Created in France in 2006 by the Veolia Foundation, the Environmental Book Award is reaching a new historic milestone by expanding to China for the first time. This annual literary award, which honors works dedicated to raising awareness and understanding of ecological issues, is launching its first international edition in 2026. For this launch year, the focus is on the Children's category (ages 8 to 12)—a key audience for carrying the message of ecological transformation.
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, 600 copies of the winning works (200 per winning title) will be purchased. These books will be distributed to schools, libraries, and educational organizations 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.