Telge Energi är elbolaget som alltid utmanat branschen. Först sänkte vi priserna, sen kämpade vi mot kolkraften. Nu står vi inför vår viktigaste utmaning någonsin – att göra Sverige till förebilden inom hållbarhet. För att göra det så behöver vi driva på vår egen bransch och se till att hållbar utveckling inte bara är fina ord i reklamfilmer. Vi gräver där vi står och satsar på initiativ som ska gynna både nutida och framtida generationer. Telge Energi instiftade Children’s Climate Prize 2016 för att lyfta barn och ungas perspektiv i klimatfrågan utifrån insikten att det är barnens framtid som står på spel. Läs mer på www.telgeenergi.se
Telge Energi är elbolaget som alltid utmanat branschen. Först sänkte vi priserna, sen kämpade vi mot kolkraften. Nu står vi inför vår viktigaste utmaning någonsin – att göra Sverige till förebilden inom hållbarhet. För att göra det så behöver vi driva på vår egen bransch och se till att hållbar utveckling inte bara är fina ord i reklamfilmer. Vi gräver där vi står och satsar på initiativ som ska gynna både nutida och framtida generationer. Telge Energi instiftade Children’s Climate Prize 2016 för att lyfta barn och ungas perspektiv i klimatfrågan utifrån insikten att det är barnens framtid som står på spel. Läs mer på www.telgeenergi.se
WINNERS
Sparsh
2022
Patna, India
17 years
Project: The Thermal Floater
Increasing levels of greenhouse gas emissions is devastating for the climate, causing higher temperatures, extreme weather and increases the risk of wildfires for example. The need for green and clean energy is inevitable as it helps decrease greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. Thus, such solutions have a positive impact on both the environment and human health, and contribute to energy supply and development.
The Thermal Floater is a device that efficiently converts thermal energy from the sun into electrical energy. Sparsh’s floating invention can easily be installed on any inland or stagnant water bodies, thus it doesn't require any dedicated land resources. The module is just 15 cm by 15 cm and can easily be connected to several units to generate even more energy. In an array of modules, the system can generate electricity up to 10 kWh per day, which is 3x more efficient than a typical solar panel of the same size. Apart from converting thermal energy, the modules also contribute to other environmental benefits, such as reducing evaporation (increasing water availability for other uses), as well as reducing algal bloom in freshwater.
The jury's announcement:
The ongoing discussions on renewable energy sources, soaring energy prices and growing electricity demand makes Sparsh’s innovation much needed. With the Thermal Floater, Sparsh has an impressive way to mitigate climate change by using thermal energy. Also, the whole idea of a floating device is great and innovative, making use of water surfaces, such as dam reservoirs, wastewater treatment ponds or drinking water reservoirs and thus reducing pressure on land resources. This solution is easy to implement and very accessible, thus it creates a huge potential globally for both households and to countries where land resources are scarce.
Reshma Kosaraju
2021
Saratoga, California, USA
15 years
Project: AI against forest fires
Fires are a natural part of a forest's ecosystem, but the underlying conditions have changed. Forest fires have become a global problem, causing over 339,000 premature deaths worldwide – and threatening biodiversity by destroying animals and nature. The project, AI against forest fires, created by fifteen-year-old Reshma Kosaraju, from Saratoga, USA, can predict forest fires with almost 90% accuracy. Reshma uses open data, such as temperature, humidity, wind speed, soil moisture and human behavior to, with the help of AI, calculate where and when the probability of a forest fire occurring is greatest. Reshma hopes the Children’s Climate Prize will draw attention to her project, so that more people can become aware of the AI model's existence.
The jury's announcement:
Climate change and forest fires mutually reinforce each other and wildfires, today, are in many locations larger, more intense and longer lasting. Forest fires have increasingly become a global and topical issue. Reshma represents the best of youth entrepreneurship: brave, innovative and solution-oriented. Her model uses AI and technology in an innovative and savvy way in order to accurately predict the risk of forest fires while also accounting for the independent variables of climate, weather and human behavior. A clear and scalable business concept, with a global approach to accessibility. This is an example of an extraordinary and creative solution based on a systemized approach.
Aadya Joshi
2020
Mumbai, India
17 years
Project: The Right Green
Deforestation is the second-leading cause of climate change. But just randomly planting new trees can sometimes do more harm than good by reducing biodiversity. Therefore, Aadya Joshi founded The Right Green and developed a database including over 15000 plant-insect feeding relationships from different eco-regions of India. Using her newly invented BioPower Index, landscapers, gardeners and civic authorities can plant the best biodiversity supporting plants. Her educational and outreach workshops have empowered and enabled communities to restore healthy ecosystems, rich in biodiversity, while also addressing climate change.
The jury's announcement:
Through her great understanding of the dangers of biodiversity loss and deep knowledge of the roles of plants and trees' ability to prevent it, Aadya has through her initiative ‘The Right Green’ combined modern database technology with the traditional knowledge of native plants to empower local communities to take action. The fact that Aadya attaches particular importance to the dissemination of knowledge about plants is impressive and was an important factor in the jury's decision. With the right support, the initiative has great potential to be scaled-up in India and even globally, and it serves as an excellent example how the combination of traditional knowledge and modern technology through bottom-up action can contribute to address major environmental challenges.
