2022 PRESS PAGE

The winners of the 2022 Environmental Photographer of the Year are today announced by CIWEM (water and environmental management charity), WaterBear (free streaming platform dedicated to the future of our planet), Nikon (world-leading imaging product provider) and Arup (sustainable development professional services firm). Now in its 15th year, the Environmental Photographer Of The Year competition showcases some of the world’s most inspirational environmental photography. The annual competition provides an international platform to raise awareness for the issues that put our planet at risk.

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2022 winners

The full list of the winning photographs and winners of this year’s competition are:

●Environmental Photographer of the Year: The Bitter Death Of Birds, Mehdi Mohebi Pour, 2021

●Young Environmental Photographer of the Year-Nikon Award: Beautiful But Hostile Colours On Earth, Fayz Khan, 2022

●Vision of the Future: Vertical Farming, Arie Basuki, 2022

●Recovering Nature: Naturalia: Chronicle Of Contemporary Ruins, Jonathan”Jonk” Jimenez, 2021

●Keeping 1.5 Alive: Chemical Explosion, Subrata Dey, 2022

●Adapting for Tomorrow: New Ways To The Future (III), Simone Tramonte, 2021

GALLERY (2022)

All
Winners

A Story Of A Dried River, Azim Khan Ronnie | Manikganj, Bangladesh (08/01/2022) – The once vibrant Kaliganga river has almost dried up in the Tora Bridge area of Manikganj, Bangladesh. The level of water in the river remains very low throughout the year, except during the rainy season. Several chars have emerged from the 78km-long water body. Green activists blame encroachment on river land and absence of dredging for the poor state of the river. These were the places where big boats and launches used to ply in the 1960s, said locals.

A Story Of A Dried River, Azim Khan Ronnie, 2022

Aceredo, Lorenzo Brais | Aceredo, Spain (04/04/2022) – The village was buried in the 1990s by the waters of the Lindoso reservoir, near Lobios, Ourense. Four other villages were flooded in this Galician region: A Reloeira, Buscalque, O Bao and Lantemil. The normally submerged ruins of Aceredo emerged due to the low water level of the reservoir. Scientists warn that Europe could be suffering its worst drought in 500 years, with its most important rivers drying up.

Aceredo, Brais Lorenzo Couto, 2022

Agro Photovoltaic, Cesare Barillà | Piacenza, Italy (09/07/2022) – Piacenza is a purely agricultural province, with countless crops. The basic idea of agrovoltaics is to ensure that agricultural land can be used to produce clean electricity, leaving room for agricultural crops. The studies carried out in collaboration with the University of Piacenza resulted in better understanding of the impact that the shadow generated by the photovoltaic modules has on the growth of various agricultural products.

Agro Photovoltaic, Cesare Barillà, 2022

Always a little further..., Nigel Wallace-Iles | Mount Everest, Nepal (21/03/2021) – This image was captured on an Everest Base Camp Trek. As we were leading into BC, we stopped for a moment to allow the Sherpas to pass with their convoy of yaks, taking the supplies of LPG to the main base camp. The image, for me, captured the juxtaposition of what we as humans are capable of achieving with determination, and the damage we do in pursuit of those achievements. It was a poignant moment for me considering the pristine environment we were in and also highlighted the intricate interconnected nature of development, poverty within the Sherpa communities, equality, security and climate action. It also made me question why, and how, we are able to focus so hard on achieving certain things and yet so many are unwilling to accept the unprecedented effort required from all sectors of society to address the defining issues of our time.

Always A Little Further....., Nigel Wallace-Iles, 2021

An Army Of Flamingos, Mehdi Mohebi Pour | Miankaleh, Iran (18/03/2022) – In 2019/2020 and 2020/2021, thousands of birds died in the lagoon, and in the next year, 2021/2022, fortunately, we saw the return of birds. The birds are in the wetland from the beginning of October to the end of March and after that they migrate. The birds were our guests at the end of 2021 and the beginning of 2022, and this story is repeated every year. In 2020/2021, tens of thousands of migratory birds died in this wetland, and in the following year (2021/2022), the flock returned.

An Army Of Flamingos, Mehdi Mohebi Pour, 2022

Art Of Flamingos, Lalith Ekanayake | Gulf of Mannar, Sri Lanka (25/01/2022) – A flock of flamingos wade through the algae-rich waters in a dark muddy lagoon, which is almost black. I flew the drone a few kilometers into the lagoon about 200 meters above sea level with zero disturbance to the flock. Greater flamingos (Phoenicopterus roseus) migrate to Sri Lanka, mainly on the north and north central coastal lines and lagoons. They feed on algae-rich waters and shrimps, which used to be abundant but shrunk rapidly due to human invading. It was a surprise that the flamingos arrived this year in large numbers, as they were gradually declining over the last few years.

