St Andrews Prize for the Environment 2022

Tuesday 8 November 2022

Three global finalists have been selected for the prestigious St Andrews Prize for the Environment 2022.

Following hundreds of entries from around the world, the finalists for the US$100,000 environmental Prize were selected by a global panel of experts representing conservation, sustainable development, engineering, economics, and the University of St Andrews.

The finalists for the 2022 Prize are:

  • Avani – Colours for a sustainable planet by Himalayan women
  • Misión Tiburón – Community-based project to protect and restore blue carbon sinks in the hammerhead shark sanctuary in Costa Rica
  • Health In Harmony – Regenerating rainforests by listening to communities

The winner will receive US$100,000 and the runner(s)-up will receive US$25,000.

The 2022 finalists’ presentations will take place in-person for the first time since 2019 at the University of St Andrews on Tuesday 22 November 2022, with the winner announced that evening. The 2022 Prize will go to the project that the judges believe displays the best combination of science, economic realism, and sustainability.

The Prize is an environmental initiative led by the University of St Andrews that recognises global projects which make significant contributions to environmental issues and concerns with a focus on sustainability, conservation, biodiversity, and community development.

Since its establishment in 1998, the Prize has awarded over US $2 million in funding to environmental projects around the world, supporting a wide range of initiatives that address diverse topics including sustainable development, food security, recycling, health, renewable energy and community education. Entries to the Prize have been global, local and/or scalable outlining how they will socially and economically impact the communities where they are based.

The Prize has provided crucial support to a diverse range of projects which have reduced human-animal conflict, promoted environmental justice, developed new solutions to reduce and eliminate waste, and championed urban regeneration.

Dr Hayaatun Sillem, Chair of the St Andrews Prize for the Environment Trustees, said: “A year on from COP26 the climate emergency continues to be at the forefront of our daily lives as the world struggles with a global energy crisis, climate migration, and cost of living pressures. It is therefore more crucial than ever that we invest in global projects developing sustainable solutions that can make a real difference in people’s lives.

“The quality and range of the finalists for this year’s St Andrews Prize for the Environment continue to impress, showing there is a real passion to tackle the climate emergency at grassroots levels. Each of these projects is delivering meaningful change in the communities in which they work. I very much look forward to meeting the finalists and learning more about the impact and difference they are making in the world.”


The three finalists for the St Andrews Prize for the Environment 2022 are:

Avani – Colours for a sustainable planet by Himalayan women.

Healing the Earth with plant-based colours and organic detergents that reduce soil and water pollution, provide income to small farmers, regenerate wastelands, increase forest cover and biodiversity, and benefit our health.


Misión Tiburón – Community-based project to protect and restore blue carbon sinks in the hammerhead shark sanctuary in Costa Rica.

This project aims to protect and to restore the sanctuary’s blue carbon sinks, consolidating the engagement of local communities into climate action and promoting activities based on the blue economy.


Health In Harmony – Regenerating rainforests by listening to communities.

Health In Harmony protects tropical rainforests by investing in healthcare, education, and regenerative agriculture for Indigenous Peoples and Local Rainforest Communities as a lever to stop forest degradation, meeting 12 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

To find out details about previous prize winners and finalists, including project locations, visit the St Andrews Prize for the Environment website.


The University of St Andrews

The University of St Andrews is Scotland’s first and oldest university. It stands for research and teaching of the highest quality, and the pursuit of knowledge for the common good. The University aims to be a beacon for diversity, social inclusion, and social responsibility.

About the St Andrews Prize for the Environment

From 2020 the University has had an unprecedented opportunity to look afresh at the Prize and seek a consortium of new partners to work with in the years ahead. This commitment from the University’s supporters will support the next phase of the Prize’s story, providing vital funding for pioneering projects, extending their impact to a wider audience, and leading to long-term change.

The University is grateful to everyone who is supporting the 2022 St Andrews Prize for the Environment.

Past Prize winners and projects are available to view online.

Issued by the University of St Andrews Communications Office.

Category Sustainability

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