The EEA Photo Competition 2025, hosted by the European Environment Agency (EEA), is now open for submissions. This prestigious international photography competition invites passionate photographers, environmental enthusiasts, and everyday urban storytellers to visually explore the relationship between the environment and modern city life. With the theme “Environment & Me,” this year’s edition calls for powerful images that celebrate harmony, resilience, and sustainability in our urban ecosystems.

Whether you’re inspired by green rooftops, wildlife in alleys, or solar-powered neighborhoods, your photograph could speak volumes—and even win you €1,000 and international exposure.

This online contest is more than a photo competition. It’s a movement to highlight how individuals and communities across Europe and beyond are shaping a sustainable future through small yet powerful environmental actions. Open to residents of EU member states and key partner countries, the contest aims to make visible the beauty, challenges, and progress of environmental action in today’s cities.

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Host Country:

Denmark

Host Organization:

European Environment Agency (EEA)

Mode of Competition:

Online Submission

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EEA Photo Competition 2025 Categories

Participants can submit up to five original photographs across the following categories. Each image must be accompanied by a short title and description in English.

• Wildlife in the City
  Celebrate the coexistence of urban life with natural ecosystems. Submit images that portray birds nesting in city balconies, foxes roaming urban gardens, bees on windowsills, or other examples of biodiversity flourishing in man-made environments.

• Charming Neighborhoods
  Focus on the spaces that bring life and sustainability into city living. Capture walkable areas, community gardens, renewable energy initiatives, local markets, green architecture, or other sustainable design and lifestyle features of your neighborhood.

• Green at Heart
  Shine a light on people-powered environmental actions. This can include recycling efforts, zero-waste initiatives, rewilding projects, educational campaigns, urban farming, or anything that reflects the values of sustainability and ecological care.

These categories are designed to inspire a broad range of interpretations, encouraging photographers of all backgrounds to reflect their unique environmental perspective through art.

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Benefits of the EEA Photo Competition 2025

This highly accessible and rewarding international competition offers a wide array of benefits to selected photographers:

• No entry fee required for submission

• €1,000 prize for the winner of each of the three categories

• €500 Youth Prize awarded to one outstanding submission from a participant aged 18–24

• €500 Public Choice Award determined by public vote

• Opportunity to be featured in EEA exhibitions, digital publications, and official campaigns

• Recognition across European media platforms and EEA communication channels

• Build your environmental storytelling portfolio while contributing to public discourse

• Entirely virtual competition — no travel required, making it easy for participants across all eligible countries to join

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Eligibility Criteria

The EEA Photo Competition 2025 is open to a wide group of participants but maintains specific guidelines to ensure fair and credible evaluation:

• Must be 18 years of age or older by the submission deadline

• Open to citizens or residents of the following countries:

  • All EU 27 Member States

  • Partner countries: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, Türkiye

  • Western Balkans: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia

• Submitted photographs must be taken in one of the above-listed countries

• The photographer must own the full copyright to the images submitted

• Each participant may submit up to 5 entries (a separate application form is required for each photo)

• Entries must not promote commercial brands, contain AI-generated content, or be incomplete

• Employees of the European Environment Agency (EEA) and their immediate family members are not eligible

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Required Documents and Photo Specifications

To ensure eligibility and proper documentation, applicants must prepare the following:

• Proof of citizenship or residency in an eligible country

• Proof of age (such as a passport or national ID)

• High-resolution original photograph in one of the following formats:

  • .jpeg, .png, or .tiff

  • Minimum 2000 pixels on the longest side

  • File should be clear, unfiltered, and not digitally altered beyond standard corrections (exposure, contrast, cropping)

• A concise title and description in English for each image, explaining its significance in line with the category theme

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How to Apply

Follow these step-by-step instructions to submit your entry:

1. Take an original photo that aligns with one of the three categories

2. Ensure the image meets the minimum resolution of 2000 pixels

3. Write a brief title and description in English explaining the photo

4. Choose the appropriate category for submission

5. Visit the official EEA photo competition website

6. Complete the online application form

7. Upload your image and supporting documents

8. Submit the form. If submitting multiple entries (up to 5), repeat the process for each

Once submitted, participants will receive an email confirmation. Shortlisted entries may be contacted for further clarification or verification.

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Application Deadline

30 May 2025 at 23:59 CEST

All entries must be submitted by this deadline. Late or incomplete submissions will not be considered.

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Why You Should Apply

The EEA Photo Competition is not just an artistic contest—it’s a stage for environmental storytelling that matters. If you have a keen eye for visual narratives, a passion for sustainability, or simply want to share how your city and nature coexist, this is your chance to make a meaningful impact.

Participants get to:

• Inspire change through the power of imagery

• Document environmental progress or challenges in urban settings

• Receive recognition across European sustainability networks

• Compete for monetary prizes while gaining exposure in professional spheres

• Add an international competition credit to your portfolio or résumé

This is also a valuable opportunity for students, educators, climate activists, community workers, and creative professionals who want to use their skills to amplify positive action for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

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Tips for a Winning Entry

• Choose your story carefully: What environmental message do you want to share?

• Composition matters: Ensure the visual elements are balanced, sharp, and compelling

• Stay authentic: Real-life moments often connect better than staged scenes

• Tell a story in your caption: Use the description to provide context and emotion

• Review before submission: Ensure technical specifications are met, and that all documents are ready

Remember, your photo may be seen by environmental professionals, educators, policymakers, and citizens across Europe and beyond.

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Final Thoughts

In a world increasingly shaped by climate action and sustainability, storytelling through photography has become one of the most powerful tools for awareness and change. The EEA Photo Competition 2025 gives you a voice—through your lens—to show how our cities are evolving, struggling, or thriving in the face of environmental challenges.

So whether you’re capturing a thriving rooftop garden, a child planting trees, or a resilient fox walking city streets, your photo can become part of the global story of change.

Submit your entry, claim your place in the international spotlight, and inspire action one frame at a time.