The Prize
The Paulson Prize for Sustainability (the “Paulson Prize”) was initiated in 2013 by the Paulson Institute, and has been developed in partnership with Tsinghua University. The prestigious award has become one of the most influential awards globally. The Paulson Prize is awarded annually to projects in China that provide innovative and scalable solutions, at the intersection of economics and environment, to tackle the most pressing twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss. The Prize aims to lead the global sustainability transformation by inspiring new thinking and shining a light on projects that offer the best potential to meet these challenges, both in China and around the world.
Why Apply?
- Prestige: Winners will join an esteemed group of past Prize recipients who are taking best-in-class approaches to China’s sustainability challenges. The mayor of the city from where the winning project is based will be invited to participate in the award ceremony.
- National and Global Exposure: Finalists will receive international and Chinese mainstream media attention, including recognition on the Paulson Institute website and publicity on other influential websites and social media.
- Empowerment: Finalists will be invited to exclusive opportunities by the Paulson Institute and Tsinghua University, leading to additional intellectual, technical, and financial support to take the project to the next level.
Categories
The Paulson Prize will be awarded in two categories of Green Innovation and Nature Stewardship, which will recognize projects on built environment and nature conservation. (Click each icon for details)
Apply for the Prize
Entities registered in China, including businesses, institutions, social organizations, and NGOs, are invited to submit projects that are completed or in operation. Applicants must provide evidence to demonstrate the project’s benefits and impact according to the criteria.
All applications must be submitted online on or before June 30, 2024. For inquiries, please contact prize@PaulsonInstitute.org.
The Jury Committee
The Prize-winning projects are determined by an independent jury committee composed of prominent international and Chinese leaders in the fields of city planning, economics, finance, energy, ecology, and environmental protection. The jury will evaluate submissions based on agreed criteria and will visit and inspect the short-listed finalists’ projects to decide the winner in each category.
Green Innovation Award
Zhuang Weimin
Jury Committee Co-chair; Academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering; Professor, School of Architecture, Chief Architect of Architectural Design and Research Institute, Tsinghua University
Sonja Gibbs
Managing Director and Head of Sustainable Finance, Institute of International Finance (IIF)
Wang Shi
Founder of China Vanke; Chairman of Vanke Foundation
Tracy R. Wolstencroft
Senior Advisor to TPG Rise Climate; Former President and CEO of the National Geographic Society; Former Partner of Goldman Sachs
Simon Zadek
Co-CEO of Nature Finance; Senior Advisor to the Task Force on Nature Related Financial Disclosure
Nature Stewardship Award
Lynn Scarlett
Jury Committee Co-chair; Former Chief External Affairs Officer of The Nature Conservancy; Former Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior
Ma Keping
IUCN Councilor and Chair for Asia Regional Members Committee; Deputy Director General for Biodiversity Committee of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Professor
Ma Guangren
Vice Chairman and Secretary-General of China Wetland Conservation Association; Former Director of Wetland Conservation and Management Center of State Forestry Administration
Niu Gensheng
Founder and Honorary President of Lao Niu Foundation; Founder of Mengniu Dairy Group
Yang Rui
Professor of the Department of Landscape Architecture, Tsinghua University; Founder and Dean of the National Park Research Institute of Tsinghua University
