The Children's Climate Prize presents: 2018’s Finalists
This year’s finalists of the Children's Climate Prize are being announced. The jury once again faced a difficult task in choosing, among all the submissions and nominees, who the five finalists were to be. On November 20th, all finalists will be celebrated during a formal ceremony at Stockholm City Hall and on November 12th, the winner will be announced.
The Children’s Climate Prize is a two-day event, the award show at Stockholm City Hall November 20th and the very appreciated Children’s Climate Talks at Södertälje Town Hall on Wednesday November 21st where the finalists present their projects more in-depth.
Please see 2018’s finalists, in no particular order, below. Winner will be announced November 12th.
Initiative - Harvest – Maanasa Medu, 15 years, Mason, USA
Maanasa has developed a device that is capable of generating clean energy from sun, wind and rain. The device is called HARVEST. It’s an energy converter that uses the effect of the wind, rainfall and the sun in a smart and simple leaf-shaped design. When the blade is bent by wind and precipitation or exposed to sunlight, it produces an electrical charge. The device is made from recycled components such as plastic bottles and foil. Maanasa is collaborating with the University of Cincinnati, has spoken on TEDxVienna, been nominated by Forbes for their 30 under 30 Energy List, and has won several competitions worldwide.
The jury’s motivation:
Working out how electricity can be made available to all, at only 15 years of age, requires a certain amount of brilliance, and Maanasa has got plenty of it! She has created Harvest, a product that costs less than $ 5 to manufacture and which generates renewable energy from the sun, wind and water. A smart and easy design available to all, with the potential to change the lives of many millions of people worldwide!
Project - Compola - Nikita and Sofia-Khrystyna, 13 years, Kiev, Ukraine
Nikita and Sofia-Khrystyna were upset by seeing the amount of food being wasted and started a composting project that takes care of the leftovers from the school's meals. Composting and recycling is relatively new to Ukraine and has only been done in small scale. They started Compola, an initiative that manages waste and garbage for composting and recycling. Together with Ukraine's Ministry for Education, Nikita and Sofia-Khrystyna 200 schools have now started composting food waste. The plan is to eventually have all of Ukraine's 17 500 schools sorting and composting.
The jury’s motivation:
Composting and recycling haven’t been widely spread in Ukraine, and it takes courage and persistence to launch projects from the ground, both of which Nikita and Sofia-Khrystyna are equipped with. Thanks to project Compola, children in Ukrainian schools now learn to sort and compost waste. Identifying a problem and doing something about it, going from words to actions, is exactly what Nikita and Sofia-Khrystyna have done!
Initiative - Cooperative eco-bank for kids - José Adolfo, 13 years, Arequipa, Peru
José's eco-bank transforms recycling and environmental awareness into a currency that children can use to buy products at the bank or exchange into real money. The children can start their own bank accounts where they deposit their collected waste which they can use to save and eventually withdraw money. Today there are 10 education centres with over 3000 actively engaged children and adolescents. The bank has attracted attention worldwide and José has received several environmental prizes. The bank holds the certificate: Social Technology, since 2017, granted by the Bank of Brazil and the World Bank.
The jury’s motivation:
José's eco-bank is a brilliant way of linking economy and climate impact, both in thought and practice. Children can take micro loans, and pay, with items that are recyclable. The system clearly illustrates that the planet's common resources are limited and that we must be climate conscious and recycle the products that we no longer use. It creates awareness of consumption. This way caring about the environment becomes an investment. A system that gives children both economic independence and power to influence the climate. The potential impact is amazing.
Initiative – School Strike for the environment – Greta Thunberg 15 years, Stockholm, Sweden
Three weeks before the Swedish election in September, 15-year-old Greta Thunberg began a strike for the environment, in order to draw attention to the most important political issue concerning us all. Sitting next to the House of Parliaments in Stockholm, she raised public awareness about climate change. Her protest action has been mentioned internationally by, among others, The Guardian and the BBC. Her initiative has continued after the election with #FridaysForFuture, which led to climate strikes in several places around Sweden, the Nordic regions, Europe and Australia.
The jury’s motivation:
With her strike for the environment, Greta has shown more determination, dedication and strength in combating climate change and working for the future of humanity than most adults or politicians ever do. Greta's protest has inspired both children and adults around the world and has spread to become an international movement, gathered under the hashtag #FridaysForFuture.
Initiative - 25 Voices against Deforestation, Colombia
25 young individuals aged 12-17 have filed a lawsuit against the Colombian government because it doesn’t do enough to protect the rainforests of the Amazon. Deforestation is the largest source of greenhouse gases, which threatens the next generation's right to life and a healthy environment. The Colombian Supreme Court has, so far, decided on behalf of the group. This has increased public awareness of the relationship between the forest and climate change. People have also been able to support the youth's initiative on change.org with the campaign: "Let's stop deforestation completely in the Colombian Amazon," which received over 32,261 signatures.
The jury’s motivation:
With impressive knowledge and motivation to press for change and for getting organized, 25 Voices in Colombia succeeded in a seemingly impossible mission to counteract the wreckage of the Amazon. By using the judiciary and existing legislation, they have, both intelligently and admirably, managed to protect the rainforests and with it their own future.
If you wish to get in touch with any of the finalists please contact the press officer below.
The Children’s Climate Prize is a two-day event, the award show at the Stockholm City Hall November 20th and the very appreciated Children’s Climate Talks at Södertälje Town Hall on Wednesday November 21st where the finalists present their projects more in-depth.
About the Children’s Climate Prize
The Children's Climate Prize is an international climate event for environmentally conscious people from all over the world. It is a platform to inspire and give young people opportunities to drive change. The prize is awarded to a young person who has taken extraordinary actions for the climate, environment and future generations. The Swedish renewable energy company Telge Energi initiated the prize with the purpose of spotlighting the climate issue from the perspective of the next generation. To read more about the prize, please visit: www.ccprize.org
For media inquiries, please contact:
Jonna Holmgren
+46 70-888 05 02
jonna@massivpr.se
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