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

Environmental and water management charity CIWEM, free streaming platform dedicated to the future of our planet WaterBear, world-leading provider of imaging products and services Nikon, and exhibition sponsor Arup have launched the search for The Environmental Photographer of the Year 2022.

Now in its 15th year, this annual competition will continue to spotlight the most inspirational environmental photography from across the globe and to provide an international platform to raise awareness for the environmental issues that put our planet at risk.

The award celebrates challenging, beautiful, and powerful images that encourage humanity to take care of our environment. While highlighting mankind’s impact on the environment, the competition also celebrates our ability to survive and innovate, offering hope that we will overcome the challenges to live sustainably.

The competition is open until August 31st and is free to enter for all ages. Professional and amateur photographers from all over the world are invited to submit their most aspirational, emotive and captivating environmental photography captured on their device of choice.

The Environmental Photographer of the Year winner receives a £5,000 cash prize in addition to an interview in CIWEM’s Environment Magazine, a profile on WaterBear’s website, and a feature on Nikon Europe’s website.

Nikon’s Young Environmental Photographer of the Year award showcases the best environmental photography through the lens of young photographers aged 21 and under. The winner receives a Z Series Mirrorless camera and two NIKKOR Z lenses of their choosing.

This year’s competition also features four award categories, with participants competing for £1,000 cash prizes in the following:

  1. The “Vision of the Future” award is searching for inspiring or thought-provoking interpretations of our environment of the future as told through the photographer’s lens.
  2. The “Recovering Nature” award is looking for images that show nature’s ability to recover and for examples of innovative nature-based solutions and conservation initiatives that are bringing nature back from the brink.
  3. The “Keeping 1.5 Alive” award is looking for action-focused photography that highlights the urgency of curbing global warming.
  4. The “Adapting for Tomorrow” award calls attention to images that show how communities and nature are finding a way to live with the effects of our changing environment.

The addition of an ethics panel to this year's competition aims to improve accountability and transparency in image selection. The panel, consisting of ethics experts in the fields of journalism and photography, provided feedback and guidance to support participating photographers on questions of consent, permits, and ethical representation of people and wildlife. More information about the panel, who will assist with image review during the 2022 selection process, can be found at www.epoty.org.

Terry Fuller, Chief Executive, CIWEM: “It is important to showcase the interconnected nature of development, poverty reduction, equality, security and climate action and the unprecedented effort needed from all sectors of society to address the defining issues of our time. There is no more powerful way to do this than through the universal language of photography. CIWEM is committed to ensuring that the 2022 EPOTY competition challenges and inspires those in front of and behind the lens”.

Sam Sutaria, VP of Strategy and Development, WaterBear: “WaterBear is proud to be partnering with CIWEM and Nikon Europe for a second year, to further shine a spotlight on environmental stories through the lens of talented photographers. The photography industry has changed considerably over the last decade, but telling a great story is still the number one criteria for a winning photograph that will capture the hearts and minds of audiences across the world.”

Stefan Maier, General Manager Marketing, Nikon Europe: “Integral to our brand's purpose is empowering photographers and videographers to realise their creative vision and illuminate the ineffable. Nikon has been at the heart of many of the most important stories told over the course of the last century, and with climate change and environmental protection being amongst the most important stories of our time, we are delighted to be able to support this incredible award alongside CIWEM and WaterBear”.

To learn more and to enter the competition, visit www.epoty.org. Entries close on August 31st and winners will be announced on November 24th.


This year’s collaboration between CIWEM, WaterBear and Nikon Europe is empowered by the media reach and storytelling capabilities of the WaterBear platform and global network, and the specialist expertise of CIWEM and Nikon, with the continued support of global built environment consultant Arup.

About CIWEM

The Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM) is a Royal Chartered independent professional body and a registered charity in the United Kingdom working internationally to advance the practice of water and environmental management. CIWEM represents a community of 30,000 professionals with a shared vision for a safe and sustainable world. For more information, visit www.ciwem.org.

About WaterBear

WaterBear is a ground-breaking streaming platform showcasing award-winning documentaries as well as original content - spanning biodiversity, community, climate action and sustainable fashion. WaterBear members can stream video at any time, and on any device, all for free, as well as take direct instant action to support NGOs around the world and shape a better future for our fragile planet. For more information about WaterBear and to sign up, please visit: www.waterbear.com.

About Nikon Europe

Nikon is a world-leading provider of imaging products and services. Its innovative optics technology - from consumer and professional cameras to lenses, system accessories, and sport and recreational optics - is powered by over 100 years of experience. The brand is globally recognised for setting new standards in design and performance, with Nikon’s revolutionary Z series mirrorless cameras and NIKKOR Z lenses representing a new dimension of optical performance. Nikon is committed to leading imaging culture and enables some of the world’s best visual artists to reach their creative potential through visual storytelling. For more information about Nikon’s award-winning products please visit www.europe-nikon.com.

About Arup

Dedicated to sustainable development, Arup is a collective of advisors and experts working across 140 countries. Founded to be both humane and excellent, we collaborate with our clients and partners using imagination, technology and rigour to shape a better world. For more information visit www.arup.com.

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