Deadline: October 01, 2025
The Elsevier Foundation Chemistry for Climate Action Challenge 2026 is now open for applications, offering opportunities for innovators to advance green and sustainable chemistry solutions in the Global South.
The focus areas include Waste Utilization; Alternative Energy Sources; Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health; Climate Change Mitigation; Community Empowerment; Sustainable Agriculture; Water Resource Management; Health and Well-being.
The Chemistry for Climate Action Challenge is one of the Elsevier Foundation’s flagship programs, jointly organized with Elsevier’s Sustainable Chemistry journals team. Each year, two winning projects are awarded 25,000 USD to implement green and sustainable chemistry solutions that address pressing sustainability challenges in low- and middle-income countries. By supporting research in renewable energy, natural products, sustainable agriculture, water remediation, climate mitigation, and health, this initiative also integrates gender equity and inclusive participation.
Applicants are encouraged to submit scale-ups of early-stage projects, particularly those where the prize represents a major share of the required budget and where local implementation partners are directly involved. Projects outside the Global South, those without a strong scientific chemistry component, or those lacking a gender dimension are considered out of scope.
The 2026 Challenge follows a structured process. The submission phase runs until October 1, 2025, after which proposals will be reviewed by an expert panel. Shortlisted projects will be announced on October 30, 2025, and from these, the Top 5 finalists will be revealed on January 15, 2026. The final presentations and award announcements will take place at the 10th Elsevier Green & Sustainable Chemistry Conference, scheduled for May 18–20, 2026, in Dresden, Germany.
The program not only accelerates impactful research but also ensures that the benefits directly serve communities in regions most affected by climate change.
The Elsevier Foundation, through this initiative, continues to empower chemists and researchers to design and deliver environmentally responsible solutions, driving progress toward the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
For more information, visit The Elsevier Foundation.
