The Young Climate Prize is a mentorship and award accelerator created by The World Around that supports global leaders under the age of 25 who are living and working on the front lines of the climate crisis. These young innovators are delivering immediate, locally grounded, and scalable climate solutions through self-initiated projects rooted in community, proven in real-world conditions, and designed for adaptation across regions. Since its launch in 2022, the program has supported 50 young innovators from 35 countries, working on solutions ranging from waste management and alternative fuel sources to material innovation and even birdwatching. These innovators are part of the generation born into the climate emergency. They will live longest with the consequences of a climate crisis they did not create, yet they are actively shaping a more resilient future.

A fundamental component of the Young Climate Prize mentorship program is the Design Academy, which invites the entire cohort of under 25s to enroll in a three-month intensive program of participatory group lectures, workshops, and discussions hosted by The World Around's global network of leading architects, artists, curators, scientists, and storytellers. Supplementing the cohort’s individual mentoring sessions, this bespoke world-class educational program was designed to cover a broad range of topics that would help all of these young thinkers and makers to further expand their knowledge, learn valuable skills related to their climate-focused work, and pick the brains of some of the brightest minds in art, architecture, film, design, fundraising, marketing, public speaking and more. In addition, the cohort could spend time together and share ideas and reflections during occasional ‘potluck’ meetings.