The Environmental Photographer of the Year competition returns in 2025 

The Environmental Photographer of the Year (EPOTY) competition powered by CIWEM, supported by Arup, and driving positive impact with Brave Blue World Foundation, returns for its 17th year

The competition presents inspirational environmental photography from around the world, showcasing thought-provoking photos that celebrate humanity’s ability to adapt and innovate, raising awareness of the issues that put our planet at risk, and highlighting more sustainable approaches.  

The competition is free to enter to photographers of all ages from all corners of the globe, welcoming amateur and professional photographers alike. Submissions for the 2025 competition are now open at www.epoty.org.

CIWEM is a charity dedicated to a world in which professionalism and excellence build connections that inspire widespread, impactful water and environmental solutions. EPOTY is the perfect competition to reflect CIWEM’s values and commitment to people, planet and possibilities, as showcased through the visual medium of photography.

The competition is open until 28 September 2025 and creatives are invited to submit their most compelling and magnetic environmental stories captured through their photographic medium of choice.

The winner of the Environmental Photographer of the Year title receives a £1,000 cash prize and an interview with CIWEM’s Environment Magazine which will be shared on CIWEM’s and EPOTY’s social media channels and websites. Additionally, they will receive a feature article with the Brave Blue World Foundation (BBWF). The winner’s profile will also be promoted on the websites and socials of Arup and BBWF and at BBWF’s global screenings.

This year’s competition features four submission categories that aim to inspire real world solutions to some of our planet’s biggest environmental challenges. Photographers submit their work into the most appropriate category for each of their photos, and all four category winners will be awarded a £500 cash prize.

• From Source to Sea – working at different scales
  This category explores water’s relationship with the land and how we interact with it, as well as the sustainable management of our natural resources more widely.
  
  CIWEM focus area: catchment management, environmentally sensitive and potentially low-carbon solutions to achieve improved water quality, community stewardship, reduced flood risk, and increased water resilience across a catchment area.

• Inspired by Nature – fighting back together
  This category examines how we learn from and work with nature to manage climate change, water security, water pollution, human wellbeing, biodiversity loss and disaster risk management. These solutions can be inspired by nature and/or encourage nature restoration.
  
  CIWEM focus area: nature-based solutions (NbS), restoring and mimicking natural processes to deliver social, environmental, and economic benefits.

• Deluge or Drought – the environment’s changing face
  This category investigates the ways in which we are working with existing structures and established land use to minimise damage and enable quick recovery in the face of extreme weather events.
  
  CIWEM focus area: flood resilience and adaptation, reducing the impact of flooding. Showcasing how we anticipate, resist, adapt and transform to prepare for, and mitigate or recover from, flooding.

• Models of Stewardship – who, where, and how we benefit
  This category asks what our stewardship of water and land looks like and how it relates to social equity and access to water, environmental sustainability, and the economy.
  
  CIWEM focus area: water governance, the political, social, economic, and administrative systems that influence the use and management of water.

Darren Eckford, Director of Learning and Organisational Development at CIWEM said: “We are excited to welcome back our prestigious EPOTY awards. Giving amateur and professional photographers from around the world the opportunity to shine a light on the challenges facing our planet, and for all those living on it, to recognise the part we play in addressing them, contributes directly to our responsibility and work as a royal chartered institution to deliver public benefit.

"From climate change, water pollution and human wellbeing, to the loss of biodiversity and disaster risk management, the storytelling power of photography informs, educates and engages its audience, forcing us to confront the need for climate action to address the climate emergency and its devastating effect on our people and planet. CIWEM remains committed to ensuring that the 2025 EPOTY competition challenges and inspires those in front of and behind the lens.”

Mark Fletcher, Global Water Leader at Arup adds: “Arup is proud to have supported EPOTY since its inception, and I am delighted to see its return this year. There has never been a more critical time to highlight the effects of climate change on the world we live in. The competition evokes and inspires awareness of issues affecting nature and taking action in ways that words alone simply cannot do – and I can’t wait to see this year’s entries.”

Paul O’Callaghan, Executive Producer at Brave Blue World Foundation and CEO of BlueTech Research, concludes: “At Brave Blue World Foundation and BlueTech Research, we believe in the power of storytelling to move hearts and minds. I’ve always been passionate about water — and equally drawn to the stunning imagery that helps us see it differently. CIWEM’s Environmental Photographer of the Year competition fits this picture beautifully. It captures not just the challenges we face, but the hope, ingenuity, and human stories shaping water’s future.

"We all have a water story, and we want to encourage everyone to share theirs — contributing to a global narrative that is inclusive and inspiring. As part of our impact campaign, we will take the winning photographs on tour with the Our Blue World film, bringing these stories to audiences around the world.”

To learn more and to enter the competition, visit www.epoty.org. Entries close on 28 September 2025 and winners will be announced in December.

For more information contact: epoty@ciwem.org.

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About Arup: Arup advise on, plan and design the future of the built environment. As a global consultancy with technical and advisory expertise across more than 150 disciplines, Arup bring a Total Design approach to their client work. This is how together they can shape a better world. For more information visit www.arup.com.

About Brave Blue World Foundation: Brave Blue World Foundation is a not-for-profit initiative focused on providing a platform for scientific educational storytelling and public engagement. The foundation was created with a view to inspire a shift in thinking towards solving water challenges globally. Brave Blue World Foundation has partnered up with some of the leading experts and technology companies within the water industry. For more information visit https://www.braveblue.world/.