Art Of Flamingos, Lalith Ekanayake, 2022

Beautiful But Hostile Colours On Earth, Fayz Khan | Southern Rift Valley, Kenya (24/07/2022) – Lesser flamingoes photographed over Lake Magadi and Lake Natron. The two water bodies were once a single freshwater lake but today the two lakes are highly concentrated salt pans, severely alkaline and toxic to most forms of animal and plant life. The lesser flamingoes are an exception because of their biological makeup, and the birds love to feed on the algae that thrive on the surface. As beautiful as the colours may be, the different hues relate to the algae which change in colour as a result of reacting to the differing levels of the alkaline content of the lakes.

Beautiful But Hostile Colours On Earth, Fayz Khan, 2022

Bee-Friendly Busstop, Shamira van Veenendaal | Utrecht, The Netherlands (20/08/2022) – I took my camera and went out in my own city - densely populated with buildings, infrastructure and transport. Utrecht built 300 bus stops with sedum roofs to make the city more sustainable, clean and healthy. These bus stops can filter the air through the sedum, which improves the air quality. The green roof provides cooling on hot days and the plants collect rainwater that is slowly released back into the sewer so that there is less flooding during heavy rainfall. Combined, the 300 roofs increase biodiversity in the city, especially for insects such as butterflies and bees.

Bee-Friendly Busstop, Shamira van Veenendaal, 2022

Bio Mining With Trommel Machine, Sujan Sarkar | Cooch Behar, India (14/08/2022) – The decomposition of waste in city landfills causes air pollution and creates a high risk of producing methane under high temperature, which can lead to fire. To avoid these unwanted environmental hazards, the Municipal Corporation of Cooch Behar installed Trommel machines to bio mine the solid waste. The machine removes plastics, sand, metals, etc. from the garbage, which is then recycled and used for tarring, construction, etc. The other waste is converted into organic manure and growth stimulators. Biomining is a scientific process of excavation, treatment, segregation, and gainful utilization of aged solid waste. The machine helps to decrease landfills that accumulated over around 50 years.

Bio Mining With Trommel Machine, Sujan Sarkar, 2022

The Bitter Death Of Birds, Mehdi Mohebi Pour | Miankaleh, Iran (12/03/2021) – In 2019/2020 and 2020/2021, thousands of birds died in the Miankala lagoon due to lack of water and its contamination with various toxins. This photo shows the efforts of the environmental forces to collect the bodies and prevent the spread of this disease. In the next year, 2021/2022, fortunately, we saw the return of birds. The birds are in the wetland from the beginning of October to the end of March and after that they migrate and we can photograph them for almost 6 months of the year.

The Bitter Death Of Birds, Mehdi Mohebi Pour, 2021

Clean Energy, Pedro de Oliveira Simões Esteves | Serra da Arada, Portugal (28/08/2022) – Up on the mountains in Portugal near some wind turbines watching sunrise over a sea of clouds.

Clean Energy, Pedro de Oliveira Simões Esteves, 2022

Clearing In Binning Memorial Woods, Andrew Smith | East Linton, Scotland (17/11/2022) – These woods were originally planted in 1707 but were clear felled between 1942 and 1945 to fuel the war effort. Afterwards, rather than turning the land into farmland, in what is a rich agricultural soil, it was replanted in 1960 to be enjoyed by the public and as a haven to wildlife. They now team with badgers, rabbits, hares, buzzards, deer and all manner of insects, birds and small animals. The ponds are well maintained and include frogs, dragonfly's and small fish. Part of the wood is also a green burial site, offering environmentally sound alternative to a traditional cemetery.

Clearing In Binning Woods, Andrew Smith, 2022

Chemical Explosion, Subrata Dey | Sitakunda, Bangladesh (08/06/2022) – A chemical explosion and fire at BM container depot Sitakunda upazila of Chittagong at 4th June 2022. 49 people were confirmed dead in the blaze, and the mixing of chemicals in the air and water has a devastating effect on the environment. The explosion at the depot spilled plastic containers into the nearby river, where the chemical-laced water entered the aquifer and destroyed the fresh water supply.

Chemical Explosion, Subrata Dey, 2022

The Chimneys, Pawel Zygmunt | Dublin, Ireland (29/07/2022) – Panoramic view of Dublin Port entrance with old Poolbeg Power Plant. In 2006, the ESB advised of its intention to withdraw approximately 1,300 MW of total Irish electricity capacity by 2011. This effectively reduced the electricity capacity in the country from 6,437 MW to 5,150 MW. The closure was aimed at the older inefficient power stations in Ireland, such as the 3 thermal units at Poolbeg Generating Station that can generate a combined 461 MW of electricity capacity. The newer 460 MW combined cycle fossil gas turbine at Poolbeg would remain operational.

