Redefining climate action: The Earth Prize's new path to empower youth innovators

The world's largest environmental competition for teenagers, The Earth Prize, has launched an exciting new initiative to amplify young voices in the fight against climate change. This year, the competition introduces a regional format, where seven Regional Winners will be selected from Africa, Asia, Central and South America, Europe, the Middle East, North America, and Oceania. 

The winners will have the opportunity to further develop their innovative environmental solutions, with one Global Winner being chosen by public vote. This new format aims to engage communities worldwide in supporting youth-led climate solutions and expanding the impact of their ideas. 

About The Earth Prize

The Earth Prize was founded by Peter McGarry through The Earth Foundation, a Swiss nonprofit based in Geneva. Launched in 2021, The Earth Prize was created to inspire and empower young people to tackle pressing environmental challenges and to help alleviate eco-anxiety by turning concern into action. 

Since its inception, the competition has reached over 10,000 young people across 154 countries and territories, awarding over $500,000 to the top teams for their innovative solutions. By providing mentorship, resources, and funding, The Earth Prize aims to foster a new generation of eco-innovators and leaders dedicated to creating a sustainable future.

A new regional initiative to empower young changemakers

The Earth Prize’s new regional format is a transformative step that seeks to level the playing field and increase accessibility for young innovators across the globe. By choosing seven Regional Winners, the competition ensures that diverse ideas from different parts of the world are recognized and nurtured. 

Each Regional Winner will receive $12.5K in funding to help scale their projects, which can range from tech-based solutions to unique physical inventions. This initiative not only provides financial support but also offers 1:1 mentoring from the moment of registration, giving young participants the tools they need to make a real-world impact.

Insights from last year's winner and finalists

One Earth spoke with Reichen Schaller from last year’s winning team, FloodGate, as well as finalists Vince Wu from HiveHealthy and Ryan Honary from Sensory AI, to hear about their experiences with The Earth Prize and how the competition has shaped their projects and outlooks.

Reichen Schaller from Team FloodGate: Predicting floods to save lives

Reichen Schaller, a member of last year’s winning team, FloodGate, played an instrumental role in developing their team's innovative flood prediction system. Compelled by the frequent flooding in their home state of North Carolina, Schaller and his teammates George, Shubhan, and Sumedh, leveraged their skills in computational science and engineering to create a machine learning-based software that predicts floods and supports planning for evacuations and relief efforts. Through their experience with The Earth Prize, the team refined their solution, which has the potential to make a global impact in disaster preparedness.

Participating in The Earth Prize provided Team FloodGate with critical resources and support that were instrumental in bringing their project to life. Reichen described the comprehensive nature of the competition: 

"The Earth Prize was not just about winning; it was about learning and growing. The mentorship we received helped us improve our idea and our technical skills. It was amazing to see how much our project evolved over the course of the competition."

Reichen emphasized the importance of taking initiative and starting small, especially for young innovators looking to make a difference. “It can sometimes feel daunting to start, but gaining experience can give you the confidence to join a more accomplished group or project. Even if your idea is in the early stages of development, don’t hesitate to apply for The Earth Prize. The competition is incredibly supportive of projects that are just beginning, and there’s a lot to learn even if you don’t have months of testing or a fully developed prototype.”

Going forward, Reichen and his teammates are focused on creating a more user-friendly version of their flood prediction software, aiming to make it accessible to those without technical expertise. As Reichen continues his education, he remains committed to expanding FloodGate’s capabilities, seeking additional resources and partnerships to ensure their technology can be scaled to help communities at risk of flooding.

Vince Wu from HiveHealthy: Protecting pollinators with real-time data

Vince Wu created HiveHealthy to monitor honeybee health using advanced sensors and machine learning. As a hobby beekeeper, Vince combined his knowledge of bees with his passion for technology to develop a system that provides early alerts about potential threats to bee colonies, such as changes in climate, mites, and harmful pesticides.

HiveHealthy leverages a network of sensors and cameras placed in and around beehives to collect data on environmental conditions and bee behaviors. This data is then analyzed using AI algorithms to predict potential dangers to the hive, allowing beekeepers to take preventative action. 

