Application for the United Nation Global Climate Action Award is ongoing. The portal opened on the 5th of February, 2020 and is open till 30th of April, 2020.
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The United Nation’s Global Climate Action Award is spearheaded by UN Climate Change’s Momentum for Change initiative and shines a light on the most innovative, scalable and replicable examples of what people around the world are doing to tackle climate change.
Are you an entrepreneur leading a result driven project, that is successfully addressing climate change? Then the United Nation is searching for you.
Climate change negotiations can be serious, complicated and slow. Therefore, you don’t need to wait for high level protocols to take action. Because, if we continue to wait, so many endangered species will go into extinction.
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About Momentum For Change
Momentum for Change is an initiative of United Nations Climate Change Secretariat.
At Momentum for Change, change makers recognise that transformative climate action is already taking place on the ground. Together with their partners, they’re not waiting. Instead, they’re leading because they see climate change differently.
Momentum for Change shines a light on solutions for climate change that are about transforming environments, economies and lives; focusing on the essential role that women play as powerful agents of change. Also, they focus on activities that improve the lives of the urban poor; an innovative model for climate friendly financing.
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Additionally, they focus on activities that reduce carbon emission, which are essential in valuing the communities that are most vulnerable. In essence, Momentum for Change is working to adapt to rapidly changing environment.
They believe that climate action can create economic growth and small changes create big impact.
Momentum for change lighthouse activities are beacons showing that climate action is creating green jobs, inspiring entrepreneurship, creating ripples across communities and economies and fostering partnerships that lead to creative ideas that are scalable, innovative and replicable.
Who Should Apply For The United Nation Global Climate Action Award
Organizations, communities, cities, businesses, universities, governments and others, who have successfully implemented a project, initiative or program that addresses climate change mitigation or adaptation, are welcomed to apply.
There are three core areas of focus:
Women for Results: recognizing the critical leadership and participation of women in addressing climate change;
Financing for Climate Friendly Investment: Recognizing successful financial innovations and funding mechanisms that are unlocking climate finance and building capacity.
Climate Neutral Now: Recognizing efforts by individuals, companies and governments that are achieving real results in transitioning to climate neutrality.
So, applicants must choose one of the above three focus areas where their activity is making a difference.
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Benefits The UN Global Climate Action Award Winners Will Receive
If your project is selected as one of the winners of the UN Global Climate Action Award, you will receive the following benefits:
- Funded attendance to the UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Scotland, in November 2020
- Access to policy makers and potential funders during the conference
- Public recognition by the UN Climate Change secretariat
- Public relations support and media training
- Marketing materials; promotional videos, a dedicated page about your project on our website, and professional photography.
However, the winning project under the Financing for Climate Friendly Investment category will need to be self-funded to the conference, and provide their own video and photo materials.
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How Do You Apply?
To apply, visit the Momentum For Change platform and start your application. The application process takes about an hour to complete. You can work at your pace, save your application and work at your convenience. But the application must be submitted by midnight GMT on 30 April 2020.
Upon successful submission of your application, a confirmation email will be sent to you.
Eligibility Criteria
Each of the three focus areas has their own criteria, but the basic eligibility criteria are:
- Activity must address climate change mitigation or adaptation;
- Program must be already implemented, or in the course of implementation;
- Project must be scalable and/or replicable with potential for long-term impact;
- Activity must innovative and/or demonstrate potential for long-term transformational change;
- Project must deliver verifiable social and environmental benefits;
- Activity must not be registered or have intentions to register as a clean development mechanism (CDM) or joint implementation (JI) initiative in the next two years.
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Selection Process And Important Dates
The activities go through a rigorous evaluation process conducted by the Momentum for Change Advisory Panel. They will select a small number of activities from the total pool of submission.
The activities are chosen based on predefined selection criteria and must emphasize innovative partnerships as a way to achieve long-lasting, transformational change. Also, the winning activities must be scalable and replicable.
The winning activities will be officially recognised and celebrated during an award ceremony and a series of special events at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland, in November, 2020.
Important Dates
- 5 February, 2020 Application opened
- 30 April, 2020 Application closes
- July, 2020 Advisory Panel selects the lighthouse activities
- October, 2020. Public Announcement of lighthouse activities
- November, 2020. Awards Ceremony at COP26 in Glasgow
As an entrepreneur, you can be part of the solution to climate change by taking action today. We need to start changing the way we look at things, if you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.
