On Monday 6 October 2025, Luxembourg's Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Biodiversity (MECB) announced that a Luxembourg-funded initiative by the environmental NGO, Friendship, has been selected for the Earthshot Prize.
The ministry noted that the mangrove reforestation initiative in Bangladesh, launched in 2018 with Luxembourg funding, was also recognised for its integrated approach to climate resilience supporting the country’s most vulnerable communities.
Founded in 2002 in Bangladesh by Runa Khan and established in Luxembourg in 2006 under a south–north model, Friendship combines local roots with international support to deliver projects adapted to ground realities. The mangrove reforestation programme was designed with the help of the Hëllef fir d’Natur Foundation, and the first plantings were funded with support from the MECB as part of its international climate finance strategy.
The MECB’s support proved crucial for reforesting the first 100 hectares and enabled the model to be tested and validated. The project later expanded thanks to private donors, including Banque Raiffeisen and its clients, through a reforestation initiative run in partnership with the Hëllef fir d’Natur Foundation. To date, 218 hectares have been restored with more than 660,000 trees planted, including 300,000 funded by the MECB and 60,000 via Banque Raiffeisen credit card transactions, whereby every 200th transaction by clients plants a tree, either in Luxembourg or Bangladesh.
The MECB noted that the reforestation programme exemplified Friendship’s integrated community adaptation model, with Bangladesh recognised as one of the countries most vulnerable to the climate crisis and that the urgency of the crisis demanded innovative solutions. With COP30 approaching, the ministry said the recognition by the Earthshot Prize highlights a model to promote under international climate commitments and demonstrates concretely that solutions exist, are locally adapted, realistic, replicable, fundable, and sustainable.
Selected from nearly 2,500 applications submitted by a network of 575 nominators from 72 countries, Friendship successfully passed a rigorous scientific evaluation process.
The 15 finalists were chosen by an international advisory committee of over 100 experts in conservation, science, technology, economics, finance, academia and politics.
The Earthshot Prize was founded by Prince William of the United Kingdom and is regarded as the world’s most prestigious and influential environmental award, recognising innovative solutions to the planet’s major challenges. The five prize winners will be announced by Prince William on Wednesday 5 November 2025 in Rio.
Runa Khan, founder of Friendship said: “Being an Earthshot Prize finalist is an honour that highlights the resilience and innovation of Bangladeshi communities living on the frontline of climate change.”
Serge Wilmes, Luxembourg Minister for the Environment, Climate and Biodiversity added: “This recognition demonstrates that Luxembourg’s support for projects maximising synergies between climate adaptation and biodiversity protection in the Global South is effective.” He added: “The Ministry is pleased to have played a decisive role in initiating a programme expected to expand considerably, ensuring our funding has significant leverage.”
Jacques Hoffmann, ESG Manager & Executive Board Member – Banque Raiffeisen remarked: “We are proud that this project, exemplifying environmental, social and governance synergies, has already achieved international recognition as an Earthshot Prize finalist. It is truly inspiring, showing how actors from diverse backgrounds can join forces to create positive impacts and help mitigate the effects of climate change in a disrupted world.”
Frankie Thielen, Director, Hëllef fir d’Natur Foundation said: “We are particularly proud that Friendship’s mangrove planting programme has demonstrated a win–win outcome for both nature and local communities.”
