In 2006, the Veolia Foundation created the Environment Book Prize in France, which reached a historic new milestone by expanding to China for the first time in 2026.
This annual literary award, which honors books dedicated to raising awareness and understanding of ecological issues, launched its first international edition in 2026. For this pilot year, the focus was placed on the Youth category (ages 8 to 12), a key audience for conveying the message of ecological transformation.
《教一只猞猁忘记动物园》
Teaching a Lynx to Forget the Zoo
Qi Xinzhang
A documentary science book written by Qi Xinzhang, deputy director of Xining Wildlife Park. It records the growth, rescue, and return to nature of the country's first successfully reintroduced juvenile lynx, nicknamed "Teletubbies."
《夏尔贾汉》
Sherjahaan The Land of Tigers
Yun Dai, illustrated by Roger Mello
The book, told from the perspective of the land, is based on the true story of an Indian couple who revitalized barren land, showcasing the miracle of ecological restoration through the interaction of humanity and nature. This picture book won the gold medal at the inaugural Astra International Picture Book Storytelling Competition.
《红嘴唇,绿屋顶:找 回被气候变化弄丢的》
Red Lips, Green Roofs: Finding What Climate Change Has Lost
Lao Jiadi, illustrated by Wu Xi
The book focuses on climate change and tells the fantastical redemption journey of a red-lipped monkey searching for a lost parrot after a wildfire.
3 joint winners
A local partnership to encourage environmental literature in China
To ensure the success and local relevance of this initiative, the Veolia Foundation has partnered with a premier choice: Jingshi Data (Beijing) Education Technology, an entity affiliated with Beijing Normal University. Together, we are leveraging the power of literature to raise awareness among younger Chinese generations.
The expansion of this initiative reflects a desire to promote and support authors and publishers who work daily to awaken public ecological consciousness. By rewarding inspiring and scientifically rigorous stories, this prize aims to make environmental knowledge more accessible and encourage the adoption of more sustainable behaviors.
The pilot edition focuses exclusively on local children's literature (books written in Chinese) in order to build a solid and relevant foundation for young readers.
The grant: A springboard for sharing works
Beyond the recognition provided by the award, the Veolia Foundation is actively committed to promoting and broadly distributing the winning books.
Book purchases and distribution: To directly support authors and the publishing industry, 500 copies of the winning works will be purchased. These books will be distributed to Veolia's partners to maximize their pedagogical impact on children.
Promotion of winning authors: Author meet-and-greets will be organized. These interactive sessions will extend the life of the books and directly engage young readers and their families during friendly, shared moments.
Key Milestones
- April 2026 | Applications Open: Sourcing and pre-selection phase of around one hundred books from local publishers.
- May to July 2026 | Selection phase: Cross-analysis of the books by reading committees and a multidisciplinary jury of experts (comprising academics, researchers, and children's literature specialists).
- Septembre 12, 2026 | Winner Announcement: Unveiling of the 3 winning books and presentation of the 10 finalists for this pilot edition. The official announcement ceremony will take place in tandem with the Award ceremony in France on the same day.