The Chimneys, Pawel Zygmunt, 2022

The Climate Change Effect, Solayman Hosain | Kushtia District, Bangladesh (13/08/2021) – During the monsoon season the river rises and the village is flooded. The flood also means there is a shortage of food for the animals, which have to be guided to look elsewhere.

The Climate Change Effect, Solayman Hossain, 2021

Disappearing Comfort, Jonas Beyer | Svalbard, Norway (07/08/2022) – A polar bear at 82.3 degrees north is searching its surroundings. As the summer gets uncomfortably warm in the high Arctic the less and less solid drift ice is breaking up and decreases the hunting ground for polar bears.

Disappearing Comfort, Jonas Beyer, 2022

Drying Paddy, Dibyendu Biswas | Kalna, India (11/02/2021) – Manual paddy drying has become a very rare thing, but it is still practised by the people of Kalna Village. Modernisation would mean that all these manual labourers become jobless. This method of manual paddy drying is also environment friendly.

Drying Paddy, Dibyendu Biswas, 2021

The Duck Herder, Muhammad Mostafigur Rahman | Sunamganj, Bangladesh (25/12/2021) – A farmer raises ducks at The Tanguar Haor in Sunamganj's Tahirpur Upazila in Bangladesh. Increase in number of domestic ducks is becoming a major threat to this fragile wetland ecosystem, which is a Protected Area and Bangladesh's only second Ramsar Site after Sundarbans.

The Duck Herder, Muhammad Mostafigur Rahman, 2021

Glacial Cityscape, Jonas Beyer | Svalbard, Norway (29/07/2022) – Looking straight down on a glacier front you can see the shadow from the glacier almost depicting a cityscape, skyscaper or a huge city. I find the changes we see in the arctic scary, how fast the ice melts in the spring, how fast the glaciers are retreating, just how warm the summers get.

Glacial Cityscape, Jonas Beyer, 2022

Green Tide, Yann Avril | Binic, France (31/07/2021) – This aerial photo was taken with a drone above Binic beach (Brittany) in France. The sea and the sand are covered with green algae. The waters are saturated with nutrients on which the algae feed, the phosphorus and nitrogen which result directly from the nitrates of industrial agriculture. Their proliferation poses a serious environmental problem, since it can cause suffocation of aquatic fauna and flora. It also poses a serious threat to public health. In the 1960s, the average nitrate level in Breton waters did not exceed 5 mg/litre. Today, it is estimated at around 33 mg/litre. This rate peaked in the 2000s around 50 mg/litre before gradually decreasing. It has now been stagnating for more than three years.

Green Tide, Yann Avril, 2021

Home Of Night Herons, Gu Guanghui | Ninghai County, China (23/03/2021) – This solar power plant along the coast of Zhejiang Province is a protected area. Because there is no human interference, it has become the home of birds. The project combines underwater fish breeding and surface power generation. The ecological environment is good, attracting a large group of night herons to live on the photovoltaic panel, where they live and breed.

Home Of Night Herons, Gu Guanghui, 2021

Ecofriendly Jute Processing, Ahsanul Haque Nayem | Natore, Bangladesh (02/08/2022) – Patterns are created on the calm surface of a lake during the first step in the extraction of soft jute fibres, as sliced up plants are soaked in water for about 15-20 days. The water makes the plants rot, initially turning them orange and then white. This process make it easy to separate the jute from the plant. Jute (also known as the golden fibre) is one of the most ecofriendly and sustainable crops. The government has been nurturing the industry through continuous support and favorable policies and incentives, creating investment opportunities for local and international investors.

Ecofriendly Jute Processing, Ahsanul Haque Nayem, 2022

Ecologie Moderne, Thomas Jean | Brussels, Belgium (02/06/2021) – The presence of storks in the European capital is mainly due to the potential food sources, which are linked to our management of organic waste. Unfortunately I could not intervene in this situation to free the stork simply because it could still fly: it did not let itself be approached. I contacted the special wildlife unit of the Brussels fire brigade and the refuge of the bird protection league. Both replied that they were not able to intervene in this type of case due to a lack of logistical and human resources for this scenario. I hope that this photo will allow things to evolve more positively.

