Earth Champions strives to inspire communities to protect the environment by seeking, celebrating and collaborating with those dedicated to restoring and sustaining earth. We give recognition to outstanding environmental leaders from grassroots to corporate and national champions. Our Earth Champions are individuals initialising and mobilising environmental change to overcome the challenges we face and transform our approach towards a more sustainable and hopeful future. Our Champions are recognised as part of an environmental legacy that highlights the potential of individual and collective action towards sustainable development.

EARTH CHAMPIONS

WE IDENTIFY

Best practises are nominated by the local community and through local research

WE EVALUATE

Nominations are evaluated by panels of local and international experts

WE AWARD

Earth Champions are accredited and awarded and their best practises shared on a global platform

WE SHARE AND GROW

Knowledge is shared through our Knowledge Pond, events and speciality programmes

Best practices are nominated by the local community and through local research

Nominations are evaluated by panels of local and international experts

Earth Champions are accredited and awarded and their best practices shared on a global platform

Knowledge is shared through our knowledge pond, events and speciality programs

TESTIMONIALS

"We are delighted that Bristol was chosen to host the 2014/2015 Earth Champions initiative. This important programme is in synergy with our beliefs and aims and will make a significant contribution to our community and environmental ambitions."

Mayor George Ferguson, Previous Mayor of Bristol

“I was surprised and inspired to see how many individuals and organisations are working for a sustainable future on our own doorstep in the Canton Vaud. The Earth Champions Award is a wonderful initiative that spotlights a grass-roots movement that can mobilise the local community to action for sustainability”

Sally Jeanrenaud, Deputy Director of International Union for Conservation of Nature IUCN. Switzerland.

“Since its inception in 2000, the Earth Champions Foundation has taken its campaign to create a positive climate of hope from Australia to Switzerland, spreading the message also to different parts of the world. Hong Kong is proud to be associated with this meaningful movement. The innovation and enthusiasm that have driven the Champions in their pursuit of their environmental cause are reflective of the can-do spirit of the people of Hong Kong.

Small changes in individuals’ living habit, very often at little or no cost to them, could make big difference to the global environment. Thank you for coming to Hong Kong and assisting us in mobilising the community.”

Mr Edward Yau, Secretary of State for the Environment in Hong Kong

“Anyone can be an Earth Champion – rich or poor, old or young” said Fiona Mathews the Foundation’s Founder. “We’ve had wonderful Champions as old as 93 and the youngest were 5 year old twins”

Fiona Mathews CEO & Founder of Earth Champions Foundation

"The Earth Champions Quest can help courageous Swiss innovators connect with an ever-growing pool of mind and money dedicated to environmental improvement.”

Mr Jean-Marc Buchillier - Mayor, ADNV, Yuerdon Les Bains

"That it is recognised at international conferences that it is important to foster local involvement of communities so they know how to act on issues of internationally recognised concern."

Mr Daniel Zurcher (Director, Environment Technology Services, Swiss Agency for the Environment)

One of the key success factors in the work of the Earth Champions is their highly participative approach, which creates ownership. Linking bottom-up concepts with policy top-down approaches is one of the key elements of their successful work. It demonstrates that the Earth Champions are a timely initiative, and one of the most important ones I know.

Mr Thomas Loster, Chairman of the Munich Re Foundation

"Our desire is to maximize the impact of our respective awards programmes and to explore means of linking them to help achieve their full potential. As such I would suggest that we develop an agreement that identifies opportunities for UNEP and Earth Champions Foundation to promote and support one another’s award programmes and that furthers our shared goals through partnership and mutual recognition. There are a myriad of possibilities for such mutual support and promotion.

UNEP would be happy to work with the Earth Champions Foundation. We should not waste the great potential we have for supporting and promoting one another’s work in recognizing the achievement of environmental champions".

Klaus Topher, Previous Executive Director, UN Environment Program

"I am so pleased to be following in the footsteps of my predecessors and supporting the Foundation, their work is extremely valuable"

Inger Andersen, Director General of the IUCN

“It is about time!” said Christine Loh, in response to the advice that Earth Champions is developing an “ecological Olympics”

Christine Loh Under Secretary for the Environment Hong Kong

"One of the key success factors in the work of the Earth Champions is their highly participative approach, which creates ownership. Linking bottom-up concepts with policy top-down approaches is one of the key elements of their successful work. It demonstrates that the Earth Champions are a timely initiative, and one of the most important ones I know".

Mr Thomas Loster, Chairman of the Munich Re Foundation

“My experiences were quite literally, life changing.. What an incredible honour to meet Nelson Mandela. Wow! Thank you to the Foundation and the team”

Gina Litton Winner of the Earth Champions Youth Quest, Australia, 2000