DUBAI: UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed has given awards to the winners of the Zayed Sustainability Prize, the UAE’s global award in sustainability and humanitarianism, during a ceremony held at COP28 UAE in Expo City Dubai.
There are 11 winners in six different categories, and they will share a total prize of $3.6 million. These winners have come up with innovative solutions to improve lives and address environmental challenges around the world.
The ceremony at Al Wasl Plaza was attended by various leaders, ministers, government officials, and the winners. The Zayed Sustainability Prize aims to continue the legacy of UAE’s founding father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. It rewards small and medium enterprises, nonprofits, and high schools working on issues related to health, food, energy, water, and climate.
Over the past 15 years, the Prize has impacted 384 million people globally through its previous winners. The current cycle’s winners were chosen by a jury in September based on their contributions to impactful and inspiring solutions in health, food, energy, water, climate action, and global high schools.
To further support sustainable and humanitarian development, the Zayed Sustainability Prize has increased its funding from $3.6 million to $5.9 million. Dr. Sultan Ahmed al-Jaber, COP28 President, emphasized the UAE’s commitment to combating climate change and empowering vulnerable communities.
The new funding will help scale the innovative solutions of the winners, making progress globally. The Zayed Sustainability Prize not only honors Sheikh Zayed’s legacy but also extends his vision on a global scale by promoting sustainable development and climate action.
In the Climate Action category, Kelp Blue from Namibia won for cultivating large-scale kelp forests to restore ocean biodiversity and capture CO2. In the Health category, Indonesia’s doctorSHARE was awarded for bringing healthcare access to hard-to-reach areas. Gaza Urban & Peri-urban Agricultural Platform (GUPAP) from Palestine won in the Food category. Ignite Power from Rwanda won in the Energy category, and Eau et Vie from France won in the Water category.
The Chair of the Jury, Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, praised the winners for their ingenuity in addressing global challenges. The Zayed Sustainability Prize also involves young people through its Global High Schools category, encouraging them to play an active role in supporting their communities and becoming future leaders in sustainability. The 47 Global High Schools winners have impacted over 55,000 students and nearly 454,000 people in their wider communities.