Ecologie Moderne, Thomas Jean, 2021

Energy, Pedro de Oliveira Simões Esteves | Serra da Arada, Portugal (30/09/2021) – Up on the mountains in Portugal near some wind turbines moments before sunrise over a sea of clouds

Energy, Pedro de Oliveira Simões Esteves, 2021

From the Second World War, Michele Lapini | Isola degli Internati, Italy (29/03/2022) – In Gualtieri near Reggio Emilia, two ships that were sunk by the German army during World War II have emerged from the low water levels. It is not the first time they have been seen but this time they reappeared in March, when they are usually only seen in August. The levels and flow rates of the Po River are below the emergency thresholds, with values that have not been recorded for at least 70 years; in some areas the flow rates are below historical lows. This scenario is not expected to see any improvement in the next year. Agriculture and drinking water will be affected. On 4 July 2022, the Italian government declared a state of emergency in five regions in northern Italy.

From The Second World War, Michele Lapini, 2022

The Environmental Cost Of Fast Fashion, Muntaka Chasant | Accra, Ghana (25/07/2022) – Thousands of discarded pieces of fast fashion waste washed up on the coast of Jamestown in Accra, the capital of Ghana. The vast bulk of the cheap trend-driven mass-produced clothes arrive in Ghana as waste and are unsellable. On the beaches, they decompose and emit methane gas, worsening the climate crisis. According to McKinsey, the fashion industry accounted for 4% of the global greenhouse gas emissions in 2018: the same amount of emissions as Germany, France, and the United Kingdom combined.

The Environmental Cost Of Fast Fashion, Muntaka Chasant, 2022

Environment Friendly Construction Under The Ground, Md Shafiul Islam | Gaibandha, Bangladesh (22/05/2022) – We have to think creatively to survive extreme temperatures and adverse weather conditions. The Friendship Center in the Gaibandhar district is an exceptional establishment. Built in 2012, the facility is underground. There are small ponds and trees to keep the environment cool. The roofs are covered with green grass, so the rooms remain cool. Its architect, Kashef Mahbub Chowdhuri, has received the Aga Khan Award for Architecture from Switzerland.

Environment Friendly Construction Under The Ground, Md Shafiul Islam, 2022

Floating Timber Market, Pinu Rahman | Barisal, Bangladesh (29/08/2021) – The biggest floating timber market in the country is a source of livelihood for many. Dozens of boats crowd the river, with much of the trade occurring without a foot being set upon the land. But lack of sustainable planning and conservation pose a serious threat to the environment. This is particularly devastating for the coastal areas, where trees can mitigate the impact of natural disasters like floods and cyclones.

Floating Timber Market, Pinu Rahman, 2021

Glacier Calving, Hira Punjabi | Svalbard, Norway (27/08/2022) – Calving is when snow breaks from the glacier, a process which causes fish and plankton to float up to the surface where birds return to hunt them.

Glacier Calving, Hira Punjabi, 2022

Hope, Niamul Rifat | Barishal Division, Bangladesh (16/07/2022) – Hundreds of Geotextile bags remain at the bank of the river Kironkhola in Barishal, Bangladesh to save the erosion-prone part of the river. Locals said, about 120 families have been displaced from the village of Charkawa during the past couple of years and among them, a large number chose Dhaka, the country's capital. According to a report by the state-founded Center for Environmental and Geographic Information Services, from 1973 to 2017 Bangladesh lost more than 162,000 hectares of land (400,310 acres) double the size of Singapore- to three of its largest rivers. Although the sandbags won't give a permanent solution to stop the climate change-triggered erosion, people living by the riverbanks are seeking for a 'Hope' in them.

Hope, Niamul Rifat, 2022

Hope, Niamul Rifat | Barishal Division, Bangladesh (16/07/2022) – Hundreds of geotextile bags remain at the bank of the Kironkhola river to protect the erosion-prone part of the river. According to locals, about 120 families have been displaced during the past couple of years. According to a report by the Center for Environmental and Geographic Information Services, from 1973 to 2017 Bangladesh lost more than 162,000 hectares of land (400,310 acres) to three of its largest rivers: this is double the size of Singapore. Although the sandbags won't give a permanent solution to stop the climate change-triggered erosion, people living by the riverbanks are seeking for a 'Hope' in them.

Hope, Niamul Rifat, 2022

Human Impact On The Environment, Md Mudassir Hossain | Dinajpur, Bangladesh (03/12/2021) – Brick production is an important industry in Bangladesh. Approximately, 1 million people directly or indirectly work at around 7000 brick kilns. The number of brick kilns is increasing every year due to the rising demands for infrastructure developments. Brick kilns contribute to pollution of major cities and even rural areas. They emit carbon dioxide and other harmful gases.

