Chemistry for Climate Action ChallengeChemistry for Climate Action Challenge
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Chemistry for Climate Action Challenge

$25k for green chemistry solutions in the Global South—2 winners annually.

Organizer: Elsevier Foundation
Deadline: October 1, 2025 (in 12 days)
Categories: Competition, Challenge
Regions: Rwanda, Burundi, Liberia, Tanzania, Benin, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania, Sudan, Central African Republic, Djibouti, South Africa, Madagascar, Tunisia, Gambia, Togo, Equatorial Guinea, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Botswana, Mozambique, Comoros, Mauritius, Morocco, Ghana, Algeria, Chad, Cabo Verde, Namibia, Somalia, Niger, Seychelles, Congo, Zimbabwe, Senegal, Kenya, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Mali, Eritrea, South Sudan, Egypt, Gabon, Malawi, Angola, Eswatini, Uganda, Côte d'Ivoire, Nigeria, Lesotho, Ethiopia, Sao Tome & Principe, Libya, Zambia, DR Congo
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The Elsevier Foundation’s Chemistry for Climate Action Challenge funds practical, green, and sustainable chemistry solutions in the Global South. The program awards two winning projects each year, with each winner receiving 25,000 dollars, and spotlights work that advances both Climate Action under SDG13 and Gender Equality under SDG5. The call targets scale-ups of early-stage projects that can be implemented in low and middle-income countries with measurable community impact.

Program overview

  • Run by the Elsevier Foundation in partnership with Elsevier’s Sustainable Chemistry journals, the Challenge seeks innovative chemistry approaches that address urgent local needs such as emissions reduction, cleaner production, circularity, or safer materials.
  • Projects must be applicable to low and middle income contexts, be replicable and scalable, and include a clear and impactful gender component aligned to SDG5.
  • The initiative emphasizes outreach and practical solutions that make a difference for communities across the Global South.

Funding and prizes

  • Two prizes of 25,000 dollars are available for the 2026 cycle.
  • Awards support green and sustainable chemistry that tackles pressing sustainability challenges in the Global South.

What is in scope

  • Scale-ups of early-stage projects where the prize covers most of the overall budget need.
  • Solutions implemented in the Global South across domains such as waste utilization, alternative energy, biodiversity and ecosystem health, climate change mitigation, community empowerment, sustainable agriculture, water resource management, and health and well-being.

What is out of scope

  • Projects implemented outside low and middle income countries, proposals without a gender component, or educational projects lacking a strong scientific green and sustainable chemistry core.
  • Budgets dominated by expensive equipment or personnel, or Global South projects without a local implementation partner.

Key dates and process

  • Submission phase: July 7, 2025 to October 1, 2025. Submit online via the official platform.
  • Reviewing phase: Expert reviewers shortlist proposals. Shortlisted projects announced by October 30, 2025.
  • Judging phase: A scientific jury selects the Top 5 finalists. Finalists announced January 15, 2026.
  • Final presentation: Top 5 present at the 10th Elsevier Green and Sustainable Chemistry Conference, 18–20 May 2026, Dresden, Germany. Winners are announced at the end of the conference.

How to apply

  • Proposals must be submitted through the Elsevier Foundation Chemistry for Climate Action Challenge portal.
  • Applicants should provide a clear description of the problem’s urgency, project background and context, and explicit links to SDG13 Climate Action and any relevant sub-targets, as well as any interlinkages to other SDGs.

Evaluation criteria

  • Innovation: Novel green and sustainable chemistry approach, for example CO₂ reduction and utilization, cleaner production, energy conversion and storage, safer or reduced hazardous substances, better resource use, increased reuse or recyclability, or business models for circular economy.
  • Replicability, scalability, sustainability: A clear pathway to scale and long-term viability, with preference for concepts that set a new benchmark for innovation.
  • Novelty and literature: The proposal must highlight what is new and include a concise literature overview.
  • LMIC suitability and social impact: Concrete benefits for local communities in low and middle income countries, including gender equality considerations.
  • Gender component: Projects must include an impactful gender dimension, describing sex and gender aspects of the research where relevant.
  • Implementation plan: Context-appropriate knowledge transfer and local implementation or research partners are required where applicable. Patented ideas are ineligible.
  • Budget: A full USD budget is required, including funds already raised and plans to close any gap beyond the 25,000 dollar prize.

Results, feedback, and certificates

  • Shortlisted proposals advancing to judging will be posted on October 30, 2025.
  • Individual feedback on proposals is not available due to volume, but shortlisted certificates can be requested by email.
  • Finalists are announced January 15, 2026 and winners on May 20, 2026 at the conference and on the website.

The 2026 Chemistry for Climate Action Challenge is a targeted opportunity for applied green chemistry that delivers tangible, gender-aware impact in low and middle income settings. Applicants should focus on urgency, innovation, and feasibility, aligning tightly with SDG13 while evidencing replicable pathways and local partnerships. Interested teams are encouraged to review the criteria closely and submit complete, well-justified proposals within the stated deadlines.