A summer landscape photo of Vuoksi: calm blue river water, green leaves in the foreground and a tree on the right. A forest on the opposite bank and a red brick building in the middle under a blue sky.

South Karelia Environmental Award 2026 competition underway

The patron of the competition is photographer and active nature enthusiast Mikko Nikkinen. Nominations for the award can be submitted until 18.6.2026.

The aim of the competition is to promote a clean and green transition in the province. The competition highlights local environmental expertise and increases the publicity of local environmental actions.

The prize is significant, with the winning entry receiving 10,000 euros. The competition is sponsored by a long-time photographer and active nature enthusiast. Mikko Nikkinen; a true "Saimaa native".

Individuals, companies, organizations, innovations, collaborative projects, or utilized theses can participate in the competition. The prize-winning item must be concrete and already implemented.

The competition committee consists of and/or the prize money is financed by: Lappeenranta-Saimaa Rotary Club, OP Southeast Finland, LUT University, South Karelia Chamber of Commerce, South Saimaa Newspaper, South Karelia Entrepreneurs, the cities of Lappeenranta and Imatra, Raija and Ossi Tuuliainen Foundation, the Regional Council of South Karelia and municipalities
Savitaipale, Ruokolahti, Parikkala, Rautjärvi, Luumäki, Lemi and Taipalsaari.

The call for prize proposals begins on May 4, 2026 and ends on June 18, 2026. The competition rules can be found and prize proposals can be submitted using the application form at www.etela-karjalankauppakamari.fi/ymparistopalkinto2026

The winner of the award will be announced on August 26, 2026, in connection with the Our City event in Lappeenranta.

For more information:

Mika Peltonen, South Karelia Chamber of Commerce, tel. 040 513 4490
Mikko Heikkilä, Lappeenranta-Saimaa Rotary Club, tel. 0400 853 993

A green-based announcement of the South Karelia Environmental Award 2026 competition. The text explains the objectives, criteria and prize money of 10,000 euros. On the right is an icon symbolizing the environment, and at the bottom are the logos of the partners and the website address.

Download the page in PDF format

Mikko Nikkinen as patron

The competition is sponsored by a long-time photographer and active nature enthusiast Mikko Nikkinen.

– I live my best moments in my own local nature and encourage everyone, both individuals and companies, to discover the special features of our region's nature. Through a good relationship with nature and recognizing development needs, we can invent new sustainable ways to live in harmony with nature.
I wish everyone the best of luck in the competition.

Leave a prize proposal