Human Impact On The Environment, Md Mudassir Hossain, 2021

I'm Watching You Everywhere, Maciej Krzanowski | Suwałki, Poland (01/01/2021) – Photo shows a small lake hidden within the woods. The lake and its surroundings forms a shape of an eye symbolizing that the nature is looking into us constantly.

I'm Watching You Everywhere, Maciej Krzanowski, 2021

Lillies Of Bengal, Sandipani Chattopadhyay | Nabadwip, India (07/08/2022) – Local villages collects flowers to sell at the market: red lilies are used for home decorations and in vegetable curries. Wild blooms of red lilies were rare in India, they need humid and fresh monsoon water to bloom. Due to adequate rainfall the bodies of water are recovering, so over the last few years red water lilies are visible during the monsoon. The nature is slowly recovering and red lilies are the evidence of the same.

Lillies Of Bengal, Sandipani Chattopadhyay, 2022

Life, Shibasish Saha | West Bengal, India (24/07/2021) – This image was taken in the rural areas of the wetland. The people documented in this image used to do farming but during the monsoon season when the land gets filled with water, they adapt to fishing for their daily wages. This is how they adapt to nature accordingly to survive in the world and feed their family members.

Life, Shibasish Saha, 2021

Light, Pedro de Oliveira Simões Esteves | Serra da Arada, Portugal (28/08/2021) – Up on the mountains in Portugal near some wind turbines at sunrise over a sea of clouds.

Light, Pedro de Oliveira Simões Esteves, 2021

Lithium Evaporation Ponds, Matjaz Krivic | Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia (07/10/2022) – Bolivia's YLB industrial lithium production plant pumps lithium-rich brine into these large evaporation pools on the southern edge of the Salar de Uyuni, where it is left to evaporate for many months. Lithium is the core component of modern batteries. The supply of lithium is not fast enough to accommodate the demand, with Chinese, Australian and American corporations buying lithium mines around the world. Locals are amongst the most vocal critics. Evaporation ponds draw heavily on the already scarce water resources in a dry and high-altitude region. Lithium pollution is an increasing problem wherever it is mined.

Lithium Evaporation Ponds, Matjaz Krivic, 2022

Mutual Assistance Between Man And Nature, Alex Cao | Binh Thuan, Viet Nam (06/10/2021) – Bau Ca Cai is an old white-flowered mangrove, planted in the natural breakwater to improve the ecological environment under climate change and sea-level rise. This project is sponsored by the Green Climate Fund and UNDP (United Nations Development Programme), and helps to strengthen resilience to the impacts of climate change for vulnerable communities. The project supports ecotourism and contributes to income improvement and sustainable poverty reduction.

Mutual Assistance Between Man And Nature, Alex Cao, 2021

Naturalia: Chronicle of Contemporary Ruins, Jonathan “Jonk” Jimenez | Pisa, Italy (21/07/2021) – The photographer wants to ask a fundamental question: what is the place of mankind on Earth and what is our relationship with nature? Far from being pessimistic, and at a time when humanity’s domination over nature has never been so extreme, this photo aims to wake our consciousness.

Naturalia: Chronicle Of Contemporary Ruins, Jonathan "Jonk" Jimenez, 2021

New Ways To The Future (III), Simone Tramonte | Copenhagen, Denmark (13/07/2021) – A view of Middelgrunden offshore wind farm from Amager Strand, a very popular beach in Copenhagen. The wind farm landscape perfectly integrates with this very popular beach where local people go to sunbathe or play water sports. The wind farm was developed with a strong involvement of the local community in the planning phase and as investors. 14.4% of the Danish electricity consumption is provided by wind. More than 150,000 Danish families are members of wind turbine cooperatives such as this one.

New Ways To The Future (III), Simone Tramonte, 2021

Offshore Wind Resolution, Neil Ever Osborne | Block Island, USA (07/10/2021) – Will Fancher, a Rope Access Supervisor, conducts routine maintenance on a turbine blade at the Block Island wind farm. Developed by Deepwater Wind, construction of the Block Island wind farm began in 2015 and in late summer 2016 five Alstom Haliade 150-6-MW turbines were erected before operations launched in December the same year. Block Island wind farm started as a demonstration site and remains the largest project using wind power in Rhode Island, USA. NB: Will Fancher was conducting dangerous tasks during the making of this photo; I sought his permission to take all photos of him.

Offshore Wind Resolution, Neil Ever Osborne, 2021

One With Nature, Bernard Kalu | Glasgow, Scotland (06/11/2021) – People join in the protest to inspire action to mitigate the looming climate crises. I am Nigerian and was one of the designated observers representing my country in COP26. There were myriads of photographers and videographers there as all the people marched in protests.

