2026 Chemistry for Climate Action Challenge – Shortlisted proposals announced

Thank you for participating in the Elsevier Foundation Chemistry for Climate Action Challenge!

The first stage of the submission process closed on October 1st. During the past weeks, our pool of experts worked to review the proposals.

We’re proud to announce the top contestants selected for the next phase of the Challenge:

• Abdul Samad, Fabrication of Energy-Efficient, Affordable, Nanotechnology Based Water Filtration Membrane
• Adam Shaening-Pokrasso, Pacha Nishi: Green Chemistry and AI for Climate-Resilient Amazon Reforestation
• AGRICYCLE UGANDA, Sustainable Charcoal Briquettes from Agricultural Waste: A Chemistry-Driven Solution to Reduce Deforestation and Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Uganda
• Anodi Kaihula, AfyaSolar: Smart Solar Energy Systems for Resilient Healthcare and Climate Action
• Ayodele Akinterinwa, Development of Photoactive Hybrid Nanocomposites Based on Functionalized Biopolymers for Advanced Water Remediation
• BYRON LAPO, Modular water purification system for heavy metals removal based on selective bio-hydrogel from banana and shrimp waste.
• ChM. Dr. Nurfarhanim Abu Bakar, Development of a Biochar-Based Filtration and Soil Amendment System to Remove and Recycle Microplastics in Small-Scale Gardens
• Clip Poverty, Green Chemistry for Food Safety and Climate-Resilient Agriculture in Panyijiar, South Sudan
• Covenant Awoyemi, Eco-Recycle Livestock Haven: Turning Livestock Waste into Climate Solutions
• Dorian Prato, Sun-Seed potabilization system: A nature-based, solar-driven solution for rural drinking water supply
• Fatemeh Bahmanzadegan, Hydrophobic Zeolite@ZIF-8 Composite for CO2 Capture from Humid Flue Gas: A Sustainable Approach for Climate Action
• Franklin Mwendwa, Eco Scrubber: Chemistry-Driven Air Pollution and Carbon Capture Innovation
• Giriprasath TK, Development and Pilot Deployment of Sodium-Ion Batteries for Safe, Affordable, and Low-Carbon Energy Storage
• Grace Gitu, Empowering Smallholder Farmers to Restore Soil Fertility Using Biochar Fertilizer as a Gender-Responsive Chemistry Solution to Climate Change in the Semi-arid Kagunduini Ward, in Murang’a County, Kenya
• Hadeel Ikhmais, CarbonBloom – Bio-Engineered Carbon Capture Tiles for Climate Resilience and Women’s Empowerment
• Hassan Anwer, Next-Gen Fertilizers for Sustainable Agriculture in Drought-Hit Regions
• Jorgelina Altamirano, Green and sustainable analytical methodologies for determining industrial POPs in aquatic and atmospheric sedimentary material from Mendoza, Argentina. Climate Action in Low-and Medium-Income Communities.
• JUAN DAVID AGUIRRE SALAZAR, Circular Bioeconomy for Resilience: Empowering Women Farmers in San José del Palmar through Sustainable Transformation of Local Crops and Black Soldier Fly Bioconversion
• Justice Jonathan, COMMUNITY-BASED BIOCHAR CARBON SEQUESTRATION AND UTILIZATION SYSTEM
• Let’s Be Transformed, Circular Biomass Solutions: Women-Led Green Chemistry for Climate Resilience, Clean Energy, and Menstrual Health in Dzaleka Refugee Camp, Malawi
• Mark Matovu, Towards increased yields of Small-scale producers through the use of IoT and AI technologies
• Michael Nunoo, Driving Change: Affordable Electric Motorcycles and Clean Energy Charging for Low-Income Riders
• Norah Kimathi, ZEROBIONIC
• Osarode Odemwingie, The valorisation of lactobacillus plantarum and Saccharomyces Cervisiae treated Delonix Regia pods with palm kernel cake for the growth of oyster mushrooms.
• Prof. K.M.T.D. Gunasekara, From Waste to Resource, Sawdust Reborn as a Solution to Deforestation
• Raymond Mutava, Enhancing Climate Resilience and Health through Amaranth-based Innovations in Kenya
• Sabariswaran BT(UG), Biochar-Based Mulching Sheets for Sustainable Agricultural Environments
• Shema sonny, From Fashion Waste to Future Homes! Eco-Bricks for a Sustainable Rwanda
• Sheyla Chero Osorio, Circular Wastewater Treatment for Nutrient Recovery, Bioenergy, and Biofertilizer Production in Rural Peru
• Sonko Jamal, Plastics to Clean Cooking Gas
• Tabe brandon, Re-pack
• Thobo kgari, Transforming algae and used cooking oil into sustainable biodiesel, reducing waste, cutting carbon emissions, and powering communities with cleaner, renewable energy for a greener future
• Thuso Motau, Mighty House of Soap: Transforming Waste Oil into Climate-Smart Cleaning Solutions”
• Tom Obote Ondieki, SquitoKill: Eco-Friendly Mosquito Control Solution
• Valence Mahoso, RhizNet: Bioengineered Mycorrhizal Fungal Super-Networks for Drought-Resilient, Gender-Inclusive Agroforestry in Zimbabwe’s Semi-Arid Regions
• Ziyad Saleem, Sustainable Chemistry Solutions for Water, Soil, and Waste: A Gender-Transformative Model for Climate Action in Duhok