UNEP Young Champions of the Earth 2025
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in partnership with climate tech CEO Chris Kemper announced the 2025 Young Champions of the Earth. This year’s winners come from India, Kenya, and the United States. Their innovations contribute to a global circular economy and tackle urgent environmental challenges such as wastewater treatment, plastic pollution, and sustainable material alternatives. The award includes seed funding, mentorship, and a platform to scale their solutions globally.
Background of the Young Champions of the Earth Programme
Launched by UNEP in 2017, the Young Champions of the Earth is a flagship initiative to engage youth in environmental protection. It recognises entrepreneurs, activists, and innovators under 30 with transformative ideas. Recently, the programme was re-launched with support from Chris Kemper, UNEP’s Advocate for Partnerships. Kemper is founder and CEO of Palmetto, a US climate tech company, and a climate philanthropist. His foundation also co-founded Planet A, a YouTube channel promoting environmental awareness and action.
2025 Award Winners and Their Innovations
The three winners received US$20,000 each and will compete for a further US$100,000 business growth grant and potential US$1 million seed investment through the Planet A pitch competition. – Jinali Mody (India) – Founder of Banofi Leather, she produces leather alternatives from banana crop waste. Her innovation drastically reduces water use, toxic waste, and carbon emissions compared to conventional leather. The company is women-led and targets the fast fashion industry. – Joseph Nguthiru (Kenya) – Climate-tech engineer and founder of HyaPak. His company transforms invasive water hyacinth from Lake Naivasha into biodegradable packaging and seedling wrappers. This replaces single-use plastics, improves soil health, and offsets carbon emissions. – Noemi Florea (United States) – Founder of Cycleau, a compact water reuse system that converts greywater into drinking water. Designed for marginalised communities, it retrofits under sinks and showers. Cycleau reduces wastewater and consumes less energy than traditional systems.
Significance of the Awards and Support
The Young Champions prize marks youth leadership in addressing the triple planetary crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. Winners gain global exposure, funding, and mentorship to scale their solutions. UNEP and Planet A provide video and communication support, documenting their journeys to inspire wider audiences. The Planet A YouTube channel will showcase the pitch competition and stories from October 2025.
Role of Partnerships in Environmental Innovation
The collaboration between UNEP and private sector leaders like Chris Kemper demonstrates the growing importance of partnerships in mobilising resources for environmental action. Philanthropy and cleantech entrepreneurship are key to accelerating sustainable development and youth engagement. Digital platforms such as Planet A amplify impact by connecting innovators with global communities.
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