Apply for the 2021 CEC Youth Innovation Challenge. The 2021 Youth Innovation Challenge, hosted by the Commission for Environmental Cooperation, invites North American youth, aged 18 to 30, to propose innovative solutions to support communities in becoming more resilient and adaptive to climate change and help foster equal access to a healthy environment for all, particularly those underserved and vulnerable in Canada, Mexico and the United States (including isolated, remote, and Indigenous communities and peoples).

Since 2017, the Commission for Environmental Cooperation has hosted the annual Youth Innovation Challenge, a contest that invites youth from Canada, Mexico and the United States to submit their innovative ideas and solutions for improving both the environment and the economy in North America.

Benefits

A total amount of C$15,000 per country will be allocated for winning solutions. Up to two winning submissions per country will be selected. In addition, winners will receive technical advice from experts associated with the Commission for Environmental Cooperation to help advance their solution.

Eligibility

• Participants in the CEC Youth Innovation Challenge must be 18 to 30 years old on the date they upload their solution to the Submittable platform. The solution may be uploaded by an individual or a team of submitters.
• Participants must be residents of Canada, Mexico or the United States.
• Participants must demonstrate that their innovative solution supports community resilience to climate change and climate-related issues, and directly yields equitable environmental benefits and resilience for local communities (e.g., by addressing environmental injustices affecting communities of color, low-income, and Indigenous communities).

Evaluation Criteria

Submitted solutions will be judged using the following criteria: impact (40%), innovation (30%), feasibility and replicability (20%), and economic value (10%).

• Impact (40%): How does your solution benefit the environment and the livelihoods of North American communities? Does it support communities in becoming more resilient and adaptive to climate change, and help foster equitable access to a healthy environment for all, particularly underserved and vulnerable communities?
• Innovation (30%): How is your solution innovative? How does it differ from current solutions?
• Feasibility & Replicability (20%): How will you implement your solution considering technological feasibility and the availability of resources? Is your solution replicable and scalable?
• Economic Value (10%): Is there a market for your solution or does it fill a specific niche? Does your solution have the potential for economic growth and the creation of green jobs?

Challenge Guidelines

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