2024 Climate Action Leadership Awards

Recognizing Outstanding Climate Action to Advance Just and Resilient NDC and LTS Goals.

The 2024 GCAP Climate Action Leadership Awards recognizes and celebrates outstanding efforts of developing country climate leaders around the world to accelerate the implementation of climate commitments, as stated in country’s NDC and LTS plans, while ensuring the transition is just and inclusive. Six awardees (2 per category) will be announced at the GCAP Global Workshop, to take place on October 2-4, 2024 in Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil.

Goals:

  • Recognize developing country leaders who are advancing transformative climate action in their context.
  • Foster climate champions by highlighting their stories on GCAP’s communications channels (social media, website, newsletter, etc.) and during the Global Workshop.
  • Highlight their leadership actions to enable learning and inspiration that will enable others to replicate their actions.

Timeline:

  • Nominations will be received until July 31, 2024, 5pm U.S. EDT.
  • Decision on awardees will be made by August 15, 2024, 5pm U.S. EDT.
  • Winners will be notified by August 30, 2024, 5pm U.S. EDT to make travel plans for the Global Workshop.
  • Public announcement will take place during the Global Workshop.

What will winners receive?

  • A plaque recognizing their leadership will be awarded at the GCAP Global Workshop.
  • Winners will have their travel costs paid for by GCAP to attend the Global Workshop and be able to share their efforts with other peers at the workshop.
  • Winners will be recognized by GCAP communications channels including newsletter, website, and social media channels.

How to Apply:

Click here to submit a nomination by July 31, 2024, at 5pm U.S. EDT.

Email secretariat@globalclimateactionpartnership.org for additional information.

Award Categories:

  • Innovation: This award recognizes individuals or communities working on and achieving tangible results through innovative climate change action planning processes, implementation of climate emission reduction projects, policies, and other measures, and design and use of innovative mechanisms for mobilizing investment.  These initiatives and/or mechanisms must go beyond the business-as-usual practices.
  • Just Transition: This award recognizes individuals or communities working to address climate change action goals while ensuring that the unique challenges faced by communities and vulnerable populations in this transition to low emission economies are addressed and that they are benefiting equally from the transition. This includes effective processes for inclusive stakeholder engagement, examples of projects and/or policies that address just transition and equity issues in a tangible way, and impactful methods for evaluation and integration of just transition concerns and benefits in climate action programs.
  • Youth Climate Action: This award recognizes successful youth (under 25 years old) efforts to address climate change and ensure our societies are transitioning to a low carbon, resilient and inclusive societies.

Selection Criteria:

General criteria that apply to all award categories:

  • Documented impacts of the initiative in advancing low emission, inclusive, and resilient development and meeting climate change goals.
  • Demonstrated use of innovative solutions and methods to advance climate action.
  • Demonstrated approach for achieving enduring results and for replication by others.
  • Demonstrated commitment to the principles of GCAP by acting with the view that environmental considerations such as greenhouse gas mitigation can go hand-in-hand with meeting social and economic goals; i.e., addressing social, economic, ecological, and governance conditions in tandem.
  • Action at multiple levels of government and society, such as national, provincial/state, municipal, the business community, and civil society.

Additional, specific criteria that apply to each award category:

  • Innovation:
    • Innovative climate initiatives and/or mechanisms beyond the business-as-usual.
    • Solutions (projects, policies, programs, methodologies) that have been scaled and replicated in other locations or clearly demonstrate the potential for scalability and replicability.
  • Just Transition
    • Processes for stakeholder engagement that ensure equity, diversity and inclusion.
    • Projects and/or policies that address just transition matters in a tangible way.
    • Tools and approaches that communicate and implement just transition benefits.

  • Youth Climate Action
    • Youth (under 25yr old) that are working to address climate change matters.

Successful nominees will have demonstrated commitment to climate action engaging stakeholders in effective and innovative ways, using tools and approaches to advance action and demonstrate leadership in inspiring others to take action.