Young Climate Prize: Celebrating the Next Generation of Change
By Nicole Loher
Published 04-12-23
Submitted by Meta
As the two generations that will be most impacted by the effects of climate change, Gen Z and Generation Alpha are bringing fresh passion and creativity to the climate fight.
To support and empower these emerging voices, The World Around, a nonprofit architecture forum, has created the Young Climate Prize, sponsored by Meta Open Arts. For its inaugural program, a cohort of 25 finalists, ages 13 to 25, were chosen to be paired with a The World Around’s Design Champion for one-on-one mentorship to help further their projects.
From this group, three winners (and one honorable mention) will be feted at The World Around Earth Day Summit 2023, to be held on Earth Day (April 22) at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York City. The winners are:
Participant projects were chosen to represent today’s climate landscape across five broad themes:
Words Matter: Projects amplifying the voices of those whose stories are key to the climate conversation, yet are often ignored.
Creating Connections: Young people seeing into the future of community building.
Innovators & Investors: Engineers, architects, designers exploring new ways to approach the changing landscape.
All About Waste: Researchers and innovators sharing their solutions to help solve one of the growing climate challenges of today.
Radical Reuse: Projects examining how the management of materials from the beginning of their lifespan to their eventual decay are vital to combat climate change.
“Meta Open Arts is pleased to partner with The World Around on the inaugural Young Climate Prize. This program celebrates the power of community-building through creativity and brings critical attention to emerging climate voices of today and their visions for the future.”
Sahithi Radha, 15, India
Student and activist pioneering an e-waste collection and recycling initiative
Hannah Segerkranz, 25, Estonia
Product designer championing the use of hemp as an eco-friendly building material through an open source design
Namra Khalid, Pakistan
Innovators & Inventions
Jin Gao, 25, China
Researcher and maker focusing on the survival of bees in volatile climate conditions
David Andrés Vega Monsalve, 23, Colombia
Digital artist using VR to raise awareness about the effects of recent flooding in Pakistán.
Ichor Joshua Keghnen, 22, Nigeria
Mechanical engineer who created a device to monitor pollution in boreholes and water wells.
Chris Vrettos, 26, Greece
Clean energy advocate championing the nation’s first all-solar community.
Esther Olalude, 20, Nigeria
An inventor creating affordable sanitary towels from recycled waste.
All About Water
Namra Khalid, 25, Pakistan
Researcher producing the region´s first socio-climatic map to facilitate addressing floods in Karachi.
Anushuka Shahdadpuri, 26, India
A designer working on a network of ways to accelerate clean water.
Joseph Nguthiru, 24, Kenya
A chemist who invented a biodegradable plastic made from water hyacinth.
Radical Reuse
Gabriela Angelina Bernal Ibáñez, 19, Mexico
An architect and engineer whose research into recycled panels is on trial in Mexico
Foday David Kamara, 23, Rwanda
An entrepreneur whose Ecovironment project is recycling post-consumer plastic waste into everyday construction materials like eco-bricks and paving tiles
Moemen Sobh, 22, Egypt
An architect pioneering new materials, including Visenleer, a fish-skin leather that makes use of bi-product and allows fishermen to make more money per fish sold
Mohammed Dimma Mawejje, 22, Uganda
A social entrepreneur using textile waste like fabric offcuts and second-hand clothes to create bags, earrings, dresses, and other fashion merchandise
Stanley Anigbogu, 23, Nigeria
A designer providing access to clean light and energy alternatives for students and refugees in his region
Aziba Ekio, Nigeria
“The World Around is committed to focusing on what is happening now and how it can change the future. This group of inspiring young activists, inventors, entrepreneurs, writers and poets have shown us where the world’s attention should focus. Their generation has a vested interest in finding solutions to our biggest challenges.” — Beatrice Galilee, director, The World Around
Meta builds technologies that help people connect, find communities and grow businesses. We collaborate with community members, climate action leaders and scientists to innovate beyond what is possible today and accelerate action-oriented resources for tomorrow. Meta envisions a just and equitable transition to a zero-carbon economy and is working with others to scale inclusive solutions that help create a healthier planet for all, ensuring that no one is left behind.