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The Climate Curve Prize is run by Climate Curve, a nonprofit initiative focused on accelerating scalable solutions that reduce methane emissions and address short-lived climate pollutants globally. The current prize, focused on methane reduction, is now accepting applications through April 17, 2026 at 11:59 PM, with an emphasis on identifying and scaling solutions that deliver measurable climate impact. A total of 16 finalists will be announced on July 2, and eight “laureates” will be announced and awarded $25,000 during New York City Climate Week, September 20-27, 2026. The prize is designed to bolster solutions that not only reduce emissions, but also address the systems and behaviors that drive methane generation in the first place. The program is structured across four categories, each targeting a different pathway for impact.
The Mitigation category focuses on projects that directly reduce methane emissions in agriculture and waste systems by controlling or preventing key emissions processes. In the waste sector, this includes enhanced landfill gas capture systems, methane oxidation covers, and circular economy solutions that reduce food waste both upstream and downstream.
The Social and Cultural Pathways category centers on changing how people understand and act on methane emissions. Projects in this category are focused on shifting consumption patterns, increasing awareness, and mobilizing communities to adopt practices such as composting and food waste reduction. These initiatives aim to close the gap between available solutions and real world implementation.
The Finance category highlights projects that make the economics work for methane reduction. This includes financing models for composting and waste reduction, circular economy incentive programs, and mechanisms that remove financial barriers to adopting lower methane practices. These efforts are designed to counterbalance traditional financial approaches that fail to account for long term environmental impact.
The Monitoring, Research, and Verification category emphasizes the role of data and accountability. Projects may include continuous methane sensors, remote emissions monitoring systems, drone based leak detection, or digital platforms that track emissions across food systems. The goal is to improve transparency while demonstrating how better measurement leads to real emissions reductions.
Projects across all four categories are expected to demonstrate a path to efficacy and scalability. As momentum builds around methane reduction, the Climate Curve Prize offers an opportunity for innovators in the waste and organics sector to advance solutions that can deliver meaningful and verifiable climate impact.
Learn more and apply here.
