Ashden Awards for Climate Solutions Now Open

Ashden is a charity that champions and supports sustainable energy innovators in order to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon world.

The International Ashden Award was established to develop climate solutions by rewarding innovative, radical and bold ideas to achieve lower emissions and a fairer world. The themes for the 2021 International awards are:

Humanitarian energy:

This award is for innovations that will bring clean, affordable energy to refugees and displaced people around the world.

Natural climate solutions:

Initiatives are required in specific forest areas that are making communities more resilient through improved livelihoods, inclusive business models or improved governance/land rights.

Energy access innovation:

Innovation is sought at all levels of the energy access ecosystem that is helping innovators survive, thrive and build resilience in local communities.

Cooling in informal settings:

This award will spotlight the best initiatives that are alleviating heat stress among communities that have the greatest need. This should be through accessible and affordable solutions.

Applications are invited from public sector organisations (including higher education institutions), businesses, NGOs, government organisations and social enterprises (for-profit and not-for-profit, including community groups).

Each award is limited to work in certain parts of the world. Work must be being carried out in the eligible countries outlined by Ashden. The natural climate solutions award focuses on the Amazon Basin, Congo Basin and South East Asian rainforest.

The prize money available is up to £20,000 per award. This is in addition to other benefits (eg media exposure and ongoing development support).

For 2021, the themes for the UK Ashden Award are:

Climate innovation:

This award will target key areas with the potential to unlock significant carbon savings across the UK, such as advances in energy systems (particularly heating), the built environment and industrial innovation supporting a circular economy.

Green skills:

Award submissions are sought from organisations developing green skills in the areas of retrofit and low carbon heat. Applicants could be upskilling existing contractors, retraining workers new to the low carbon sector or providing initial training for those new to the job market.

Green communities:

This award will recognise an initiative that makes climate action relevant to the everyday lives of citizens and the things they care about, with particular attention on engaging beyond typical ‘green audiences’.

Applications are invited from public sector organisations (including higher education institutions), businesses, NGOs, government organisations and social enterprises (for-profit and not-for-profit, including community groups).

Work must be being carried out in the UK. The award for climate innovation is open to work in the UK and Europe, however, European applicants must spend the prize money bringing their work to the UK.

The prize money available is up to £10,000 per award. This is in addition to other benefits (eg media exposure and ongoing development support).

Applications to the International and UK Awards must be submitted by the deadline of 3 March 2021 (23:59 GMT).

More information about this research funding opportunity and the application process is available on the RESEARCHconnect funding information platform. RESEARCHconnect provides up-to-the minute content, insight and analysis on research funding news and policy. To find out more about how RESEARCHconnect can keep you in the know, and subscription fees, contact us today.