UNEP Announces 2025 Young Champions of the Earth

The UN Environment Programme (UNEP), in partnership with US cleantech CEO Chris Kemper, has named three innovators as the 2025 Young Champions of the Earth. Winners include Jinali Mody (India) for creating sustainable leather from banana crop waste, Joseph Nguthiru (Kenya) for converting invasive water hyacinth into eco-friendly packaging, and Noemi Florea (US) for developing Cycleau, a compact greywater-to-drinking water system. Each winner received US$20,000 seed funding and will compete in the upcoming Planet A pitch contest for additional grants and investment.