One With Nature, Bernard Kalu, 2021

Papa Potwe,1., Danielle Stanley | Mafia Island, Tanzania (19/11/2021) – Ali has been working at Kitu Kiblu for over 8 years and has learnt to respect these gentle giants. This photograph was taken after many attempts to remove a hook and fishing line from the mouth of a Whale shark. Although a small fishing line doesn't encompass the greater issues of unsustainable fishing industries, it represents the power of conservation to bring about positive change through nature-based solutions, specific to conservation.

Papa Potwe, 1., Danielle Stanley, 2021

The Patterns Of Las Vegas - Jassen Todorov | Las Vegas, USA (11/11/2021) – More than two million people call this city in the Mojave Desert home. Las Vegas is the driest major city in the U.S., and Nevada is the driest U.S. state. The nearby Lake Mead is well below its capacity due to severe drought in the Southwest, as well as ever increasing water demand. Now in the 21st century, should we rethink building expansive cities in dry deserts? And are these places sustainable in the long term? This image taken while I was flying my single-engine Piper Warrior plane.

The Patterns Of Las Vegas, Jassen Todorov, 2021

People At Work, Jignesh Chavda | Ahmedabad, India (21/05/2021) – A group of electricians repair a power line in the late evening, after a cyclone hit the city.

People At Work, Jignesh Chavda, 2021

Polluted Planet, Sebastian Bühler | Bosnia and Herzegovina (17/06/2022) – The picture shows a wild garbage dump in the middle of the mountains of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The waste pollutes and endangers the natural habitat of animals and plants. It is estimated that there are around 10,000 larger and smaller illegal garbage dumps in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Polluted Planet, Sebastian Bühler, 2022

The Pollution Crisis In Bangladesh, Kazi Md. Jahirul Islam | Chittagong, Bangladesh (21/02/2022) – People start fires on garbage dumps to find the iron pieces that remain, which they can sell on the market. The burning plastic generates smoke and gas. I often go to this garbage dump to take photos. This man collects different kinds of iron pieces or breakers from the garbage heap to sell them. Air pollution in Bangladesh is the worst in the world, reducing the average Bangladeshi's life expectancy by 6.7 years. Another study estimates there were 24,000 premature deaths as a result of air pollution in Bangladesh.

The Pollution Crisis In Bangladesh, Kazi Md. Jahirul Islam, 2022

Pyramids Against Drought, Roberto Bueno | Bellmunt del Priorat, Spain (20/03/2021) – The image shows a pyramid at the Priorat fields, a Spanish region known by the quality of their wines. The fields are shaped with pyramid slopes build with laser precision to optimize the amount of water needed by the vineyards. Engineering is helping farmers to make the best use of lands and water, especially in the recent years when droughts are more pronounced.

Pyramids Against Drought, Roberto Bueno, 2021

Rice Mill Minimalistic, Dibakar Roy | Habra, India (26/01/2022) – People are stretching and pulling golden paddy to dry at a rice mill of Habra, India. Our India is an agriculture-based country. Most of the rural part of India agriculture is the main source of income. And here paddy is the main grain. After cultivating the golden paddy, it needs to boil and dry to maintain moisture level and preserve. This boil, dry and preservation process is done in several rice mills. After boiling workers dry it on a big ground for 3 to 4 days. And during this drying process workers create many lines and patterns on the ground by this golden paddy. Here are some of these beautiful moments of lines and patterns creations. I have clicked these shots at Habra, W.B. India. In Habra there are so many places where people are involved in this job. I have taken these shots with my Sony ILCE 7c camera with Sony 28-60mm lens from the rooftop of a nearby rice mill. Though this drying process happens on a big ground you need a wide-angle lens and I prefer my 28-60mm lens for this. If you want to capture these patterns and lines you have to take the top shot view of these moments, that's why I have chosen the rooftop to click these shots. I went there very early in the morning and took these shots till noon.

Rice Mill Minimalistic, Dibakar Roy, 2022

Rain, Anders Thøstesen | Puerto Nariño, Colombia (26/05/2022) – This indigenous village is located on the shore of the Amazon River. Each year, when the rainy season starts, the river rises up to fifteen meters and grows to be several kilometers wide, extending into the forest and riverside settlements. Plants and animals long ago adapted to this extreme change, as did humans. Some houses and pathways are built on stilts, while others are built on immense floating logs to follow the river up and down. Ironically, the newest additions to the village are the concrete paths and the slightly visible park, which are the most vulnerable.

