Emerging Sustainability Leader Award

Three prizes totalling 60,000 USD celebrating emerging sustainability researchers.

Emerging Sustainability Leader Award

The Emerging Sustainability Leader Award (ESLA) recognizes outstanding early-career researchers who have made exceptional contributions to sustainability research. Offered by the MDPI Sustainability Foundation, the award celebrates innovation, impact, and academic excellence across the sustainability spectrum.

The 2026 ESLA will honor three awardees, with one selected from each of the three core categories: Biosphere, Society, and Economy. Each winner will receive a monetary prize of 20,000 USD, bringing the total award amount to 60,000 USD. The awards will be officially presented during the World Sustainability Forum 2026.

Nomination Process

The nomination process for the 2026 edition will open on Friday, 25 July 2025. Detailed information on eligibility and submission procedures is provided in the dedicated section below. Nominations may be submitted either as self-nominations or by qualified third parties via the official online platform.

Following the nomination deadline, the Selection Committee, composed of internationally recognized experts in sustainability, will review all eligible submissions and select the award recipients.

The selected winners will be informed in due course and are expected to attend the award ceremony, held during the World Sustainability Forum 2026.

Past Awardees

Finalists 2025
2023
2021
2020
2018
2017