Submit nominations for the Nordic Council Environment Prize 2026
The Nordic Council Environment Prize 2026 focuses on initiatives that educate children and young people about environmental and climate issues
This year, the Environment Prize will go to someone in the Nordic Region who has done something extraordinary to ensure that our children and young people have the tools they need to understand the climate and biodiversity crisis facing the world.
“Our children and young people will live in a world of perpetual change. It’s important that we listen to them, of course, but they also need knowledge and skills that will help them influence decisions and shape the future they want,” says Eeva Furman, chair of the adjudication committee.
Addressing the fact that we live in an era of increasing misinformation, the committee also stresses the importance of providing the younger generations with the tools they need to evaluate information critically.
The nomination process for the Nordic Council Environment Prize is open, allowing the general public to put forward names.
Criteria for nominations
The prize is awarded to a Nordic company, organisation, or individual which has integrated consideration for the environment into its business or work in an exemplary manner, or which has made an extraordinarily positive contribution to the environment in some other way.
The committee also takes into account the extent to which initiatives are inclusive, innovative and have the potential to inspire and be scaled up internationally.
The deadline for nominations is 29 April 2026.
The prize and the award ceremony
On 26 June, the committee will reveal which of the nominations have made it onto the shortlist.
The prize will be awarded at a ceremony in Helsinki during the Session of the Nordic Council Session in October. The winner will receive the “Nordlys” statuette and DKK 300,000.
Previous winners
2025 Green Neighbourhood Communities
2024 Arnhildur Pálmadóttir
2023 Renewcell
2022 The City of Mariehamn for Nabben Wetlands
2021 The Concito Think Tank’s Big Climate Database
About the Nordic Council Environment Prize
The Nordic Council Environment Prize was first awarded in 1995 with the aim of raising awareness of work on the environment in the Nordic Region. The Council also awards annual prizes for literature, children and young people’s literature, music and film.
