The Children’s Climate Prize summarizes the 2021 highlights

2021 is coming to an end, a year that has once again demonstrated the strength of global youth in fighting for a better future. Due to the ongoing climate crisis, many young people around the world feel anxiety and fear, feelings which they have transformed into a driving force for action. The Children's Climate Prize aims to highlight and support this collective drive, recognizing the challenge of fighting in silence and without appreciation. The award was thus created for this purpose, and it feels more important than ever to spread hope and inspiration.

This year, the jury chose to focus on five fantastic finalists after another record-breaking year of nominations. Lesein Mutunkei, a 17-year-old from Kenya, who tackles the climate crisis through the game of soccer. Fernanda Barros, a 16-year-old from Brazil, who works with environmental activism and social justice in the Amazon. Anjali Sharma, a 17-year-old from Australia, who is challenging the country’s Minister for the Environment in a historic trial, and Yash Narayan, a 17-year-old, from the USA, who has developed an app for improving waste management. And last but not least, the winner of the 2021 Children’s Climate Prize: Reshma Kosaraju, a 15-year-old from the USA, who can, with use of AI, predict where and when a forest fire is most likely to occur. They are all incredibly inspiring and we are excited to see where their journey takes them, as it has only just begun.

The Children’s Climate Prize will soon enter its seventh year, and we have been privileged with following the continued success of previous participants. We hope that the commitment made by the Children’s Climate Prize has made a positive impact, alongside other support. Ultimately, it’s about young people who have taken control of their futures, believe in their own abilities and, thus, bring about real change for themselves, the climate and the world. We would like to take this opportunity to highlight some of our previous winners and finalists who have made impressive contributions around the world during the past year:

Vinisha Umashankar, India (2020 Winner) - Has received global recognition for her innovative solar-powered irons, and was nominated for the Prince Williams Earthshot Prize. Her speech at this year’s COP26, in Glasgow, became a viral success, with millions of viewers.

Xiuhtezcatl Martinez, USA (2016 Winner) - Martinez is now one of a small but growing group of eco-hip hop artists, a genre of music aimed at inspiring climate action. In 2021, he released the single Take it all back.

Vihaan and Nav Agarwal, India (2019 Winner) - Have continued to develop their project, One Step Greener, was awarded this year's international Children’s Peace Prize, and attended the award ceremony in the Hague alongside the winner of the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize, Kailash Satyarthi. 

Shreya Ramachandran, USA (2019 Winner) - Now studying at Stanford and has continued to further develop her Grey Water Project. Her work was highlighted in the documentary, "The Power of Us: Confronting the Climate Crisis", as well as recognized in the book, "Girl Warriors: How 25 Young Activists Are Saving the Earth", which was released in April of 2021. She is active throughout the climate change debate and is regularly noticed by the media.

Melati Wijsen, Indonesia (2017 Finalist), founded the Bye Bye Plastic Bags project alongside her sister, Isabel. Melati has since founded the organization, YOUTHTOPIA, which aims to strengthen and guide young changemakers. In addition, she has spoken on global stages such as TED, UN and WE Forum. Melati has been voted as one of the most influential young people in the world by TIME, as well as been included in CNN's Young Wonders and FORBES' 30 under 30 lists.