Sweden’s Leading Sustainability Award Celebrates 25 Years – Meet the 2025 Finalists

Twenty-five years ago, what would become the environmental equivalent of the Nobel Prize was established – the WIN WIN Gothenburg Sustainability Award. Each year, one million SEK has been awarded to leaders such as Al Gore, Gro Harlem Brundtland, and Kofi Annan. Today, this year’s finalists are announced.

"With great pride, I look back on 25 years of rewarding initiatives that have driven sustainable development forward. This year’s finalists are no exception – they represent exceptional leadership that not only navigates uncertain times but also paves the way for a shared and better future," says Sara Larsson, Executive Director of the WIN WIN Gothenburg Sustainability Award.

Five outstanding leaders and five young changemakers have been selected as finalists for the WIN WIN Award and WIN WIN Youth Award 2025. Under the theme of Trailblazing Leadership, the award highlights individuals whose courage, vision, and long-term actions have driven social change and sustainable development at both local and global levels.

Finalists – WIN WIN Gothenburg Sustainability Award 2025

• Tzeporah Berman (Canada) – An internationally recognised environmental activist and founder of the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, advocating for a global transition away from fossil fuels. Through strategic advocacy and network-building, she has shaped global climate policies and challenged the fossil fuel industry.
• Frans Timmermans (Netherlands) – As former Vice-President of the European Commission, Timmermans played a key role in shaping the European Green Deal, one of the most ambitious sustainability initiatives of our time. Through skilful leadership and diplomacy, he ensured that climate issues remain central to European policy.
• Christiana Figueres (Costa Rica) – The diplomat behind the Paris Agreement, whose inclusive leadership paved the way for a new era of global climate cooperation. Her work has inspired initiatives such as the Climate Pledge and the Exponential Roadmap, demonstrating the power of collaboration in driving sustainable change.
• Uyunkar Domingo Peas Nampichkai (Ecuador) – An Achuar leader who has united 30 Indigenous nations in Ecuador and Peru in the fight to protect the Amazon rainforest. His inclusive leadership has led to significant conservation successes, showcasing how Indigenous-led initiatives can drive systemic change.
• Jacinda Ardern (New Zealand) – As Prime Minister from 2017 to 2023, she championed sustainability policies such as the Zero Carbon Act and the Wellbeing Budget, balancing economic growth with social and environmental sustainability. Her values-driven leadership has demonstrated that governments can lead by example.

Finalists – WIN WIN Youth Award 2025

• Ssenyange Apollo (24, Uganda) – Founder of Signals from the Grassroots, a network mobilising young people for social change in over 50 countries. His work focuses on education, equality, and creating inclusive opportunities for youth worldwide.
• Karimot Odebode (25, Nigeria) – Poet and founder of the Black Girl’s Dream Initiative, working for gender equality, education, and against gender-based violence. She has contributed to legislation protecting children and advocates for educational reforms at both national and global levels.
• Joshua Shumak (24, USA) – Vice Chief of the Wassamasaw tribe and a driving force in Indigenous rights, sustainable development, and cultural preservation. His work has strengthened collaboration between tribes, government agencies, and cultural institutions.
• Katie Freund (29, USA) – A leader in gender equality and Indigenous rights through her work with the Mexican organisation PSYDEH. Her inclusive and long-term leadership empowers women in marginalised communities, creating lasting change.
• Juan Pierre (20, Mauritius) – Policy advocate and climate activist dedicated to youth participation in decision-making. As a representative for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) he fights for innovative and just climate solutions on a global scale.

Winners to be Announced at the Gothenburg Sustainability Summit on 9 April

The winners of the WIN WIN Award and WIN WIN Youth Award 2025 will be announced at the newly launched Gothenburg Sustainability Summit, which brings together decision-makers and changemakers to accelerate the transition to a sustainable future.

The laureates will visit Sweden from 13–17 October, where they will receive their prizes at the annual gala at Börsen in Gothenburg and participate in various programme events throughout the week.