New York – The UNDP-led Equator Initiative announces its global call for nominations for the Equator Prize 2023. The call is an effort to identify and celebrate transformative local action and initiatives that protect nature and tackle our planetary crisis. Building on the global momentum around the recent agreement on the Kunming-Montreal Biodiversity Framework at COP15, this year’s prize will recognize initiatives that showcase approaches to implementing the new UN biodiversity targets.

This 14^th cycle of the Equator Prize will focus on solutions championed by rural Indigenous peoples and local communities who are successfully implementing innovative nature-based solutions to promote climate resilience, build green economy, and nurture our relationship with nature.

Nominations are open through 20 March 2023. 

"This year marks the mid-point in our timeline to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Celebrating, promoting, and scaling up the local action of communities is central to ensuring we leave no one behind. UNDP is grateful for the generous and continued support provided to the Equator Initiative by all its partners, and by the government of Norway in particular. Their commitment to shine a spotlight on the pivotal role of local action makes the Equator Prize possible," stated Haoliang Xu, UN Assistant Secretary-General and Director of UNDP’s Bureau for Policy and Programme Support.

Under the theme of ‘Celebrating the role of Local Action in achieving the Global Biodiversity Framework,’ winning initiatives will be honored under the following themes:

• Creating a planetary safety net

Protecting, restoring and/or sustainably managing ecosystems to help mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, enabling community-based adaptation to the impacts of climate change, and/or species migration.

• Redefining our relationship with nature

Placing nature at the heart of local development plans and policies and safeguarding the rights of land and water defenders through advocacy and promotion of social and environmental justice.

• Creating a new green economy for the people and planet

Protecting, restoring and/or sustainably managing terrestrial, freshwater and/or marine ecosystems, biodiversity, and wildlife that sustains jobs and livelihoods, including through micro- and small green enterprises, and the promotion of Indigenous economies.

Special consideration will be given to nominees working on habitat connectivity, migratory species protection, youth empowerment, and gender equality.

Winners of this year’s Equator Prize will join a prestigious network of 274 innovative community-based organizations from 87 countries who have won the prize since 2002. Each prize-winning organization joining the network of Indigenous and local trailblazers will receive USD 10,000, and will be supported to participate virtually in a series of policy dialogues and special events in the fall of 2023. 

For details on the nomination and selection criteria, and to submit nominations, visit here.

More information on the Equator Prize is available here.

Follow the Equator Initiative on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

Media queries: Sangita Khadka, Communications Specialist, UNDP Bureau for Policy and Programme Support, New York, email: sangita.khadka@undp.org.