Deadline: 08-Apr-2026
The Climate Impacts Awards scheme funds large, transdisciplinary research projects that make the physical and mental health impacts of climate change visible and directly influence climate policy. With grants of up to £2.5 million for projects lasting up to three years, the scheme prioritises evidence-driven engagement that leads to clear, real-world policy outcomes.
The Climate Impacts Awards scheme is designed to catalyse urgent climate policy action by clearly demonstrating how climate change affects both physical and mental health.
By supporting high-impact, policy-relevant research combined with targeted engagement, the programme ensures that health evidence is not only generated but actively used by decision-makers shaping climate responses.
Purpose of the Climate Impacts Awards
The primary goal of the Climate Impacts Awards is to translate health evidence into climate policy action at scale.
The scheme focuses on making the often under-recognised health consequences of climate change visible, measurable, and actionable for policymakers.
Key objectives include:
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Highlighting the physical and mental health impacts of climate change
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Driving urgent and scalable climate policy responses
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Supporting transdisciplinary research teams across sectors and disciplines
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Delivering short-term, high-impact projects with clear outcomes
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Combining evidence generation or synthesis with policy engagement strategies
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Achieving demonstrable and measurable policy impact
What the Scheme Funds
The Climate Impacts Awards provide substantial funding for ambitious projects that link climate change, health evidence, and decision-making.
Funded projects are expected to:
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Generate or synthesise robust evidence on climate-related health impacts
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Translate research findings into clear policy-relevant insights
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Engage directly with policymakers, institutions, and stakeholders
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Demonstrate how health evidence can influence climate policy decisions
The scheme strongly emphasises transdisciplinary collaboration, ensuring that research moves beyond academic outputs and reaches those with the power to act.
Funding Amount and Project Duration
Awards of up to £2.5 million are available per project.
Projects may run for a maximum duration of three years, balancing sufficient time for impactful research with a strong focus on timely and policy-relevant outcomes.
Applicants must clearly demonstrate that they have:
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Adequate time to commit to the project
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Appropriate resources and infrastructure
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The capacity to deliver the proposed work within the funding period
Who Is Eligible to Apply?
Applications must be submitted by clearly defined teams rather than individuals.
Eligible applications must include:
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One lead applicant
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One or more co-applicants
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Additional collaborators where relevant
To ensure feasibility and avoid overcommitment, restrictions apply to how many applications or awards an individual may be involved in at the same time.
Key Eligibility Restrictions
Applicants should be aware of the following limitations:
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Limits on the number of Climate Impacts Awards or Wellcome awards held or applied for at a given career stage
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Restrictions designed to prevent overlap of activities across funded projects
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Prohibition on activities involving the transfer of funds into mainland China
Applicants must carefully review these conditions to ensure compliance before submitting a proposal.
Why This Scheme Matters
Climate change is increasingly recognised as a major public health challenge, yet health evidence often fails to meaningfully shape climate policy.
The Climate Impacts Awards address this gap by:
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Elevating health impacts as a central climate policy concern
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Ensuring research is aligned with real-world policy needs
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Encouraging collaboration between health researchers, climate experts, and policy actors
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Accelerating the use of evidence in decision-making processes
By doing so, the scheme helps ensure that climate policies protect both the planet and human health.
How the Climate Impacts Awards Work
Step 1: Build a Transdisciplinary Team
Applicants must assemble teams that combine expertise across disciplines such as public health, climate science, social science, policy analysis, and engagement.
Step 2: Define a Policy-Relevant Research Question
Projects should clearly articulate how climate change affects physical or mental health and why this evidence is relevant to specific policy decisions.
Step 3: Design an Evidence and Engagement Strategy
Successful proposals integrate:
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Evidence generation or synthesis
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Targeted influencing and engagement activities
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Clear pathways to policy impact
Step 4: Demonstrate Capacity and Feasibility
Applicants must show that their team has the time, resources, and governance structures needed to deliver the project effectively.
Step 5: Submit a Compliant Application
All eligibility criteria, funding restrictions, and application limits must be met to avoid disqualification.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Applicants should avoid the following pitfalls:
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Proposing research without a clear policy influence pathway
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Treating engagement as an afterthought rather than a core component
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Overly broad project scopes that dilute impact
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Insufficient justification of team capacity or time commitment
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Ignoring eligibility or funding restrictions
Clear alignment between evidence, engagement, and policy outcomes is essential.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the main aim of the Climate Impacts Awards?
The scheme aims to drive urgent climate policy action by making the health impacts of climate change visible and actionable through research and engagement.
How much funding can a project receive?
Projects can receive up to £2.5 million in funding.
How long can projects run?
Projects may last for a maximum of three years.
Who can apply for the awards?
Applications must be submitted by teams consisting of a lead applicant, co-applicants, and collaborators.
Are individual applications allowed?
No, the scheme requires team-based applications.
Are there restrictions on funding locations?
Yes, activities involving the transfer of funds into mainland China are not permitted.
Can applicants hold multiple Wellcome awards?
Limits apply depending on career stage and existing awards, and applicants must comply with these restrictions.
Conclusion
The Climate Impacts Awards scheme provides a powerful opportunity to connect climate change, health evidence, and policy action.
By funding transdisciplinary, policy-focused projects with substantial resources and clear impact pathways, the programme ensures that health considerations become central to climate decision-making when they are most urgently needed.
For more information, visit Wellcome Trust.