Rain, Anders Thøstesen, 2022

Solar Is The Key, Gaeus Lazar Osilao | San Jose Del Monte Bulacan, The Philippines (15/04/2022) – My neighbour Joeward started using a solar panel to decrease energy costs after the Covid-19 pandemic.

Solar Is The Key, Gaeus Lazar Tumlos Osilao, 2022

Tears, Easa Lebbe Muhammed Jamsith | Oluvil, Sri Lanka (05/01/2022) – The elephant was unable to stand up, writhing in pain. The employees of the garbage dump helped until the arrival of the wildlife officials, the park officials, the wildlife organization Wildlife & Naturerotection Society Sri Lanka, and the Wildlife & Nature Protection Society. They reached the spot within 3 hours along with a wildlife doctor. Elephants can become addicted to the many types of food found in the rubbish. When those elephants smell food it doesn't matter if it's wrapped in paper or covered in polythene, they swallow everything. After that the waste gets trapped in the elephant's stomach and causes a very painful death for the elephant without being digested.

Tears, Easa Lebbe Muhammed Jamsith, 2022

Vertical Farming, Arie Basuki | Depok, Indonesia (18/01/2022) – Officers maintain vegetable crops in a warehouse at Sentra Farm. Various vegetables such as curly lettuce, romaine, oclave green, siiomak, kailan and others are cultured in a room where the light and temperature remain stable. The advantage of vertical farming is that it is free of pesticides with a harvest period of only 30 days and an average yield of 20 to 30 kg of vegetables / day.

Vertical Farming, Arie Basuki, 2022

Vineyard In Lanzarote, Gérard Lüthi | Lanzarote, Spain (23/10/2021) – Lava field and walls built in lava stones. More than a quarter of the island is covered with lava and the inhabitants have adapted their cultivation techniques perfectly to the difficult weather conditions: high heat, high winds, scarcity of water. The walls allow plants to receive water from the morning dew and the rare rains while they remain protected from the wind and sun.

Vineyard In Lanzarote, Gérard Lüthi, 2021

Waterfall, Jonas Beyer, 2022

EPOTY 2022 received more than 3,000 photos from over 115 nations that tell stories of the climate and ecological emergencies the world is facing, and of the people rising to the challenge. This includes:

– The Friendship Centre in Bangladesh, which is built below sea level in a region prone to earthquakes and flooding, and uses natural resources (grass rooftops, pools collecting rainwater) to keep itself cool without the use of A/C.

– The more than 150,000 Danish families who are members of wind turbine cooperatives, which combined provide ca. 14.4% of Danish electricity consumption.

– The growing development of agrovoltaics, a concept where agricultural land is used to produce clean electricity while leaving room for agricultural crops.

– Projects sponsored by the Green Climate Fund and United Nations Development Programme to help mediate the impacts of climate change in vulnerable communities while supporting ecotourism and sustainable poverty reduction.

– Agricultural engineering to help farmers make the best use of their land and water.

Introducing this year's panel of award-winning judges

Find out more about this year’s international jury

Jury response

EPOTY 2022 judge Daisy Gilardini comments on the winning photo, The Bitter Death of Birds

“I found this image particularly touching due to its stillness. Contrary to one of the basic rules of photography, the rule of third, which suggests to place your subject in one of the thirds, the photographer decided to frame all the elements right in the centre. By doing this, the immediacy is even more poignant. The dead bird in the foreground is right in your face and leads to the two people behind in the background cleaning up the other dead birds.”

EPOTY 2022 judge Victor Moriyama comments on the winning photo, The Bitter Death of Birds

"This is the image that most connects me with my training base, which is photojournalism. It shows a very impactful and shocking situation. I believe in the power of sensitizing global society through the images made by journalists and this image brings together all the elements for that."

EPOTY 2022 judge Daisy Gilardini comments on Beautiful But Hostile Colours On Earth

“I love the way the movement and different colours combine to create a unique pattern in this wonderful image. While the beauty of the image catches your eye, reading the caption opens your eyes to a sad reality. The image is both compelling and frightening in the way it shows that something beautiful can be toxic and dangerous at the same time.”

EPOTY 2022 judge Victor Moriyama comments on Beautiful But Hostile Colours On Earth

"This photo synthesizes a very evident transformation of planet earth. Photographing climate change is a very difficult task and the image manages to overcome the challenges."

The winners respond

Mehdi Mohebi Pour, Environmental Photographer of the Year winner

“I was born in a very green and beautiful province in Iran and photographing nature and wildlife has been something I have loved ever since I picked up the camera. For several years now, I have been photographing and researching the Miankaleh Wetland Project and photographing all the good and bad events that occur in the Wetland."

