Chemnitz Environmental Award for Children and Young People: Shaping the future - preserving the planet

The Chemnitz Environmental Prize for children and young people up to the age of 20 has been awarded annually since 1991. Individual or joint projects can be submitted.

All participants have the opportunity to use their knowledge, skills and interest in the scientific field or in practical environmental protection and to work on creative and interesting topics to protect our environment with commitment. A jury assesses the projects according to the criteria set out in the competition and decides on the awarding of attractive prizes. Impressions of projects that have already been completed can be found in the online exhibition for the environmental prize.

Parents, teachers, educators and leaders of working groups make a significant contribution to teaching children and young people about the necessity and possibilities of active action to preserve and shape our environment. Without their commitment, the Environmental Award would not exist in this form!

On 21 June 1991, the implementation of the environmental education campaign was decided by city council resolution 096/91. It serves to sensitise children and young people to environmental issues, such as the protection of species. Especially in times of climate change, it is particularly important to treat the environment with care as the basis of human life.

All children and young people up to the age of 20 from Chemnitz can take part in the Environmental Award. Children and young people who do not live in Chemnitz but go to school can also take part.

There are four categories in total:

• Day care centre
• Primary school
• Grade 5 to 8
• Grade 9 to 12 and young people up to 20 years

Any environmental projects can be submitted to the Environment Agency. Everything is possible, from waste collection campaigns to the development of machines. As there are also plans to organise an exhibition in 2026, we would ask you to provide images and similar in digital form, provided you agree to their use.

The submission should include a project description and illustrations. Below you will find good examples from 2023.

• Kita Krabbelkäfer (3rd place)
• Obere Luisenschule (1st place)
• Waldorf School (1st place)
• Dr-Wilhelm-André-Gymnasium (1st place)

Some images and names have been blacked out in the examples.

Projects can be submitted until 12 April 2026

• online via an online form,
• online by e-mail,
• by post to the City of Chemnitz, Environmental Office, 09106 Chemnitz,
• postage paid by posting in the city's letterboxes or
• in person at the Environmental Agency, Friedensplatz 1, 09111 Chemnitz

can be submitted.

Online form for submitting projects

Use this online form to register a project, regardless of whether you are an individual, family or organisation wishing to submit a project.

Project registration

Use this form to register a project, regardless of whether you want to submit a project as an individual, family or organisation. The form is required for participation in the Environmental Award unless you have used the online form. Please note the information on consenting to the processing of personal data.

List of participants

Please use this list to indicate the participants in the project if you have not used the online form. Please complete the list in full and ensure that the information is correct. The list forms the basis for the certificates that will be issued to the participants.

Declaration of consent to data processing for the public relations work of the Environmental Agency - voluntary

If you agree to the publication of images and the like for the public relations work of the Environmental Agency, you can complete and attach this form. You will not suffer any disadvantages if you do not complete the consent form. Please note the information on consenting to the processing of personal data.

The projects are assessed by the jury on the basis of the following criteria:

• Active action to improve the environment
• Sustainability of the idea
• Dealing with the topic
• Preparation of the project

Each jury member may award up to 10 points per evaluation criterion. This results in the overall score at the end.

The evaluation criteria are weighted differently for each category:

Day care centre

Primary school

Class 5 to 8

Grades 9 to 12 and young people up to 20 years

The jury for the Environmental Award consists of representatives from various organisations and sponsor representatives. In 2026, the jury will consist of the following members

• Mrs Schreiter (eins energie sachsen GmbH & Co. KG)
• Mrs Kastell (Volksbank Chemnitz eG)
• Mrs Stibing (Südsachsen Wasser GmbH)
• Mrs Bodnár (Waste and municipal cleaning company of the City of Chemnitz)
• Mr Vieweg (City Councillor)
• Mrs Norberger (Children and Youth Representative)

• Mr Meyer (Head of the Education Authority)

All participants will receive non-cash prizes. The first three places in each category will receive cash prizes of:

• 1st prize: €400
• 2nd prize: €300
• 3rd prize: 200 €