CRITERIA AND PROCESS

1. Recipient group

The prize is awarded to scientists and persons with academic or equivalent education who have made an *especially courageous public commitment* in the areas of:

• environmental and climate justice
• the protection of species and habitats or the climate 

This includes environmental and climate sciences, but also other disciplines, as well as indigenous sciences. They can work at universities, in research institutions, in companies, NGOs, or as a freelancer/volunteer and other fields.

2. Key criterion

The nomination jury nominates persons who:

• are extraordinarily committed to environmental and climate justice, data justice, human and environmental rights, the rights of nature, and a good life for all. They stand for peaceful civil disobedience and non-violent resistance against destructive projects and developments that harm both the earth and humanity,
• expose themselves publicly in order to draw attention to the dramatic nature of the biodiversity and climate emergency, the urgency of a systemic transformative change, and drive it forward,

3. Further criteria

• innovative and creative scientific contributions in terms of methodology and content in the field of environmental and climate justice 
• contact and exchange with local communities (e.g. indigenous groups) that are particularly severely affected by climate impacts and environmental destruction; cooperation with grassroots initiatives.

4. Geographical structure

Five endowed prizes are awarded each year, for the continents of Africa, Asia, Europe, Americas, and Australia/ Oceania.

5. Indigenous Sciences

The recognition of indigenous knowledge/ sciences from diverse primary traditions worldwide is an explicit concern of the award. At least three of the five prizes will be awarded to individuals of indigenous belonging. In this way, the prize seeks to recognize the crucial connection and complementarity between scientific research and Indigenous knowledge systems for the benefit of the environment and humanity.

6. Diversity and global visibility

• The award aims for gender parity and geographic diversity.
• The award is intended to honor individuals whose work and commitment to environmental and climate justice is not yet widely known internationally.

1. Nomination Jury

The winners of the award make up the nomination jury for the following year’s award. Each member of the jury is requested to make

• three nominations for their own continent/ region in ranked form, and 
• two additional nominations for other continents, if possible.

If a member of the nomination jury for a continent is missing, the scientific advisory board/ selection jury in Vienna shall decide on a new jury member.