2026 UNEP Young Champions of the Earth Programme – Global Call for Environmental Innovators (US$10,000 + US$100,000 Opportunity)

The 2026 UNEP Young Champions of the Earth Programme is now open for applications, offering one of the most prestigious global opportunities for young environmental innovators.

Led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), this flagship youth initiative recognises ambitious individuals aged 18–30 who are actively tackling the triple planetary crisis:

• Climate change
• Biodiversity and nature loss
• Pollution and waste

Since its launch in 2017, the programme has empowered young leaders worldwide by combining funding, mentorship, global exposure, and business development support to help scale impactful environmental solutions.

The 2026 edition continues in partnership with Planet A, providing selected Young Champions with access to funding and international networks designed to accelerate real-world environmental impact.

What Winners Receive

Each Young Champion will receive:

Financial Support

• US$10,000 seed funding to implement and scale their idea
• Opportunity to compete for an additional Planet A grant of up to US$100,000

Capacity Building

• Intensive mentorship and tailored workshops
• Business and innovation training
• Access to a global network of environmental leaders and experts

Global Visibility

• International media exposure
• Speaking engagements and interviews
• Participation in the official award ceremony and high-level events

Communications Support

• Smartphone multimedia production kit
• Storytelling and communications training
• Support to share impact stories globally for one year

All travel expenses for official programme events are covered.

Who Can Apply

The programme is open globally.

To be eligible, applicants must:

• Be 18–30 years old (at the end of 2026)
• Have worked on their environmental project for at least six months
• Submit one individual application (no group submissions)
• Provide a referee endorsement

Applicants do not need to be environmental science students. Innovators, activists, educators, technologists, artists, entrepreneurs, and changemakers from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

Employees of UNEP, Planet A, CoalitionWild, and their immediate family members are not eligible.

What Makes a Strong Application

Applications are evaluated based on:

The 3 Ps

• Planet – Environmental impact
• People – Social benefit
• Prosperity – Financial viability

The 3 Cs

• Curiosity
• Courage
• Creativity

Additional Criteria

• Demonstrated commitment (minimum six months implementation)
• Bankability and scalability
• Strength of referee endorsement

Ideas must be innovative, ambitious, and capable of scaling to create meaningful environmental change.

Deadline

Application Deadline: 31 March 2026

Applications must be submitted online before the deadline.

Click HERE to visit the official website.