Nordic Council Environment Prize turns 30
Miljøprisen sætter i år fokus på civilsamfundets bidrag till den grønne omstilling.
The Environment Prize was first awarded in 1995.
The theme for 2025 – Civil Society’s Green Contribution – highlights the importance of involving everyone.
“An active and engaged civil society is a prerequisite for the green transition and vital for making the improvements needed to nature and the environment,” says Anna Jöborn, chair of the adjudication committee.
“For 30 years, the Nordic Council Environment Prize has highlighted initiatives that support sustainable development in our region. As climate and environmental challenges become more and more tangible, it is increasingly important that we work together to find common solutions,” she continues.
As well as being part of the actual theme this year, engaging civil society lies at the very heart of the prize because anyone can submit nominations. The Nordic House in Reykjavik is responsible for the administration of the DKK 300,000 prize.
Civil Society Engagement – An initiative to involve everybody in the green transition
Without a widespread commitment to nature and environmental issues, achieving a sustainable future will be difficult. Every part of society has a role to play in addressing climate change, making the green transition a reality and taking the steps necessary to protect, manage and restore our ecosystems.
Society can make rapid and significant progress when we all stand together and work towards a common goal. Time is of the essence for the environment, protecting nature and making the green transition happen, none of which is possible without an active and fully engaged civil society.
Engagement takes many forms – from participation in local associations and organisations to individual initiatives that promote sustainability and environmental awareness. Behavioural change can make a big difference in moving toward a more sustainable future.
Examples of “citizen science” involving ordinary people already abound, such as observing birds and butterflies and combating invasive species. These initiatives are important not only for data collection but also for raising awareness and encouraging widespread engagement.
Previous prize winners
The very first winner of the prize was the Swedish researcher Torleif Ingelög for his work on preserving biodiversity in agriculture and forestry. Since then, the prize has been awarded a total of 30 times to everything from outdoor associations, a hotel chain, three banks, environmental organisations, several start-ups, an energy company and a large number of Nordic researchers. In 2019, the prize was awarded to Greta Thunberg from Sweden, who chose not to accept it as a protest about the lack of action on the climate.
How the winner is chosen
The winner of the Nordic Council Environment Prize is chosen by a three-step process:
- Open nominations
- National committees submit nominations (one or two)
- The Adjudication Committee meets and picks the winner.
This year’s nominees will be announced on 27 June during the Almedal Week in Sweden. The prize statuette will be handed over at a ceremony during the Session of the Nordic Council in Stockholm in October.
Submit a nomination for the Nordic Council Environment Prize 2025
Anybody can submit nominations for the Nordic Council Environment Prize. The deadline is Wednesday, 30 May. The DKK 300,000 Nordic Council Environment Prize goes to a company, organisation or individual for exemplary efforts to integrate respect for the environment into their activities or for some other form of extraordinary contribution to the environment.
