Sheikh Mohammed celebrates 10 years of Zayed Future Energy Prize

The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces said the UAE has always been focused on humanitarian ideals

Dignitaries including Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, and Dr Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of State and Adnoc Group chief executive, stands with last year's winners of the Zayed Future Energy Prize. Ryan Carter / Crown Prince Court - Abu DhabiShow less

A week before the winners of the Zayed Future Energy Prize will be announced, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed has called on the public to join him in honouring those who have made an impact across the globe.

“As a nation we have always been focused on our humanitarian ideals and forward-thinking mindset,” the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces said on Twitter.

This year’s winners of the Zayed Future Energy Prize will be announced on Monday during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, which runs in the capital until January 20.

On Wednesday Sheikh Mohammed said the focus of the week would be on youth who are “central to the development of a sustainable future and to the continued progress of the UAE.

He also shared a video that revealed the logo for this year’s prize and explained that the goal of the fund is to encourage and champion sustainability worldwide.

“From small scale projects led by high school students that have transformed their local environment and everyday people to recognising those who have dedicated their lives to a more sustainable future, we celebrate making renewable energy technologies accessible to millions of people,” the video said.

The Zayed Future Energy prize awards funding to applicants from around the world with innovative ideas for solutions that tackle climate change, energy security and environment. The prize is separated into five categories.

The award began as a singular grant of $1.5 million but three years later was changed to a $4m prize and the number of categories was expanded to reflect the diversity of innovation in sustainability.

Last year’s winners included a school in Bolivia which gathered rainwater to use in agriculture and produce its own food, and Li Jenfeng, an environmentalist who has been involved in China’s energy policy for more than 30 years and aims to get the country to reduce its reliance on coal.