Keeling Curve Prize

Keeling Curve Prize

Funder: Global Warming Mitigation Project (GWMP)

Overview:
The Keeling Curve Prize is the flagship program of Climate Curve, an internationally recognized annual award that supports global climate initiatives demonstrating the ability to reduce, replace, or remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.

Award Details:

Amount: $50,000 each to 10 global climate initiatives annually

Total to Date: $2.75M awarded to 80 laureates since 2018

Impact: Laureates have raised $2.87B after winning (1,000x the total award funds)

Geographic Scope:

Global applications accepted from anywhere in the world

Subject to U.S. laws and OFAC sanctions regulations

Sanctioned countries include: Cuba, Iran, North Korea, specific regions of Ukraine (Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk), Belarus, Russia, Syria, Venezuela, and others

Check OFAC website for current sanctions list

Prize Categories:

Energy

Finance

Carbon sinks

Transport and mobility

Social and cultural pathways

Methane emissions in food and waste systems (new category)

Eligibility:

Applicant Types: Climate organizations, nonprofits, for-profits, startups, and companies of any size or status worldwide

Project Status: Only active/current programs and projects (not past work, unimplemented ideas, or untested hypotheses)

Scalability: Applications must demonstrate potential for scalable GHG emissions reductions and attempt to quantify emissions reductions and address functional/financial scalability

Language: Applications must be submitted in English

Multiple Categories: Applicants may select primary and secondary categories but can only win in one category per year

Previous Winners: May apply in subsequent years for new, different projects using different methods

What They Fund:

Projects with proven track record of reducing, avoiding, or eliminating greenhouse gases

Science-backed climate solutions

Scalable solutions with quantifiable emissions reductions

What They Don't Fund:

Past work or historical projects

Unimplemented ideas

Untested hypotheses

Projects in OFAC-sanctioned countries or involving SDN list entities

Application Process:

Applications undergo vetting by diverse team of analysts and judges

Finalists (20) revealed in spring

Winners announced in summer

Vetting & Review:
Applications vetted by a diverse team of expert analysts and judges. By completing an application, applicants grant Climate Curve permission to disseminate information about their project to investors, KCP supporters, network members, and third parties that facilitate review/due diligence.

Confidential Information:
Applicants should not provide confidential or proprietary information directly in the application. Secure submission available via contact: r.metzel@climatecurve.org

Associated Programs:
Winners and finalists gain access to:

Constellations Fellowship: Connects students/recent graduates to professional opportunities; provides staffing support

Climate Impact Conduit: Online platform connecting laureates with investors, philanthropists, and corporations

Network:

1,312 climate organizations represented

76 countries represented

500+ colleges and universities partnered with Constellations Fellowship

520 Constellations Fellows placed

Contact Information:

Email: kcp@climatecurve.org

Address: 411 E. Main Street, Ste. 205, Aspen, CO 81611

Phone: 970-335-9169

Website: climatecurve.org

Historical Context:
Since 2018, GWMP has awarded $2.75M to 80 nonprofits, for-profits, and startups; vetted more than 1,600 viable solutions; and built one of the largest networks of global warming mitigators. Laureates are projected to reduce 3.27 gigatons of CO2e emissions annually.