A youth-led initiative from Bangladesh has won an international climate action competition, announced on Tuesday during the 13th Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development in Bangkok.
The winning team, Eco Sentinels, was recognized for its innovative solution to the growing problem of salinity intrusion in coastal communities. Their project, BrineAway, is a nature-based water filtration system that significantly reduces water salinity using locally available materials and halophyte plants.
The team said the system can cut water salinity by up to 85%, providing an affordable source of clean water for vulnerable coastal populations. The initiative also incorporates a women-led micro-entrepreneur distribution model to strengthen community ownership while generating livelihoods.
Selected from more than 330 applications representing around 1,400 young change-makers across the Asia-Pacific region, Eco Sentinels stood out for offering a practical, scalable solution to one of South Asia’s most pressing environmental challenges.
Rezwanul Islam Shuvo, CEO of Eco Sentinels, said: “Our mission is to fight salinity with innovation and community action. By turning salt into a solution, we aren’t just purifying water; we are transforming affected areas into thriving, resilient ecosystems where children no longer have to miss school due to waterborne illness.”
The award was presented under the Generation Hope Goals initiative, a collaborative platform led by Save the Children, UN ESCAP, UNDP, Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, YECAP, UNFCCC RCC Asia-Pacific, and ChildFund International.
This year’s competition invited young people aged 14–24 to design practical solutions aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a focus on clean water and sanitation, affordable and clean energy, sustainable cities, and partnerships for the goals.
Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, UN under secretary general and executive secretary of ESCAP, said: “Home to nearly 60% of the world’s youth, our region holds extraordinary potential. Youth-driven solutions are already transforming communities. Young leaders are mobilizing climate action and strengthening inclusion. These solutions are practical, scalable, and inspiring.”
Beate Trankmann, deputy regional director for Asia and the Pacific at UNDP, added: “Generation Hope Goals stands for hope in action, where young people turn vision into real progress. At UNDP, we are creating enabling environments for youth to innovate, collaborate, and drive sustainable development.”
Arshad Malik, regional director of Save the Children, said: “Climate change affects us all, but children are particularly vulnerable. Today’s winner stood out for demonstrating youth leadership, real-world impact, scalability, and a truly innovative solution.”
With coastal Bangladesh increasingly affected by salinity intrusion due to climate change and rising sea levels, Eco Sentinels’ win highlights growing international recognition of locally driven, youth-led environmental solutions.