Vinisha Umashankar
2020
Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu, India
13 years
Project: The Solar Ironing Cart
There are about 10 million ironing carts in use in the streets of India. Together they use about 50 million kg of charcoal every day, consuming enormous amounts of wood, polluting the air and contributing to climate change. Vinisha recognized the need for a sustainable solution to the problem and created a solar powered ironing cart, an innovation that proves safer, healthier and more sustainable.
The jury's announcement:
With a smart design and a strong understanding of the problem of charcoal as an air pollutant, Vinisha has managed to combine science, innovation and technology to design and create the Solar powered ironing cart. If implemented on a large scale, this is an invention that can have a significant positive impact on India's air quality and people's health, while reducing unsustainable use of wood. The jury is impressed and sees a young scientist and entrepreneur with a strong passion for clean air that can bring multiple benefits to both society and the environment.
Shreya Ramachandran 2019
Fremont, USA
16 years
Project: The Grey Water Project
Almost half the water used annually in a typical household–about 73 000 gallons–can be reused to water lawns and gardens. Shreya developed an innovative solution; The Grey Water Project and built her own grey water cleaning system with soap nuts–which makes grey water reusable. She now teaches others how to install their own systems and holds regular how-to workshops on water conservation and reuse.
The jury's announcement:
Water covers 70% of our planet. It's the source for life as we know it. And it's easy to think that it will always be there. But the fact is, only 3% of the water on earth is fresh water and many parts of the world still lack access to it. So why do we waste it? That was the problem Shreya Ramachandran set out to solve. Today, after years of hard work, she has come up with a ground-breaking technique to save grey water that comes from households to be reused for irrigation. At the same time her non-profit organization The Grey Water Project has taken on the tremendously important task to introduce kids in schools to the concept of water conservation. They do so with the purpose to make it as natural as reusing paper or plastic in our everyday lives. Basically, Shreya is working to save the source of life. What more can we ask from a young talented entrepreneur. Her work is of great significance today but will be even more important tomorrow as water scarcity continues to be one of the world's most important issues to tackle.
Nav & Vihaan Agarwal 2019
New Delhi, India
12 and 15 years
Project: One Step Greener
Nav and Vihaan Agarwal, two brothers of 12 and 15 years old, created the organization One Step Greener, which strives for a zero-waste future, aiming to reduce air pollution and improve health and wellbeing of people in New Delhi.
The jury's announcement:
Air pollution is today the single biggest environmental threat to human health according to the WHO with 9 out of 10 people breathing toxic air. New Delhi in India is the capital with the world's dirtiest air. Here, as in many other cities, air pollution can be derived from a diverse range of sources, but a major one is trash burning. In Indian cities, 50% to 90% of trash collected ends up in landfills. Burning is typically the only removal method available today, filling the air with toxic gases and harmful particles. They are facing a giant problem where they have created a system to counteract the garbage that is burned on large dumps, by educating people about the importance of recycling waste at source and offering door-to-door dry waste pick-ups. Since materials are recycled, they attack the problem from two different directions: first one being that materials are not burnt, and air pollution is not released into the air. The second is that recycling is so much better from an energy standpoint and it is even more important in countries where the energy comes from fossil fuels. In India, 75% of electricity comes from coal-fired power plants, which also emit huge amounts of air pollution.
José Adolfo
2018
Arequipa, Peru
13 years
Project: Eco Bank
Started an "eco-bank" that transforms environmental awareness and the act of recycling into a currency that children can use to buy products at the eco-bank or exchange for real money.
The jury's announcement:
José's eco-bank is a brilliant way of linking economy and climate impact, both in thought and practice. Children can take micro loans, and pay, with items that are recyclable. The system clearly illustrates that the planet's common resources are limited and that we must be climate conscious and recycle the products that we no longer use. It creates awareness of consumption. This way caring about the environment becomes an investment. A system that gives children both economic independence and power to influence the climate.
The potential impact is amazing.
Edgar Edmund
2017
Arusha, Tanzania
17 years
Project: Green Venture Recycles
Edgar runs his own company, Green Venture Recycles, which turns plastic waste into clever and affordable building materials. He has recycled more than 1.2 million plastic bags.
The jury's announcement:
With a minimum of resources, Edgar has shown great entrepreneurship in the creation of Green Venture Recycles. With astounding knowledge and a marvel of creativity he has shown how plastic bags can be transformed into durable building blocksthrough a cheap and sustainable process. The jury is full of admiration of his solutions and see great potential for scaling up and further developing his methods. With his invention, Edgar has made a great contribution locally in his area, and in the long run an admiring effort also for the environment and climate on a global scale.
Xiuhtezcatl Martinez
2016
Colorado, USA
16 years
Project: Earth Guardians
Earth Guardians Youth Director, indigenous climate activist, hip-hop artist, and powerful voice on the front lines of a global youth-led environmental movement.
The jury's announcement:
Through his passion and love for climate issues, this year’s winner has already, at a young age, had an enormous impact on many people, from children and youth to people with power, to make decisions shaping the future of our planet. With a unique skill of connecting activism with political talent, he has demonstrated both passion and courage, not avoiding controversial issues such as calling for a ban on fracking in his own home state Colorado. By doing so, he has challenged strong political and economic powers. As a hip-hop artist with a clear message he has demonstrated the power of linking culture with environmental issues as a way to mobilise engagement and action.