Reflecting on his experience with The Earth Prize, Vince emphasized the growth and development opportunities it provided. “The process itself of developing the pitch materials and getting feedback from environmental mentors was super helpful,” he said. “It allowed me to elaborate on and develop the idea further.”

Regarding the resources available to young innovators, Vince noted, “There are tons of resources out there. With the technological availability these days, students can get started on their own.” He furthered this call to action:

 "If you have an idea, just go for it. There's no need to wait for any adult to give you permission—just do it.”

Looking ahead, Vince plans to expand HiveHealthy by incorporating more advanced sensors and collaborating with researchers to enhance the system's capabilities. “I also try to stay involved in the non-technical side of environmentalism,” Vince added. “Staying connected with your community and working together towards common goals, whether through technical research or social action, is important.”

Ryan Honary from Sensory AI: Early and accurate wildfire detection 

Ryan Honary from California was motivated to create Sensory AI after a wildfire threatened his family’s home. His solution utilizes a network of AI-driven sensors to detect early signs of fires, providing timely alerts to emergency services and residents, even in remote areas.

Sensory AI began as a small-scale project using simple sensors to detect heat and smoke. Over time, Ryan developed a more sophisticated system that uses machine learning to differentiate between actual fires and false alarms caused by other heat sources like the sun or vehicles. “Incorporating AI allowed us to train the sensors to recognize different types of heat signatures and reduce the likelihood of false positives,” shared Ryan.

The Earth Prize provided Ryan with the platform and resources he needed to take his project to the next level. “Participating in The Earth Prize was a transformative experience,” Ryan said. “The feedback from judges and mentors was invaluable in helping me think about my project’s scalability and real-world application and frame my value proposition much more specifically and accurately.”

Ryan also appreciated the sense of purpose and community fostered by The Earth Prize. “I was always wondering why so many teenagers complain and worry about the environment, but then very few actually start to work on developing solutions,” he said. 

“I think that The Earth Prize can be a great motivator because I see all these kids around my age from around the globe creating actual solutions to problems that they really care about and are passionate about.”

In addition to Sensory AI, Ryan created an open-source software platform through his nonprofit, Climate Solution Society, that enables other young innovators to develop their own environmental technologies. This platform offers hardware and software resources to help students get started on projects aimed at addressing environmental challenges.

Ryan plans to expand the capabilities of Sensory AI and is currently collaborating with local nonprofits and fire authorities to validate his system’s effectiveness. “I'm working with professional firefighters to do some live fire testing of my solution, and I'm hoping to get to a point where I could do a pilot deployment in a high fire risk location,” he shared. 

Empowering students and easing eco-anxiety

The stories of Reichen, Vince, and Ryan illustrate the profound impact that The Earth Prize has on young people, not just in advancing their projects, but in empowering them to take action to solve the climate crisis. By participating in the competition, these young innovators—and many others like them—gain the knowledge, resources, and support needed to transform their ideas into impactful solutions.

This active engagement helps to ease eco-anxiety among youth by providing a sense of agency and purpose. Instead of feeling overwhelmed by the scale of environmental issues, participants are encouraged to take meaningful steps towards change. As their ideas are developed and recognized on a global stage, they build confidence and hope for a more sustainable future.

The role of youth leadership in shaping climate solutions

Youth Leadership is a core, intersectional theme in One Earth’s Solutions Framework, underscoring the vital role of young people in climate action. The Earth Prize exemplifies this theme by recognizing that young people are not just future beneficiaries of a stable climate—they are key drivers of innovation and change today. 

From leading global climate strikes to pioneering green technologies, youth are redefining what it means to be a climate leader. This theme intersects all solution pathways, infusing them with urgency, fresh perspectives, and hope. By highlighting and supporting the contributions of young people, The Earth Prize emphasizes the importance of youth voices in the fight against climate change and biodiversity loss.

How to apply to The Earth Prize

Applications for The Earth Prize are open from September 1, 2024, to November 30, 2024. Young people aged 13-19 who are passionate about environmental sustainability are encouraged to apply. Designed to empower the next generation, The Earth Prize supports applicants with all the tools they need to develop their eco-solutions for real-life impact. To apply, visit The Earth Prize website.

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