The Equator Initiative launches global search for local, nature-based climate solutions

Nominations are open for the Equator Prize 2019 for community and indigenous initiatives doing exceptional work on nature-based climate solutions. The Equator Initiative, hosted by the United Nations Development Programme and partners, identifies outstanding community-level natural climate and sustainable development solutions. The partnership elevates the achievements of winning Equator Prize communities to a global stage and shows that solutions for the climate challenge not only exist but are already being implemented successfully all over the world.

Local communities and indigenous peoples are at the forefront of climate change. They are implementing local solutions that strengthen resilience to the impacts of climate, and accelerate carbon sequestration through protecting, restoring and sustainably managing nature. We need to recognize, celebrate and champion these successes. The prestigious Equator Prize does just that, by shining a spotlight on communities who advance nature-based solutions to climate and sustainable development.

Join us on this global search for local communities and indigenous peoples whose solutions help solve the most intractable challenges in climate and sustainable development – communities such as:

• The Honduran Pech community, who, through their Federación Tribus Pech de Honduras, are sustainably managing liquidambar, a tree producing an essential ingredient in the fragrance industry, while keeping their forests standing;
• The village of Bang La in Thailand, whose intact mangrove forests helped to spare the devastating force of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami while serving as valuable carbon sinks; and
• The 450 farmers of Makoni Organic Farmers Association in Zimbabwe, who have transitioned away from tobacco cultivation and chemical-intensive agriculture to organic farming, enhancing crop resilience to the effects of climate change and increasing carbon sequestration.

Know of a local community or indigenous initiative doing similar work? Nominate them now! Nominations for the Equator Prize 2019 are now open through 26 February at https://prize.equatorinitiative.org/, and may be submitted in eight different languages. Self-nominations are accepted. For further information please visit https://www.equatorinitiative.org/ or reach out to prize@equatorinitiative.org.  Each Equator Prize winner will receive USD 10,000, and will participate in a series of policy dialogues and events during the United Nations General Assembly and Climate Week in New York in September 2019. The Equator Prize Award Ceremony will coincide with the UN Secretary-General’s Climate Summit and the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development.