Celebrating innovative local solutions to global climate issues

The Climate Challenge Cup is a new international competition to celebrate transformative civic research partnerships in the UK and US between research bodies, civic organisations and local communities to combat climate change.

The Cup culminated in the Innovation Showcase and Award gala on 10 November at COP26, the United Nations 2021 Climate Change Conference.

Celebrating partnerships

The Cup celebrates partnerships between research organisations, civic authorities and local communities in the UK and US, working in two categories:

  • Achieving net zero: projects that help reduce emissions at a local or regional level
  • Climate change adaptation: projects that are working with communities in regions affected by climate change to mitigate or adapt to the effects it is having

We shortlisted 12 partnerships, across the two categories, who are addressing some of society’s biggest climate challenges at a local level.

These finalists showcased their projects to an audience of global change-makers at COP26 in November. One winning partnership from each category won the first ever Climate Challenge Cup in recognition of their outstanding innovative project, which has the potential to be scaled.

Watch the showcase and awards event

A welcome to the Climate Challenge Cup Innovation Showcase and Awards Ceremony from two of our judges, Dr Emily Reichert, and Nicola Yates OBE.

The event took place in the official Green Zone at COP26 in Glasgow on 10 November 2021 and featured a fascinating panel discussion on the challenges and opportunities for climate action. Colette Pichon-Battle, Keri Facer, Daze Aghaji and Henry Kippin took part, with Helen Goulden as host.

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