Deadline: 30-Jun-2026
The Young Climate Prize is an international programme designed to support young people who are actively leading climate action projects. It combines mentorship, education, and global exposure to help participants strengthen their impact in climate change mitigation and adaptation.
The programme places a strong emphasis on design-led innovation, communication, and community engagement as tools for addressing climate challenges.
Key Objectives
- Support youth-led climate innovation and leadership
- Strengthen community-based climate solutions
- Promote design as a tool for environmental impact
- Improve storytelling and public engagement skills
- Provide global mentorship and professional guidance
- Build leadership capacity among young climate activists
- Expand international networking opportunities
Focus Areas
- Climate change mitigation and adaptation projects
- Community-driven environmental solutions
- Design-based climate innovation
- Climate storytelling and communication
- Public engagement and awareness campaigns
- Youth leadership development
- Creative and interdisciplinary climate practices
Programme Benefits
- Individual mentorship from leading global designers
- Weekly participation in The World Around’s Design Academy
- Training in storytelling and communication
- Public engagement and advocacy skills development
- Global networking opportunities with climate innovators
- International exposure for selected projects
- Leadership development support
Eligibility Criteria
- Age: 13 to 25 years at the time of application
- Open to applicants from any country
- Individuals or groups (up to 3 members) may apply
- All group members must meet age requirements
- Applicant must be founder or co-founder of the project
- Applicant must currently lead the project
- Project must be active and ongoing
Project Requirements
- Must be a climate-focused initiative
- Must demonstrate measurable impact in climate action
- Must address climate change mitigation or adaptation
- Must be community-based or have clear public benefit
- Applicant must play a leadership role in implementation
How the Programme Works: Step-by-Step
- Identify an active climate project led by a young innovator
- Ensure the project has measurable environmental or community impact
- Confirm eligibility (age, leadership role, and project status)
- Submit application for the Young Climate Prize
- Selected participants are accepted into the programme
- Receive mentorship and join The World Around’s Design Academy
- Participate in weekly training sessions and workshops
- Develop communication, storytelling, and leadership skills
- Gain global exposure and networking opportunities
Selection Criteria
- Impact and effectiveness of climate project
- Innovation and creativity in approach
- Strength of community engagement
- Leadership demonstrated by applicant(s)
- Use of design or creative methods in climate solutions
- Potential for scaling or broader impact
- Clarity of communication and storytelling
Why This Programme Matters
- Empowers young climate leaders globally
- Strengthens grassroots climate action
- Encourages creative and design-led solutions
- Builds communication and advocacy skills
- Connects youth with global climate networks
- Supports real-world environmental impact
- Promotes innovation in climate response strategies
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Applying without an active, ongoing project
- Weak evidence of climate impact or results
- Lack of clear leadership role in the project
- Projects not focused on climate change issues
- Poor explanation of community engagement
- Submitting ideas instead of implemented initiatives
Pro Tips
- Clearly show measurable climate impact
- Highlight your leadership role in the project
- Emphasize community involvement and outcomes
- Use storytelling to explain your work effectively
- Show how design or creativity drives your solution
- Demonstrate potential for growth or scaling
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- What is the Young Climate Prize? It is a global programme supporting youth-led climate projects with mentorship and training
- Who can apply? Young people aged 13–25 from any country
- Can teams apply? Yes, groups of up to three members are eligible
- Do applicants need an existing project? Yes, it must be active and led by the applicant
- What kind of projects are eligible? Climate mitigation and adaptation projects with measurable impact
- What support is provided? Mentorship, design training, storytelling development, and global networking
- Is it limited to environmental science projects? No, creative, design-led, and community-based approaches are encouraged
Conclusion
The Young Climate Prize empowers young climate leaders by combining mentorship, design education, and global networking opportunities. By supporting active, impact-driven projects, it helps youth innovators strengthen their leadership, communication, and creative problem-solving skills to advance meaningful climate action worldwide.
For more information, visit The World Around.