(New York, NY — December 10, 2023) — Photography 4 Humanity, the designated photography platform for the Right Here, Right Now Global Climate Alliance, proudly announces Kristina Varaksina as the winner of the Global Photo Contest. Her poignant photograph, The Seashore is No Longer Here, provides a powerful visual testament to the human cost of environmental degradation and the urgent need for global climate justice.

The announcement, made on December 10th = United Nations Human Rights Day - highlights the intersection of climate change and human rights. The winning photograph, taken in Karakalpakstan, Uzbekistan, depicts schoolgirls standing in an abandoned seaport town beside an installation showing where the Aral Sea used to be. Varaksina’s image is accompanied by the evocative description: “Schoolgirls stand in an abandoned seaport town next to an installation showing where the Aral Sea used to come.”

As the official photography platform of the Right Here, Right Now Global Climate Alliance, Photography 4 Humanity plays a critical role in spotlighting the intersection of climate change and human rights. Supported by global partner United Nations Human Rights, the competition invites both amateur and professional photographers from around the world to capture stories of resilience and the urgent realities of our changing planet.

“Kristina Varaksina’s photograph not only captures a stark reminder of environmental destruction but also the enduring strength of communities confronting climate change,” said David Clark, CEO, Photography 4 Humanity. “Announcing this year’s winner on UN Human Rights Day underscores that climate change is a profound human rights crisis, and urgent action is needed to protect those most vulnerable.”

The shrinking of the Aral Sea, once one of the largest inland bodies of water, stands as one of the world’s worst environmental disasters. The photograph serves as a compelling call to action, reinforcing the Right Here, Right Now Global Climate Alliance’s mission to champion climate justice as an essential human right.

This year, Photography 4 Humanity received thousands of submissions from across the globe, showcasing the creativity and passion of photographers committed to illuminating the stories of those most impacted by the climate crisis. Varaksina’s winning image and other top entries where featured at the United Nations headquarters in New York on UN Human Rights Day, and viewed globally on UN.org.



For more information about Photography 4 Humanity, the Right Here, Right Now Global Climate Alliance, visit www.photography4humanity.com.