The EESC will award up to five climate projects that showcase civil society's invaluable contribution to achieving climate neutrality.

The European Economic and Social Committee has opened applications for its 2021 Civil Society Prize.

This year's theme is climate action and the EESC will select the winners from creative and innovative initiatives that aim to promote a just transition towards a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy.

Applications can be submitted by all civil society organisations officially registered in the European Union and operating at local, regional, national or European level. The prize is also open to individuals who reside in the EU. Initiatives and projects have to be carried out in the EU to be eligible.

The projects must already have been carried out or still be ongoing.

The deadline for entries is 10 a.m. (Brussels time) on 30 June 2021.

A total of EUR 50 000 will be awarded to a maximum of five winners. The award ceremony is likely to take place during the EESC plenary session on 8 – 9 December 2021 in Brussels, depending on the health situation.

As the first EU institution to have given the floor to Greta Thunberg in the early days of the "Fridays for Future" global climate strike movement, the EESC has always been a fervent advocate of bottom-up climate action and has always emphasised the importance of grassroots organisations and individuals in making the transition to climate neutrality a reality. They play a crucial role in helping to bring about a shift in norms and behaviour, making local economies greener and driving the transition to net-zero emission societies at local or regional level.

Through its work, the EESC has repeatedly stressed that the success of the European Green Deal – under which the EU has pledged to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 – depends on action and commitment by all players. One of the key initiatives of the Green Deal – the European Climate Pact – must focus on encouraging people to become part of the solution rather than the problem, empowering them to change the systems that have led us to the brink of the climate crisis.

By dedicating its flagship prize to this all-important topic, the EESC wants to honour and showcase the non-state climate efforts made so far. It also aims to encourage ongoing projects and inspire new ones, thus highlighting the contribution that civil society organisations and individuals can make to the European Green Deal.

To be eligible, projects need to cover at least one of the issues listed in our press release available here.

The full description of requirements and the online application form are available on our webpage: http://www.eesc.europa.eu/civilsocietyprize/. (ll)