“The Miankaleh wetland is being destroyed by changes in the climate and it is my duty as a photographer to highlight these problems and create a record for history. I want to prevent the complete destruction of the wetland and the potential environmental disaster by showing the issues and threats to these beautiful natural places. The death of the wetland is equal to the death of the earth and the death of humans.

“I believe ‘The Bitter Death of Birds’ was noticed by the judges because the image shows a scary perspective and the possibility of this happening all over the world. The photo highlights the danger to the planet.”

Fayz Khan, Young Environmental Photographer of the Year winner

“While I have been doing photography for a few years, I have not dared to believe I could win the Young EPOTY award. Just being short-listed was a huge thing for me … To now win this prestigious award from people who care about sustainability and our planet’s environment is more than a dream come true. That the winning image is from a part of the world that fascinates me is icing on the cake!”

“I love Africa for many reasons, foremost of which is the wildlife and the preserved natural beauty of the continent. My family and I had a trip planned to the Rift Valley, Kenya, in 2020, but unfortunately due to COVID, we were unable to go until this past summer. A helicopter safari in the Rift Valley has been on my “Top 3” list of photography destinations, ever since I saw images of the salt pans of Lake Magadi and Lake Natron. I always knew it would be a special trip, but I never knew how special until I saw with my own eyes the extraordinary colours which change dramatically within a few seconds of flying over the lakes."

Arie Basuki, Vision of the Future category winner

“I am so grateful to win this award and that my photography has been appreciated by the EPOTY jury. It's such an honor that my photos was recognised, as photos from previous years have such strong messages about the environment and human interaction in it. The issue of food security in the midst of global climate change is currently a very prevalent issue. I decided to photograph vertical farming because I wanted to show a different side to conventional farming in general. With vertical farming photos, you can show the other side of farming in buildings that are suitable to be applied in urban areas, where land is very limited with a shorter planting period and free of pesticides and other chemical elements.”

Jonathan "Jonk" Jimenez, Recovering Nature category winner

“By winning the ‘Recovering Nature’ category, I hope the picture will be shared far and wide, along with the message that goes with it. That would make me even happier than I already am by winning the competition.”

“I travel the world looking for abandoned places reclaimed by nature. These pictures hold a clear aestheticism, but also have a philosophical aspect. They talk about our place on Earth and our relationship with Nature. I always show them in a chronological manner: in her inexorable progression, Nature starts reclaiming outsides before infiltrating buildings and growing inside them. The next steps are collapse and burial. We can then ask ourselves, when Nature and Time take back what Man abandoned, what will be left of our civilization? This winning picture illustrates the growing inside part of the reclaiming process."

Subrata Dey, Keeping 1.5 Alive category winner

"I have been shooting for the last 20 years and the incident I captured for the competition was so shocking to me. It was such a devastating chemical explosion. I know the danger and after-effects of chemical mishap; because of the reactive effect of the chemical, I could not reach the spot of the chemical container terminal in the first two days. When I was finally able to reach it, the scene just took away my words and tears. I would say 49 lives were killed simply because of poor, or no, management of the container field. Most of them were poor laborers and their lives were worth more than that! ... I believe that we as photographers can share important messages and I dream of a beautiful and ethical world.”

Simone Tramonte, Adapting for Tomorrow category winner

"Receiving this award represents to me an incredible opportunity to circulate the message I wanted to share. Climate change is a challenge that we should all take responsibility for. My goal was to give a positive message of hope. This photo represents the harmony between man and technology as part of a wider piece of work, ‘Net Zero Transition’ which analyses the relationship between man, the environment and innovation, to allow Europe to become the first carbon neutral continent.

The net-zero transition has already begun and it is meant to be the next industrial revolution. I firmly believe in the communicative power of photography. Telling a story through photographs has an enormous potential to deliver messages, stimulate curiosity, wonder, or awareness in the viewer."

This year, the competition introduced an ethics panel in order to improve accountability and transparency in photo selection. Following a thorough screening process, the panel, consisting of experts in journalism and photography, provided guidance on our competition rules and they reviewed photos that raised ethical concerns. Photos that did not meet the competition’s ethical standards were discussed by the panel, and additional information from photographers was requested as needed to make an informed decision.

Press and Media

02/12/2022: CIWEM and Waterbear announce the winners of Environmental Photographer of the Year 2022

27/10/2022: Environmental Photographer of the Year – a more ethical approach

11/08/2022: CIWEM, WaterBear and Nikon Announce Judges For The Environmental Photographer Of The Year 2022 Competition

17/07/2022: CIWEM and WaterBear present The Environmental Photographer of the Year 2022 in partnership with Nikon Europe

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