IKI project shows the winning photos of their annually competition

Winners of the 2024 Transformative Urban Coalitions photo competition announced.

The winners of the 2024 Transformative Urban Coalitions (TUC) Photo Competition, “Portraits of Urban Change”, have been announced, celebrating powerful visual narratives that capture the essence of sustainable urban transformation. The winners are:

• Danilo Victoriano Jr. from the Philippines, who shared an powerful photo of creative volunteers turning plastic waste into durable eco-bricks, demonstrating the power of community-driven sustainability.
• Mark Linel Padecio also from the Philippines, who portrays how big and small – companies and individuals – are uniting in the same goal: building a more sustainable city and future, by showcasing transitions to solar energy.
• Hans von Manteuffel from Brazil, who offers a glimpse into how a roof has been transformed into a vegetable garden, where the community’s young people grow organic food for 400 neighbouring families. 

More than 757 photographers from 53 countries entered this year, representing a wide range of ages – from 10 to 75. Their entries illustrate the many ways in which cities are already being transformed to meet the needs of people and the planet.

Organised under the TUC project, supported by the International Climate Initiative (IKI), the competition showcased urban life and solutions for a more sustainable future. These stunning photographs go beyond capturing the beauty of urban spaces but reflect also deeper stories about sustainability, inclusion and resilience.

An international jury juged the photos based on originality, creativity, storytelling and photographic quality. The panel included scientists, United Nations experts, practitioners, communication experts and artists.

"The images remind us of our responsibility to be good ancestors, to promise future generations that we will prioritise nature and resilience in the way we build and live in our cities," said Shen Xiaomeng, Vice-Rector in Europe at UNU and Director at UNU-EHS, highlighting the powerful role of art in shaping sustainable urban futures. She emphasised how photography can evoke emotions and inspire action, helping people to connect with the idea of cities as spaces for both human and ecological flourishing.

The winning photographs, along with a larger selection of submitted images, will be exhibited at the 6th Capacity-building Hub at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, organised by the Paris Committee on Capacity-building (PCCB), offering a global audience a window into the inspiring visions of cities reimagined through the lens of sustainability.