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About the Sophie Prize

The last Sophie Prize was awarded on 28 October 2013. There will be no further nomination processes.


The Sophie Prize is an international award (US $ 100,000), for environment and sustainable development, awarded annually. The Sophie Prize is established to inspire people working towards a sustainable future. The Prize was established in 1997 by the Norwegian author Jostein Gaarder and his wife Siri Dannevig.

Voluntary organizations, independent research institutions and individual’s worldwide, with knowledge or interest in environment and/or sustainable development or other closely related topics, can nominate candidates for the Sophie Prize.

The Sophie Prize is awarded to one or several persons, or an organization, which has created awareness of alternatives to modern-day development and/or initiated such alternatives in a pioneering or particularly inventive manner. The Board acts as jury for the Sophie Prize. The Board members are professionals that represent relevant experience within the field of environment and sustainable development.