30-07-2025
Beacon Of Hope - Humanity's Prize And The Science At Its Helm
In an era of headlines that often fuel despair, the Calouste Gulbenkian Prize for Humanity shines a light on solutions. This year, the €1 million award honors the Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition (ASOC) a coalition whose persistent advocacy shows that environmental stewardship isn't naïve hope, but strategic action. ASOC's communications strategy of leveraging immersive media, visual storytelling, social campaigns, and science-based narrative has helped transform Antarctica from a polar footnote into a pivotal driver of climate action.
System Change Over Soundbites
Cristina Casalinho, Executive Trustee of the Foundation, told me the Prize reflects a long-held belief: sustainability and equity are inseparable. 'This is a common journey… nobody will win if we exploit more or pollute more,' she said. 'We need to be the guardians for the next generations, the ones who will deal with what we leave.'
Luís de Melo Jerónimo, Director of Sustainability & Equity, added: 'Working on climate is also working on health, employment, migration, and many other issues.' He noted that climate action creates a mandate for systemic change, linking individual choices to global shifts in policy.
Storytelling and Advocacy as a Strategic Tool
Founded in 1978, ASOC emerged to challenge secret mining talks threatening Antarctic protection. By uniting NGOs across ten countries, they shaped the Antarctic Treaty System into a framework that values science and governance. 'Before, it was people going to the Antarctic. Now it's the Antarctic coming to us,' said ASOC senior advisor Ricardo Roura. Today, ASOC works on expanding Marine Protected Areas, regulating tourism, and pushing for ecosystem-based governance within Antarctic policy forums.'These regions may seem distant, but they are central to the planet's health and future,' ASOC Executive Director Claire Christian explained.
The Foundation believes narratives bridge the gap between science and action. 'First, people need to see how climate affects their health, community, or consumption,' said Casalinho. 'Then, they must know that small actions matter, and that informed choices shape outcomes.' When visiting the foundation preschool children learn about composting and microplastics. Others can experience 'life in the Antarctic' using virtual reality experiences. These are early lessons that embed environmental care from the start. Art, she noted, can talk to hearts in ways data cannot, connecting across culture and age.
Civil Society as Climate Custodian
Both leaders acknowledged political obstacles ahead, but affirmed civil society's role as a stabilizing force in uncertain times. 'It would be unrealistic to expect major breakthroughs now,' Jerónimo admitted. 'But empowered civil society, that's what gives me hope.' This year's Prize comes as the UN launches the Decade of Action for Cryospheric Science (2025–2034) and declares 2025 the International Year of Glaciers' Preservation. António Feijó, head of the Foundation's board, defined the work as vital: 'It reminds us why protecting the most remote places on Earth is essential to safeguarding our shared future.'
Why this matters for Business & Law
For sustainability-focused executives and policy professionals, the Prize offers a fresh lens on risk and responsibility. It signals that stewardship and systemic integration that can cut across finance, culture, law, and advocacy can anchor long-term climate solutions. "Hope is a strategy, not a sentiment," said Casalinho.
