Winning chemistry projects offer climate change solutions

The Elsevier Foundation Chemistry for Climate Action Challenge today names two winning projects which identify innovative, concrete and scalable climate action solutions. Selected from a shortlist of five projects, the winners each receive a EUR $25,000 cash prize and tackle plastic pollution and renewable energy, with a focus on gender equity. The two prizes have been won by Maria Wilvenna Añora, Co-Founder of the social enterprise AtoANI(opens in new tab/window), and by Mohamedweli Mohamed, Program Manager at the Somali Social Entrepreneurs Fund(opens in new tab/window). The five finalists(opens in new tab/window) were selected from 98 entrants across 47 countries and pitched their solutions at the 7^th Green & Sustainable Chemistry Conference in Dresden on 23 May to a jury of scientific experts.

The Elsevier Foundation Chemistry for Climate Action Challenge is a collaboration between the Elsevier Foundation(opens in new tab/window), a non profit funded by Elsevier, and Elsevier's flagship chemistry journals(opens in new tab/window). The Challenge represents a commitment from Elsevier to uncover practical, scalable solutions to specific issues caused by climate change, in the Global South communities where the issues are directly experienced. In addition to the cash award, the winners also benefit from having their project published in an Elsevier sustainable chemistry journal such as Current Opinion in Green and Sustainable Chemistry, Sustainable Chemistry and Pharmacy, and Materials Today Sustainability and Sustainable Chemistry for Climate Action. All shortlisted finalists have also received a one-year subscription to Reaxys(opens in new tab/window), Elsevier's premier chemistry and cheminformatics database.

Rob van Daalen, Senior Publisher for Sustainable Chemistry at Elsevier, said, “Sometimes I have mixed feelings about the Challenge. It's sad to see that much effort is going into trying to solve the mess that we have made of our planet. But on the other hand, it makes one optimistic, and it's fantastic to see that so many young scientists are so motivated to contribute positively to the problems related to the climate crisis and the environment. The two winners this year are a good example of that and their projects will have very positive impact on their local communities.”

"It's crucial that we support green and sustainable chemistry solutions to climate change," Ylann Schemm, Executive Director of the Elsevier Foundation explained, "and that we make sure that a gender dimension is embedded in the approach and research, given that women are disproportionately affected by climate change. We are proud to be a part of identifying genuine solutions to this huge challenge and generating opportunities for change."

One prize-winning project looks at reducing the number of single-use sachets consumed and thrown away in the Philippines, which is around 163 million pieces a day. The project will produce biodegradable packaging products using agro-industrial waste as raw materials, as an alternative to plastic - and will support farming communities by providing them with an additional source of income from the agro-industrial waste. The project lead, Maria Wilvenna Añora, said.

The second winner's project focuses on producing methane gas from fruit waste and cow manure - as a cheaper and cleaner alternative to charcoal from burned-down trees, which is used by 90% of the population in Somalia. The project will engage female-headed households to establish a biogas system and vegetable farms, aiming to promote inclusive economic development. Its lead, Mohamedweli Mohamed, said.

The Challenge also supports SDG5, Gender Equality(opens in new tab/window), recognizing the pivotal role that women play in combating climate change. Projects submitted to the Challenge must have integrated a gender dimension (such as addressing the role of women in adapting to climate shifts and participating in policy-making and leadership roles) into their projects.

For further information about the Elsevier Foundation Chemistry for Climate Action Challenge, visit the Elsevier Foundation website(opens in new tab/window).

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Notes for editors

More information about the winning and shortlisted projects and the teams behind them is available on request.

About Elsevier Foundation

The Elsevier Foundation(opens in new tab/window) is a corporate not-for-profit 501(c)(3), funded by Elsevier, a global information analytics business specialized in science and health. Since 2006, the Elsevier Foundation provides over $1.5 million USD a year in grants to knowledge-centered institutions around the world, which address the UN Sustainable Development Goals through tech-enabled innovations in inclusive health and research. The Foundation offers a comprehensive matching gift and volunteering fund to enable employees to work with Foundation partners and support their communities. The Elsevier Foundation is part of Elsevier's larger corporate responsibility program which centers on our unique contributions to sustainable development in gender, health, climate and reducing inequalities. www.elsevierfoundation.org(opens in new tab/window)

About Elsevier Chemistry journals

Next to the traditional chemistry journals, Elsevier publishes a Current Opinion journal in Green and Sustainable Chemistry and a series of journals in sustainable chemistry to address current global challenges: Sustainable Chemistry and Pharmacy, Sustainable Chemistry for Climate Action and Sustainable Chemistry for the Environment.

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