The Elsevier Foundation Chemistry for Climate Action Challenge

Deadline: July 14, 2022

Climate change is the most important challenge affecting the future of our planet and it is essential that we take action. We also know that chemical sciences play a critical role in developing a sustainable future. UN Sustainable Development Goal 13, Climate Action, underscores the need to “[…] promote mechanisms for raising capacity for effective climate change-related planning and management in least developed countries, including focusing on women, youth and local and marginalized communities”.

With a new focus on Climate Action, the Challenge also supports SDG5, Gender Equality, recognizing the pivotal role that women play in combating climate change. Projects submitted to the Challenge must integrate a gender dimension (such as addressing the role of women in adapting to climate shifts and participating in policy-making and leadership roles) into their projects.

Eligibility Criteria

Projects will be reviewed according to the following criteria:

• The proposal clearly describes the urgency of the problem. Provide a description of
  the project background and include a description of the broader context and
  highlight how the project links to the United Nation Sustainable Development Goals
  (SDGs), and more particularly how the project links to SDG13 Climate Action and the
  sub-targets of this SDG such as: strengthening resilience to climate-related hazards,
  improve education and awareness, address the needs of developing countries.
  Additionally, describe if and how the project interlinks with other SDGs (e.g. SDG3
  Good Health and Well-being, SDG5 Gender Equality, SDG15 Life on Land, etc.),
  resulting in co-benefits.
• The project utilizes innovative green and sustainable chemistry and chemical
  sciences approach, for example:
  o CO2 reduction and utilization, cleaner production, energy conversion and
  storage Reduces or eliminates the use or generation of one or more
  hazardous substances or materials
  o More sustainable use of resources and cleaner low-energy production
  o Increase reuse or recyclability of chemicals/product
  o Designs a new business model related to circular economy.
• The project is replicable, scalable, sustainable (make sure to specify why), and sets a
  benchmark for innovation – new ideas or concepts in development will be given
  preference over more advanced projects.
• The proposal highlights the novelty of your approach and gives a short literature
  overview of what has been done before, both by you and others (“background”).
• The project is applicable in and suitable for developing countries. Describe the
  project’s social impact on local communities, including gender equality either in
  design or implementation.
• The project must have an impactful gender component, clearly describing the
  sex/gender dimensions of the research. To know more about best practices in
  designing and implementing sex/gender components into chemical sciences-related
  projects, please refer to the ‘Gender Road Map: Short guidance for a genderresponsive national chemicals policy’, developed by the MSP Institute.
  Another helpful reference is ‘Toolkit for Integrating Gender-Sensitive Approach into
  Research and Teaching’, developed by GARCIA in collaboration with a number of
  universities (i.e., Radbound University, University of Trento, Université Catholique de
  Louvain etc.). Additionally, Gendered Innovations (Stanford University) provides
  practical methods of sex, gender and intersectional analysis for scientists – and
  offers case studies as concrete illustrations of how this analysis leads to innovation.
• Include an implementation plan of the project. Please note that if the project has been
  developed in a high-income country, contextually appropriate knowledge transfer to the lower income country is needed to be demonstrated, for instance through a developing country implementation or research partner(s). If the idea presented is already patented, it will not be eligible.

Application Registration Deadline: 14th July, 2022

To Apply: Click here

Official Website: Click here