Celebrate climate action: 2024 photo competition

The European Climate Pact invited everyone across the EU to submit a photo and caption of the climate action they are taking at home, in their communities and cities.

Unless you’re looking for it, climate action can often go unnoticed. As more than 300 competition entries illustrated, it can be as subtle as changing the way you cut your grass or encouraging recycling, but it can also be as unmistakable as organising a community clean-up event or building your own sustainable home.

That is why we called on you to capture your climate action and submit it to our 2024 European Climate Pact photo competition.

A five-person jury representing both the European Union and the Climate Pact, including Pact Ambassadors Simone Padovani and Christian Clauwers, selected nine winners and runners up. A final winner was also chosen by you in a public vote that ran from July to early August.

We would like to thank everyone who participated and the 4,250 people who voted! Your time and support have helped shine a spotlight on the incredible climate action happening across Europe.

Keep reading to see the winning photos and stories for each category, including the winner of the public vote!

This competition was about quality photos as well as the stories behind the actions. If you take a close look at the captions below, you’ll read about meaningful change, hope, and inspiring ideas of all shapes and sizes. Each entry showcased the hard work being done by those around us, and its potential to spread further than individual backyards, neighbourhoods and regions.

According to Simone, a jury member, Pact Ambassador and international photo reporter, “the impact of the photo competition is enormous. The images are sending thought-provoking messages that everyone can understand without the need for a translation. The stories are powerful and inspirational examples of how everyone can make little miracles with small actions!”

For fellow jury member, Pact Ambassador and professional climate photographer, Christian, visual communication such as photo competitions are powerful tools for showing what is at stake. “Images are able to initiate thought and convey information in both a direct and indirect way.”

Helping the Climate Pact with its mission to spread awareness about climate change and inspire innovative climate solutions, the winners have demonstrated the breadth of climate actions to choose from, with many involving mindful activities such as walking, running and cycling, spending time in nature, and growing food.

Here are the 10 European Climate Pact photo competition winners for 2024!

Winner – Reinhard Bimashofer and Peter Maier, Austria

Twelve years ago, we built our wooden home as a plus-energy home with photovoltaic cells on its roof, producing far more energy than we need for living, an office, our electric car and e-bikes. It showcases how we can solve many problems by creating a building that lasts for centuries, and, at the possible end of its lifecycle, we can still use the wood from it and get paid for it, instead of paying for the disposal of the construction waste.

One cannot imagine how comfortable, healthy, energising, climate-optimised and environmentally friendly a log home is. And, last but not least, it’s beautiful!

Watch our video to find out more about Reinhard’s climate-friendly lifestyle.

Second place – Virgo Siil, Estonia

Cutting the lawn with a scythe is a silent activity that does not disturb the neighbours and does not consume electricity or fuel. As a bonus, you get a meditative activity, moderate exercise and interesting patterned grass. We have given up mowing our yard bare, we only cut the grass on the paths between the buildings. Thanks to this, several meadow plants have appeared here, adding another advantage: no need to create flower beds. A climate-friendly lifestyle is easy, you just have to do less.

Winner – Angeliki Charalampidou, Greece

The ‘Walls of Kindness’ is a voluntary action developed in neighbourhoods of my hometown Kastoria, Greece. Volunteers place wooden handmade hangers on abandoned walls around the city, and those that don’t need some of their clothes anymore hang them there. This action supports the reuse of materials (wood and fabric) that would otherwise be thrown away. Reuse is the most environmentally friendly and efficient way to extend the life of clothes, as it requires the least additional resources and energy. The benefits of the Walls of Kindness are environmental, but also economic and social, since they offer goods to citizens who aren’t able to buy them.

Watch our video to learn more about Angeliki's ‘Walls of Kindness’.

Second place – Andreas Neumann, Germany

The photo shows the bio-energy park in my hometown Saerbeck in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. I am proud of it because it belongs to all citizens of the region and not to a large energy company or a government. Everyone is involved and benefits from the energy and heat production, as well as the regional value creation since 2013. The power of the sun and nature is evident here.

Third place – Anita Mókus, Hungary

Cycling and sustainability – generation alpha. Let's educate our children about environmental protection and reduce the effects of global warming by cycling. The future is in the hands of our children, and our children are in our hands. Our common goal is to protect the planet. Let's join forces to make a positive change. Water (rain) and trees and planet – happy kids.

Winner – Nika Veger, Slovenia

While on a family vacation on a remote Adriatic Island, we discovered a beach littered with debris. Determined to act, we cleaned the shore daily, turning our holiday into an environmental mission. We collected over 15 large bags of trash and, strikingly, more than 400 shoes. Arranging them into a massive footprint, we highlighted humanity's impact on nature. Sharing this powerful image with family, friends, and online, I’ve raised awareness that indeed all seas are polluted with plastic. We aimed to inspire others to think about their consumption habits and how to protect nature. I am passionate about this because it demonstrates that small actions can create change, encouraging not only my family, but also others to join in. Thus, a footprint of impact became a footprint of change.

Watch Nika’s inspiring story of small actions making a big impact.

Second place – Pact Ambassador Tjebbe Boersma, the Netherlands

From my youth, I remember trips to nature with a constant twittering of birds and the buzz of insects. Yet, my local community and city has lacked the familiar buzz of these sounds for many years. This year, however, many places which were previously mowed to keep things ‘tidy’ have had the chance to just… grow. Simply biking past them, I’ve noticed a far greater abundance of flowers and insects. It made me realise that communities can do a lot for biodiversity just by doing less – less mowing, less spraying pesticides – and by more simply enjoying and accepting nature. So, my call to communities and businesses is: ‘Don’t mow, just let it grow!’ – save the expense and save local biodiversity in the process. I know I’ll spend many more evenings just taking in the sights, the sounds and the smells.

Third place – Nejc Gajšek and Katja Kovše, Slovenia

We are becoming a throwaway generation. We easily discard not only our possessions, but also our relationships – be it friendships or romantic ties. In response to this mindset, my partner and I have committed to making a positive impact on our local community through plogging. By combining paddleboarding and jogging with picking up litter, we aim to show our community that trash isn't just something unsightly, but an opportunity to make a meaningful difference. Plogging has changed our time together and strengthened our bond as a team. Our efforts have gained attention from the history museum, which recognised our initiative as good practice. Inspired by the words of scout leader Baden-Powell, "try and leave this world a little better than you found it". We strive to do exactly that.

Fourth place – Margarita Samsonova, Portugal

Climate Shroomlutions. A project that turns coffee waste into soils and grows mushrooms out of them for local restaurants is the most interesting and inspiring project that I have ever visited. The best part is that people can visit behind the scenes of facilities and get connected to mushrooms and circular economy. The world is connected in many different ways, but also through mycelium systems. That is why we should grow more, as these species can bring such interesting climate solutions!

Winner – Jussi Isoaho, Finland

This path near the Arctic Circle inspired me to propose a land protection initiative for the stunning shoreline of the Kitka River in Kuusamo, Finland. Now, thanks to my efforts, this land, owned by the Nokia Corporation, is officially protected. I'm incredibly proud of this achievement, and it reaffirms my belief that almost anything is possible if you truly believe in it.

Watch our video to discover Jussi’s journey to protect the arctic landscape.