UNEP Young Champions of the Earth 2025: Jinali Mody Wins
Why in the news
The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) announced its Young Champions of the Earth 2025 on 26 September 2025. India’s Jinali Mody is one of the three winners.
Key facts
- Three winners, from India, Kenya and the United States.
- Each gets US$20,000 and a place in the Planet A pitch competition, with a US$100,000 business growth grant and a possible US$1 million seed investment at stake.
- Planet A is a YouTube channel promoting environmental action; it will feature the pitches and innovators’ stories from October 2025.
| Winner | Country | Venture |
|---|---|---|
| Jinali Mody | India | Banofi Leather: leather alternatives from banana crop waste |
| Joseph Nguthiru | Kenya | HyaPak: biodegradable packaging from invasive water hyacinth |
| Noemi Florea | United States | Cycleau: compact system turning greywater into drinking water |
About the programme
Young Champions of the Earth is UNEP’s flagship youth initiative, launched in 2017 to engage young people in environmental protection.
Exam angle
- Indian winner: Jinali Mody (Banofi Leather).
- The programme was launched by UNEP in 2017.
- Awards questions often pair winner, country and venture.