The annual competition showcases global environmental photography to inspire change and climate action. This year’s six winners of the Environmental Photographer of the Year Competition were primarily from countries most affected by climate change including Bangladesh, India, and Argentina, with photographers on the front-line using photos as a tool to spark climate action and generate awareness. With entries from over 159 countries, the competition celebrates powerful photography from amateur and professional photographers, providing an international platform to reflect the pressing environmental challenges facing our planet.
“The submissions received this year managed to freeze in a single moment the many faces of our planet and the survival of all that dwell here,” said Bushra Hussain, president of CIWEM. “The winning submissions are startling and thought provoking and we urge you to take a look and feel the story behind each photo.”
The competition, launched by CIWEM and WaterBear and presented by Nikon in association with MPB and supported by Arup, attracted thousands of online submissions. Now in its 16th year, the competition celebrates powerful photography from amateur and professional photographers, providing an international platform to reflect the pressing environmental challenges facing our planet.
This year’s six winners primarily come from climate-vulnerable countries, including Bangladesh, India, and Argentina, with photographers on the front line using photos as a tool to spark climate action and generate awareness.
The competition features two grand title awards and four further award categories. The grand title was won by Maurizio di Petro, a professional photographer based in Italy. He was recognised for his photo of an innovative insect food experiment at the University of Turin. Led by Professor Laura Gasco, the research project assesses the impact of incorporating insect flour into the diets of rainbow trout and chickens to determine its potential as a nutrition source, particularly as food scarcity increases in line with a growing population.
The Hermetia illucens, or soldier fly, is rich in proteins and a highly sustainable food source, thanks to its minimal water and soil consumption. By feeding on food waste, these insects also contribute to a circular economy.
The photo forms part of Maurizio’s ‘Zero Hunger’ series, documenting worldwide food insecurity and the solution presented by insects. He commented:“My home country of Italy is experiencing a frightening reality: 22% now face food insecurity, and this number is only set to increase as climate change intensifies. Through my photographs, however, I don’t just want to document the problem, but also offer a way forward. By photographing experiments of potential new food sources, I hope to break open the closed corridors of academia and raise awareness of this solution around the world. Only by showing a way forward can we inspire people to abandon a doom-drenched view of the world and fight for a better one.”
Jury member, Arati Kumar-Rao, said of the winning photo: “The image encapsulates our dependence on the smallest creatures for survival. Moreover, it is beautifully executed, evoking an almost balletic fragility — apt for the crisis that stares us in the face. It was an image I came back to again and again, and by its nature made me want to know more.”
