Right Livelihood

➡️ RIGHT LIVELIHOOD AWARD (RLA) - Guide to the Alternative Nobel Prize

The RLA was first established in 1980 by Jakob von Uexkull. He was a member of the European Parliament (1987-89), and also served on the Political Affairs Committee and the UNESCO Commission on Human Duties and Responsibilities. He established the World Future Council in 2007 and has served on various boards, including Greenpeace, Germany.

His steadfast commitment to the environment, justice, and peace has earned him numerous awards, including the Time Magazine European Hero Award.

The RLA has now celebrated and supported some of the world's most courageous and inspiring people for 45 years. Their award ceremonies are held annually, honouring four new laureates for their commitment to finding practical, innovative solutions to humanity's biggest challenges.

The RLA not only celebrates achievements but also provides long-term support and raises the profile of those who have shown outstanding commitment to peace, sustainability, and social justice.

Better World Info began documenting the incredible RLA journey in 1997. We now feature a well-researched and comprehensive guide with over ➡️ 5,500 links to this excellent prize, the foundation's work, the 203 laureates from 81 countries, and the Right Livelihood College. It is an absolute must-have resource for in-depth insight into their work.

"We amplify changemakers' voices, enhance their protection and provide extended networks for greater impact." - RLA

Jump straight to our resources on the ➡️ Right Livelihood Award

Explore our comprehensive guides on -

• Essential Resources

• The Right Livelihood College

• Jakob von Uexkull

• Must-Read Topics – Gender Equality, Democracy, Human Rights, Education & Health

The Right Livelihood Foundation has built a community of courageous changemakers working for a more just, peaceful, and sustainable world for everyone. They work hard to catalyse urgent and long-term social change, increase the visibility of laureates, and provide vital protection when their lives and freedom are in danger.

In 2006, Ole von Uexkull became the executive director of the Right Livelihood Foundation. He is the nephew of Jakob von Uexkull and holds master's degrees in both Environmental Science and European Studies. He has worked at the German Parliament in Berlin, the United Nations Environment Programme in Paris, and the European Parliament in Brussels.

"We have to be more than just an award; we have to keep supporting the ones who have received the award." - Ole von Uexkull

*****

Highlights from 2025

The awards for the 2025 laureates were honoured at the annual award presentation, which took place in Stockholm on December 2 in front of an international gathering of peers and patrons.

• Emergency Response Rooms - in Sudan

• "For building a resilient model of mutual aid amid war and state collapse that sustains millions of people with dignity."

• Warring factions in Sudan have led to the death of 150,000 people. In the world's worst displacement crisis, more than 14 million people have been forced to leave their homes.

• The Emergency Response Rooms are community-led, volunteer-run networks that provide desperately needed humanitarian assistance to those struggling the most during the war. They deliver essential services like food, water, and medical care, provide protection, and assist with evacuations.

• Justice for Myanmar -

"For their courage and their pioneering investigative methods in exposing and eroding the international support to Myanmar's corrupt military."

A military coup d'état has gripped Myanmar since 2021; the junta has killed 6,000 people, arbitrarily detained more than 20,000, and internally displaced more than 3.5 million. Since the takeover, they have subjected civilians to widespread and systematic attacks, bombing schools and hospitals with complete impunity, and blocking humanitarian aid.

Justice for Myanmar works tirelessly to campaign for justice and accountability for the people of Myanmar. They expose the countries, companies, and criminals who are profiting from and funding war crimes and country-wide suffering.

They have persuaded multinational corporations to divest hundreds of millions in business dealings to expose and dismantle the military cartel. Their Cartel Finance Map is an eye-opening web of corporations that fund the regime and member states of the ASEAN, who prop up the junta with deals, kickbacks, and shady funding.

• Pacific Island Students Fighting Climate Change & Julian Aguon -

"For carrying the call for climate justice to the world's highest court, turning survival into a matter of rights and climate action into a legal responsibility."

In 2019, a group of law students from the University of the South Pacific came up with the idea to approach the UN General Assembly to request an ➡️ advisory opinion from the ICJ on the legal obligations of countries under international law to address the climate crisis.

On July 23, 2025, the ICJ issued its advisory opinion, which was unanimously adopted by all 15 judges who, for the first time, officially categorised the climate crisis as an "urgent and existential threat" and emphasised that "cooperation is not a matter of choice for states but a pressing need and a legal obligation."

The ICJ opinion can now be used to demand more ambitious climate protection measures from governments and parliaments, to ensure compliance with the Paris Agreement, and to implement national and international climate laws.

• Audrey Tang - Taiwan

"For advancing the social use of digital technology to empower citizens, renew democracy and heal divides."

Audrey Tang is Taiwan's first digital minister and cyber ambassador. She has proven that technology can be used to deepen trust and give millions a chance to help shape policies. With the mission to fight polarisation and uphold democratic values, her ideas in digital democracy and civic participation are being rolled out across the world to promote open, inclusive, and transparent governance.

Working with governments, civic groups, and the tech industry, she has become a pioneer of the open-source movement, made access to broadband a human right, and used civic hacking to mobilise campaigns against disinformation and deepfakes.

*****

The Alternative Nobel Prize

The Right Livelihood Award is widely recognised as the world's premier award for personal courage and social change and is commonly referred to as the alternative Nobel Prize. Criticisms of the Nobel Peace Prize have been growing louder, especially since the 2025 award was given to ➡️ María Corina Machado.

This was, without a doubt, a politically motivated decision by the Norwegian Nobel Committee. While many of Machado's actions may be laudable, the prize ignores the fact that Venezuela's economy is crushed by U.S. sanctions and her blatant support for U.S. imperialism. She even went on to dedicate her award to President Trump for his backing of regime change in Venezuela.

Experts argue that the Nobel Peace Prize has all too frequently deviated from Nobel's original criteria to reward those dedicated to disarmament, demilitarisation, peace negotiations, mediation, peace journalism, and conflict resolution. As of 2021, only 33 recipients qualify under Nobel's founding principles in its 120 years.

The award's prestige has been lost the further it has drifted from its support for peace. Other criticisms include political influence, increasing Eurocentricity, and sexism. By 2021, of the 975 Nobel Prizes awarded, only 59 were awarded to women.

The Right Livelihood Award covers the areas often overlooked by traditional Nobel Prizes, such as environmental protection, human rights, and sustainable development. It is free from political sway and awards boots-on-the-ground activists and grassroots organisations, rather than globally recognised figures and big names on the international stage.

*****

Better World Info's dedicated encyclopaedia of the Right Livelihood Award highlights the well-deserving work of all Right Livelihood laureates, helping them continue to raise awareness of their causes and expand their reach to the wider public.

Explore their innovative solutions to issues such as climate change, indigenous rights, the energy transition, nuclear disarmament, women's rights, press freedom, corruption, and much more.

"This award is a new weapon to strengthen the fight of our people." - Davi Kopenawa

Author: Rachael Mellor, 18.02.26 licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

For further reading on the Right Livelihood Award see below ⬇️