Starting today, organizations, cities, industries, governments and other key players that are taking the lead on tackling climate change can nominate their game-changing projects for a United Nations award.

The United Nations Climate Change secretariat opened the call for applications for the 2018 Momentum for Change Awards today to showcase action and ambition as national governments work toward implementing the Paris Agreement, the Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action, and the Sustainable Development Goals.

Selected initiatives, called ‘Lighthouse Activities,’ shine a light on innovative, scalable and replicable examples of what people are doing to address climate change, in the hope of inspiring others to act. The winning activities will be recognized and celebrated during a series of special events to showcase global climate action in December at the UN Climate Change Conference in Katowice, Poland (COP 24).

“The Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action was launched to highlight climate action already underway around the world, and to spur governments, businesses and other key players to go further, faster together,” said Nick Nuttall, UN Climate Change Spokesperson. “The Momentum for Change Lighthouse Activities provide visibility and recognition to this wealth of real-world implementation by governments and business to cities, communities and civil society.”

“It is time for the whole world to raise ambition under the Paris Climate Change Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals—our awards show it is already happening while offering inspiration to others to take the next big steps to a better future,” he added.

The 2018 Momentum for Change Lighthouse Activities will recognize climate action that is already achieving real results in four categories:

  • Women for Results: recognizing the critical leadership and participation of women in addressing climate change, implemented in collaboration with Masdar’s WiSER initiative.
  • Financing for Climate Friendly Investment: recognizing successful financial innovations for adaptation and climate mitigation, implemented in partnership with the World Economic Forum Global Project on Climate Change.
  • Planetary Health: recognizing novel solutions that balance the need for both human health and a healthy planet, implemented with support by The Rockefeller Foundation.
  • Climate Neutral Now: recognizing efforts by individuals, companies and governments that are achieving real results in transitioning to climate neutrality, implemented with the secretariat’s Climate Neutral Now initiative.

The Momentum for Change Advisory Panel, made up of senior experts from various fields and countries, will select the 2018 Lighthouse Activities. The panel is part of the secretariat’s Momentum for Change initiative, which is supported by The Rockefeller Foundation and operates in partnership with Masdar’s Women in Sustainability, Environment and Renewable Energy (WiSER) initiative, and the World Economic Forum Global Project on Climate Change.

Applications for the 2018 Momentum for Change Awards are being accepted from 22 February to 30 April 2018 at: https://momentum.unfccc.int/