Applications are now open for the 2026 Ashden Awards for Climate Solutions in Action (Up to £40,000 in grant funding awarded)
Closing Date: 8 December 2025
Applications are now open for the 2026 Ashden Awards for Climate Solutions in Action (Up to £40,000 in grant funding awarded)
2026 Ashden Awards
Ashden’s mission is to showcase outstanding climate solutions in the UK and Global South, and accelerate systemic change that unleashes their transformative potential.
Ashden awards and programmes bring affordable clean energy to villages and refugee camps in the Global South, and fix up cold and draughty homes in the UK. Ashden make schools more sustainable, and help communities protect and restore the nature around them. The impact of Ashden work goes far beyond reduced emissions and climate resilience – Ashden also deliver higher incomes, good green jobs, better health, fairer societies, and many more benefits.
Why Apply
Winners will receive:
- Up to £40,000 in grant funding (with the exception of the Ashden Award for Outstanding Achievement, which does not include a grant)
- Tailored communications and organisational support
- Global media exposure and storytelling support
- Connections to funders, investors, and policymakers
- The opportunity to participate in Ashden’s wider programmes and alumni network
Ashden will review applications on a rolling basis. Applications officially close on 8th December 2025 at 23:59 GMT.
Local Energy Innovation (UK)
The 2026 Award for Local Energy Innovation will spotlight place-based approaches that allow local communities to benefit from the transition to clean energy.
This Award will recognise solutions that work with communities, such as shared ownership of new clean energy, support for households to participate in smart, flexible energy use, and retrofit work that is done with, rather than to, communities. There will be a particular focus on work that benefits low-income communities that are least able to participate in the transition.
Nature-Based Climate Solutions (UK)
The 2026 Award for Nature-Based Climate Solutions will spotlight place-based approaches designed with communities that provide increased climate adaptation and resilience in urban or peri-urban areas.
The Award will recognise work with communities to design, implement and maintain local nature-based solutions. There will be a particular focus on low-income communities, and work that demonstrates clear co-benefits.
Outstanding Achievement (Global South)
The 2026 Ashden Award for Outstanding Achievement will spotlight innovation in the Global South addressing barriers to rapid and inclusive progress in one or more of Ashden three priority areas:
- Increasing access to clean, affordable electricity and/or cooking services.
- Livelihoods-based approaches that empower Indigenous peoples and local communities as protectors of natural ecosystems.
- Transformative approaches which make finance more accessible for SMEs, local organisations, and/or Indigenous communities delivering clean energy and nature protection.
Please note that, to be eligible for one of Ashden Outstanding Achievement Awards, your organisation must have already won an Ashden Award or placed as a finalist in any previous year.
Solving Energy Challenges (Global South)
The 2026 Ashden Award for Solving Energy Challenges will spotlight renewable energy initiatives addressing critical, under-discussed barriers to renewable energy access and clean cooking, productive use renewable energy solutions, clean energy solutions which contribute to adaptation, and resilience in the Global South.
The award seeks initiatives that unlock new approaches or technologies, demonstrate measurable impact, and offer lessons for replication and scale.
Tropical Forest Protection (Global South)
The 2026 Award for Tropical Forest Protection will spotlight Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) demonstrating powerful models of forest conservation, restoration, and sustainable management, whilst improving the lives and livelihoods of their communities.
This award builds on Ashden’s Thriving Forests programme and will consider applicants from across tropical forest biomes.
Click Here To Apply
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