Paulson Prize for Sustainability

Overview

The Paulson Prize for Sustainability is awarded annually to a project in China that provides an innovative, scalable, and market-based solution at the intersection of economics and the environment. The Prize aims to support China’s transition to a low carbon economy and shine a light on projects that offer sustainable best practices to the rest of the world. The prestigious award was launched by the Paulson Institute in 2013, and has been developed in partnership with Tsinghua University since 2017.

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, including the Shenzhen Ecological Energy Park, Beijing Goldenway Bio-tech, Anheng Group, among others. 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.

Criteria

Green Innovation Award

Nature Stewardship Award

Eligibility

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.

Previous Winners

2019 2019 Paulson Prize for Sustainability Awarded to Shenzhen Ecological Energy Park

2018 Fifth Paulson Prize for Sustainable Cities Awarded to Bio-based Lubricants Project

2017 Fourth Paulson Prize for Sustainable Cities Awarded to Beijing Goldenway Bio-tech

2015 Third Prize for Cities of the Future Awarded to Anheng Group

2014 Second Prize for Cities of the Future Awarded to Shenzhen International Low-Carbon City

2013 Inaugural Prize for Cities of the Future Awarded to Nanhu Country Village

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 (CAE), President and Chief Architect of Architectural Design and Research Institute of Tsinghua University

Sonja Gibbs

Managing Director and Head of Sustainable Finance, Global Policy Initiatives, Institute of International Finance

Wang Shi

Founder of China Vanke, Chairman of Vanke Foundation

Tracy R. Wolstencroft

Former President and CEO of the National Geographic Society

Simon Zadek

Principal of Project Catalyst, United Nations Development Program

Nature Stewardship Award

Lynn Scarlett

Jury Committee Co-chair, Chief External Affairs Officer of The Nature Conservancy, Former Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior

Ma Guangren

Vice Chairman and Secretary-General of China Wetland Conservation Association, Former Director of Wetland Conservation and Management Center of State Forestry Administration

Ma Keping

Deputy Director General for Biodiversity Committee, Professor of Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Chairman of IUCN Asia Regional Members Committee

Niu Gensheng

Founder and Honorary President of Lao Niu Foundation, Founder of Mengniu Dairy Group

Yang Rui

Co-founder, Chair and Professor of the Department of Landscape Architecture, Tsinghua University; Founder and Dean of the National Park Research Institute of Tsinghua University

Apply for the Prize

The 2020 Paulson Prize application period is now closed. If you have any questions, please contact the Paulson Prize Organizing Committee at Prize@paulsoninstitute.org.