Luxembourg-Linked NGO Friendship Wins Prestigious Earthshot Prize for Climate Action

Friendship Honored with Earthshot Prize 2025

Friendship, a non-governmental organization with significant links to Luxembourg, has been named a winner of the prestigious Earthshot Prize 2025 in the 'Fix Our Climate' category. The Bangladesh-based NGO was recognized for its groundbreaking environmental and social initiatives, particularly its extensive mangrove reforestation project. This marks a historic achievement, as Friendship is the first organization from Bangladesh to receive the esteemed award. The prize, accompanied by a £1 million grant, was presented at a ceremony held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on November 5, 2025.

The Earthshot Prize and Its Vision

Founded by Britain's Prince William in 2020, the Earthshot Prize aims to discover, celebrate, and scale innovative solutions to the world's most pressing environmental challenges. The award is structured around five 'Earthshots' designed to inspire a decade of action to repair the planet. Friendship's win in the 'Fix Our Climate' category underscores its commitment to developing and implementing solutions that address climate change directly. The ceremony in Rio de Janeiro brought together global leaders, philanthropists, and innovators to highlight progress and opportunities in environmental action.

Friendship's Integrated Approach to Climate Resilience

Friendship's award-winning work centers on an integrated development model that delivers sustainable, scalable, and locally-led solutions to improve the lives of climate-vulnerable communities in Bangladesh. A flagship initiative recognized by the prize is its mangrove afforestation program. This project has seen the planting of over 650,000 mangrove trees across 200 hectares and the construction of 62 kilometers of embankments, effectively safeguarding more than 125,000 people from cyclones and storm surges. Beyond climate action, Friendship, established by Runa Khan in 2002, operates a comprehensive network of services including a fleet of seven hospital ships that provide medical care to remote communities and runs 50 schools, emphasizing a holistic approach to development.

The Luxembourg Connection and Future Scaling

The success of Friendship's initiatives is significantly bolstered by its international network, particularly Friendship Luxembourg. Established in 2006, Friendship Luxembourg serves as a crucial support structure, providing human resources management, research, fundraising, and technical assistance to the Bangladeshi operations. Initial funding from Luxembourg's Ministry of the Environment played a pivotal role in a 40-hectare pilot project for mangrove reforestation, which has since expanded. The £1 million prize money will be strategically utilized to scale Friendship's humanitarian and environmental work in Bangladesh, with plans to expand the mangrove project to 1,500 hectares by 2030, aligning with Bangladesh's National Adaptation Plan.

This recognition not only celebrates Friendship's innovative efforts but also highlights the critical role of international partnerships, like that with Luxembourg, in addressing global climate challenges and fostering resilience in vulnerable communities.