The Climate Change Grant: Funding a Brighter Future
People constantly parrot the phrase “change is good”, but in the case of global climate change that could not be further from the truth. Climate change is one of the defining challenges of the 21st century. With global greenhouse gas emissions reaching a record high in 2018, more than 1,300 jurisdictions in over 30 countries have declared a climate emergency. As our world population continues to grow, humans are relying more and more on the planet.. We have come to a crossroads as a species: seriously reconsider how we treat our earth or suffer the consequences of continued inaction. With a focus on innovation and forward thinking, we are firmly in the camp of working on the former rather than accepting the latter.
A Climate Change Collaboration
This semester, Concept is teaming up with UWaterloo’s Interdisciplinary Centre on Climate Change (IC3) to offer a brand-new grant to help focus our efforts on combating climate change. The aptly named Climate Change Grant will be awarded to a student team with an innovative solution to a problem related to climate change. We are not focused on looking for the next electric car or fossil fuel replacement, but rather any sort of innovation that can help with the massive battle our world faces to slow down climate change. As a society, we need to find solutions to fight climate change in a broad range of areas. This includes clean energy and decarbonization technological solutions, technology and services (infrastructure, economy, health, etc.) that help us reduce and manage the risks of climate change. It also includes solutions that will help us transition away from a fossil fuel-based global economy and work force, like innovative training and skills development.
“Climate change is real, and Canadians across the country are feeling its impacts. The science is clear, we need to take action now. Practical and affordable solutions to fight climate change will help Canadians face the serious risks to our health, security and economy, and will also create the jobs of tomorrow and secure a better future for our kids and grandkids.
Catherine McKenna, Minister of Environment and Climate Change
This global issue will take all sorts of people, products, services, and ideas to solve so don’t be discouraged if you aren’t a climate change scientist or expert. This could come in a variety of forms, and we are open to all of them! If you have an innovative idea, like applying Artificial Intelligence to improve climate projections, capturing carbon in manufacturing processes, reducing food waste, or just about anything that can help in the fight against climate change, we want to work with you. Meet with a Concept Coach to discuss your ideas and how you can apply your innovations to climate change issues.
Apply today to pitch your idea in the Concept $5K and you could win up to $10K in grant funding to help turn your climate change concept into a reality!