The selection process began in April 2010, and was conducted by the panel of UNEP-TONGJI IESD. More than 110 applicants from 56 universities in 17 Chinese provinces, four province-level municipalities, and one autonomous region applied for the scholarship. The panel of experts evaluated the applications according to their grades, the consequence of their research findings, social work, and other factors. Ultimately, Wang Shile, Yan Yijing, and eight other students stood out from the rest. Each finalist will receive a scholarship of 10,000 RMB.
The finalists of the Klaus Toepfer Environmental Scholarship are as follows:
Wang Shiyue Renmin University of China
Yan Yijing Tongji University
Peng Wei Peking University
Li Xiang Jilin University
Chen Kai Nanjing University
Zhang Tianyuan Shandong University
Wang Tong Shanghai Jiaotong University
Huang Jie Fudan University
Li Yanbo Dalian University of Technology
Wang Cuiyu Jinan University

 The Klaus Toepfer Environmental Scholarship was created in November 2007 by Professor Toepfer. This was the first such scholarship created for undergraduate students majoring in environmental science.
 Prof. Klaus Toepfer commits to environmental protection and sustainable development and pay great attention to the education on sustainable development of university and college. In order to promote China's environmental education, he donated 100 million yuan in November 2007 to start up the scholarships fund in China, aiming to raise more social donation, to encourage the China youth          and to contribute to solve the increasingly outstanding global environmental problems.