The winners were announced in 2025 by the Global Prize, which supports young environmental leaders aged 14-24 with funding, specialist mentoring and skills-building opportunities.
This year’s winners are Mongolia, vijo león (Mexico) and Project Laud (Philippines), each demonstrating that youth-led innovation is making a real difference for people and the planet.
Since 2022, the IRIS project has raised over £718,000, funding 28 youth leadership projects in 21 countries. It includes both direct grants and direct grants, $43,000 between three categories, and a comprehensive package of support such as risk and safety education, capacity building, communication and mentoring.
Breathe Mongolia
Breathing Mongolia addresses the climate crisis through Mongolia’s air pollution and youth leadership, real-time monitoring, and public education that integrates health equity, health, equity, and democracy. The project stands out for its massive community response, strategic use of data and systemic change adaptation approach.
They engaged over 600 youth, 100 volunteers, facilitated sector-by-sector outreach and reached rural and marginalized communities with inclusive climate messaging. It should be noted that the national petition, breathed by Mongolia, collected more than 71,000 signatures in the control of the parliament on air pollution policy.
A journey into the microcosm of Nuevo Leon
Nuevo León reconnects the residents of Monterrey with the Santa Catarina River by becoming a Living Laboratory and Storybook. Through outdoor expeditions, people of all ages use DIY microscopes and inaturalist applications to observe and document local biodiversity.
Since 2021, more than 600 citizen scientists have helped increase the number of recorded species in 781 years, including emblematic and protected species such as the monarch butterfly, the American hawkmoth, and the spiny softshell turtle. Once lost from official records, these findings are now fueling legal petitions for route protection and ecological restoration. The project’s impact is seen in its ability to mobilize citizens, generate new scientific information, and influence environmental policy for river protection.
Project law
Project Lawud works to protect the critical Dugong population in Sarangani Bay, Philippines. Combining ecological surveys, community interviews and citizen science, the team develops awareness campaigns to train and develop young marine biologists and awareness campaigns to protect conservation in this critical habitat.
Project Lawud stands out for its locally-rooted, science-with-community approach, while building capacity and influencing maritime policy that drives maritime policy. Their influence is empowering local youth, creating key conservation information and shaping marine conservation efforts in the region.
About the winners, Millie Edwards, Director at the IRIS Project, added:
“Win 2025, supporting youth leadership for the planet in 2025, is one of our most pressing commitments to the planet.
“Our job is to stand by them with confidence, tools and vision. We want a safer, more sustainable future to support young innovators while accelerating the climate and nature crises.”
With less than 1% of institutional climate finance currently directed at youth, youth-led environmental action remains massive. The approach of the Iris Prize is aimed at supporting youth-led projects and is designed to address this mismatch by recognizing the contribution of young teams to protect and restore nature, as well as to protect the environment.
Desmond Alugnoa, co-founder of Green Africa Youth Organization and winner of the 2024 Earthshot prize, said:
“This year’s Iris Awards were a powerful reminder that the most transformative climate solutions often come from those closest to the challenges.
“These young leaders are also waiting for permission; they are creating change, and their creativity, courage and commitment have been a privilege to be a part of the world’s climate and natural crises, and I look forward to helping these groups grow their work.”
The IRIS Prize 2025 emphasizes the importance of supporting young leaders with funding, mentoring and practical skills. As climate and nature crises accelerate, supporting youth innovators is critical to a safer, more sustainable future.
