About the award

Nominations for the United Nations Global Climate Action Awards 2021 are now open.

As communities, governments, businesses & organizations from all across the world are taking bold #ClimateAction to tackle the climate emergency, the Awards shine a light on and recognize some of the world’s most stimulating solutions for climate problem emergencies. The award honors those individuals and organizations that have an innovative, scalable, and replicable solution(s) for addressing climate challenges

Award details

Application period: 8 Feb- 30 April 2021

Awarding institution: United Nations (UN)

Award application organizer:  UN Climate Change’s Momentum for Change Initiative Advisory Panel

The 2021 award application includes the following three areas of focus: 

1- Climate Neutral Now, celebrating efforts by individuals, companies, cities, universities, businesses,  governments and others that are obtaining real results in transitioning to climate neutrality.

2- Financing for Climate Friendly Investment, honoring successful financial innovations for climate change adaption and reduction.

3- Climate Leaders, acknowledging transformational strides made by governments at all levels (national, provincial, state, city, town) that are closely focusing on climate change

Why apply for this award?

Winners will receive benefits/values such as:

• Chosen activities/projects/initiatives under each area of focus area will be featured at a series of special events during the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Scotland (COP 26) in November 2021.
• Additionally, winning activities will be showcased through different media channels, providing an exclusive chance to attract international visibility and recognition.

Furthermore, the winners will gain the following benefits:

Engagement with policymakers

• Public recognition by the UN Climate Change secretariat;
• Fully covered attendance to UN Climate Change Conference (except winners of “the Financing for Climate Friendly investment category”, which need to be self-funded to attend the Conference);
• Opportunities to deliver work to policymakers during the UN Climate Change Conference.

1. Public relations support

• Concerted media engagement effort before and during the UN Climate Change Conferences, including placement of opinion pieces and earned media;
• On-going digital campaign, including social media training, email marketing, and promotion on UN Climate Change website.
• Marketing support Promotional videos; dedicated webpage on the UN Climate Change website; Interactive annual reports; Professional photo taking.

Who are eligible?

• If your institution has successfully implemented a project, initiative, program or other activity that tackles climate change mitigation or adaptation while focusing on one of the three aforementioned focus areas, you or your organization is eligible.

Specific criteria

• The activity you submit must meet the eligibility criteria for its respective focus area. In order to meet the basic eligibility criteria (each area has its own criteria), the activity must:
• Address climate change mitigation or adaptation;
• Be already implemented, or in the process of implementation;
• Be scalable and/or replicable with potential for long-run impact;
• Be creative and/or demonstrate the potential for long-term transformational impact;
• Present verifiable social and environmental benefits;
• Not be registered or has been planned to register as a clean development mechanism (CDM) or joint implementation (JI) initiative in the next two years.

Selection

Through a vigorous process and according to selection criteria and also predefined thematic criteria, a small number of projects will be selected.

Result announcement

The responsible advisory board selects the winners by mid-August 2021.

How to apply?

To apply, you need to access the award’s application portal by creating an account and logging into the portal.

Log in and apply HERE.

For more information, refer to UN Climate Action Awards.