystems, counter climate change, and secure a sustainable future for the Nordic Region and beyond.
The prize emphasizes the importance of equipping the younger generation to face the effects of climate change. In a world where misinformation is prevalent and democratic freedoms can be restricted, quality education and active participation are more critical than ever. By giving children and young people the tools to understand complex environmental relationships, they can develop both environmental responsibility and social engagement, while enhancing democratic participation and critical thinking skills.
Initiatives considered for the prize should be rooted in scientific research and aim to explain human impacts on the environment through consumption and lifestyle choices. Such education can influence long-term behavioral changes, encourage sustainable consumption patterns, and foster respect for nature. It also nurtures social responsibility and inclusivity, ensuring that young people are not only aware of environmental challenges but also empowered to act effectively within their communities.
The Nordic Council Environment Prize evaluates nominations based on their impact, innovation, scalability, and relevance. Impact measures how effectively an initiative increases children’s and young people’s knowledge and involvement in climate and nature issues. Innovation assesses the originality of the approach, methodology, or use of technology. Scalability looks at the potential for broader adaptation and implementation across regions and countries. Relevance evaluates the scientific foundation, ability to promote environmental engagement, and contributions to behavioral change, inclusion, and social responsibility.
For more information, visit Nordic Council.
