Applications are open for the GCA Local Adaptation Champions Awards 2025 to win a cash prize of €15,000. The GCA Champions Awards honor and promote creative, model, motivating, and scalable locally-driven initiatives that tackle the effects of climate change. Any organization or network of partners worldwide that is putting into practice resilience and/or adaptation strategies for climate change that adhere to one of the eight Locally Led Adaptation Principles is eligible to apply for the GCA Local Awards. In the face of the most existential threat to humankind, these awards help the most vulnerable communities, groups within society, and people develop effective climate resilience. If you think that you are working on one of these initiatives, then you must apply for the Local Adaptation Champions Awards 2025.
The GCA Local Adaptation Champions Awards 2025 will be awarded in four categories: Nature-Based Solutions, Women’s Livelihoods, Citizen Science, and Health. Individuals working under one of these categories are eligible to apply for these international awards. The first category is Nature-Based Solutions. This category recognizes community-led and locally design initiatives that use nature-based solutions to save critical local infrastructure such as energy, water, and transport systems, especially those important to everyday life. Solutions must be community-owned, managed, & strengthen ecosystem services, and provide climate resilience while appreciating local governance and knowledge systems.
The second category of the GCA Local Adaptation Champions Awards 2025 is Women’s Livelihoods. The second category recognizes community-led initiatives which enhances women entrepreneurship, economic empowerment and strengthning climate change. Eligible entries should showcase how they can improve access to climate-resilient jobs, markets, skills, finance, and assets for women, particularly those from disadvantaged groups. Initiatives must also challenge discriminatory norms and structural barriers. The third category is Citizen Science. This category recognizes community-driven research initiatives that are solutions-oriented, need-based, and have measurable results on climate-vulnerable populations. This category will engage local people as equal partners in conducting research, designing, incorporate traditional & local knowledge, and generate practical results that inform local planning, adaptation actions, or decision-making.
The fourth and last category is Health. This category recognizes local-led initiatives that improve community health and psychosocial resilience in response to stressors related to climate change y (1) increasing people’s agency and coping strategies for coping with slow-onset or compounding climate impacts, or (2) promoting equitable access to health services, especially for women, youth, people with disabilities, displaced populations, indigenous peoples, and marginalized ethnic groups during and after climate shocks. The international competition will select 20 participants. Out of these 20 finalists, four winners will be selected for the GCA Local Adaptation Champions Awards 2025. The winners will get a cash prize of €15,000 and a chance to attend the Award Ceremony at COP30 in Belém, which will take place from 10 to 21 November 2025. So, if you are interested in this international award, you must apply before the GCA Local Adaptation Awards deadline.
More Details About the GCA Local Adaptation Champions Awards 2025:
2025 GCA Local Adaptation Champions Awards Categories:
- Nature-Based Solutions
- Women’s Livelihoods
- Citizen Science
- Health
