Presenting the jury of the Children's Climate Prize 2022

For the eighth year, the Children's Climate Prize will be awarded to a young person who has made extraordinary efforts for the climate and the environment. To select the 2022 winner, an eminent jury has been appointed, consisting of both youth and adults with broad expertise in the field. This year, the award's jury chairman Johan Kuylenstierna will be joined by Siiri Maekelae, UN Environment Programme and Selin Gören, YOUTHOPIA among others.

The jury for the Children's Climate Prize has been appointed and it is the Children's Climate Foundation that annually appoints the jury. As in previous years, the jury consists of international participants, with a broad experience of sustainability work globally. The chairman of the Climate Policy Council in Sweden, Johan Kuylenstierna, will take on the role of jury chairman for another year.

- It’s going to be extra exciting to see how young people have developed and adapted to a global pandemic. Climate work is more important than ever if we are to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, so now is not the time to slow down. I continue to be impressed and fascinated every year by the fantastic projects that come in, so I look forward to an exciting jury work with interesting discussions, says the jury's chairman Johan Kuylenstierna.

This year's nomination period was open until May 15 and it is now the jury's difficult task to select the 2022 winner. The jury will meet in August and shortly thereafter, this year's finalists and winners will be presented.

- As a young person, it's one of my greatest priorities to work for a future where children are empowered both through their education and through political frameworks to have a say in the decisions affecting their lives. Therefore, being a jury member for the Children's Climate Prize is extremely valuable for me, since I'm a strong believer in Gen Z's ability to thrive in uncertain and ever-changing circumstances and their ability to turn their sense of urgency into creative solutions. I'm very excited to learn from the participating children's creativity and resilience!, says Selin Gören, jury member Children's Climate Prize.

This year, the prize will be awarded for the eighth year in a row and the winner receives a medal, diploma and prize money of SEK 100,000 to develop their project. Since 2020, the prize has been awarded by the Children's Climate Foundation, which was initiated by the prize's founder Telge Energi.

Children’s Climate Prize jury of 2022:

Johan Kuylenstierna - Chairman, Swedish Climate Policy Council
Johan is an Adjunct Professor and Doctor Honaris Causa at Stockholm University. He has worked on Agenda 21 and water resource issues at the United Nations in New York, and was CEO of Stockholm Environment Institute. Johan is an active lecturer and debater, involved in several organizations related to the environment, energy and climate. From 6 September, Johan takes on the role as the General Director of Formas.

Selin Gören - Circle of Youth member, YOUTHTOPIA
Selin is a 20-year old climate activist and eco-entrepreneur from Turkey. Since 2019 she's been an organizer of the climate movement in Turkey and has been working to mobilize youth to take action against the climate crisis. Selin has worked with movements like Fridays for Future, Extinction Rebellion and Youth for Climate. She has also received numerous awards, such as "The Inspirations of the Year Award", “The Social Responsibility Award” and “The Diana Award”.

Siiri Maekelae - UN Environment Programme
Siiri works in the Youth, Education and Advocacy Unit in the Ecosystem Division at UN Environment in Nairobi, Kenya. Siiri has been closely involved in climate activism and has a background in environment and resource management, social policy and international business. Previously, Siiri worked as a project manager in one of the largest youth organizations in Finland and before joining UN Environment Siiri acted as the president of the Finnish Adenda2030 Youth Group advocating for sustainable development.

Ismail Abdullahi - WWF Sweden Youth
Ismail is passionate about equality, diversity and a sustainable world for all. In addition to his involvement in WWF Sweden Youth, he is also a sustainability ambassador for the Red Cross and a member of FUF, the Association for Development Issues in Jönköping.

Micael Dahlén - Author, Professor and Economist, Stockholm School of Economics
Micael is an author, international lecturer and Professor of Economics at the Stockholm School of Economics. He has lectured in places such as Shanghai, New York and Lisbon, for organizations including Google, Ericsson and The Economist. He has been named number 10 in the world in his field of research.

Vinisha Umashankar - Winner of Children’s Climate Prize 2020
Vinisha is a 15-year-old student, innovator and entrepreneur from India who has been praised for her innovation the Solar Ironing Cart. In 2020, she won the Children's Climate Prize, followed by being named a finalist in The Earthshot Prize 2021. She also gave a highly acclaimed speech to world leaders at COP26.

Stella Axelsson – President, The Swedish Federation of Young Scientists
Stella is a 24-year old bachelor student from Sweden that will begin her master studies in medicinal biotechnology at KTH and become a research assistant at KI during the fall. Since 2018 she's been first a participant and then an organizer of the national competition for young scientists to inspire youth to pursue a scientific career. Stella has worked as lab assistant since 2019 at KTH in introductory biotechnology courses and also competed as a member of the Stockholm team in the international Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) competition. During the iGEM competition that finished with the iGEM Giant Jamboree in Boston, she also competed in the BioHackathon'19: Lab App in Vilnius. Her dream is becoming a neuroscientist and professor.

The Children’s Climate Prize - how it works:

• Nominations are open from November 2021 to May 2022
• The jury is appointed in the spring
• The jury selects the finalists and winners
• Finalists will be announced in September-October, 2022
• The prize winner will be announced in November, 2022