Deadline: May 31, 2026
Applications are invited for the Global Youth Innovation Challenge 2026. Since 2021, the OCA has partnered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) and the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) through the Global Environmental Education Partnership (GEEP) to empower young leaders aged 15 to 30 to propose innovative solutions for the world’s most pressing marine issues.
Now in its sixth year, the 2026 Challenge emphasizes a holistic approach to ocean conservation. This year’s initiative encourages participants to start with individual action and scale their impact to families, communities, and the international stage. The OCA envisions a platform where youth can transform creative concepts into tangible actions, raising global awareness and inspiring a collective movement to safeguard our marine ecosystems.
This year’s challenge focuses on:
- Reducing personal waste and marine debris,
- Promoting positive community and societal impacts, and
- Advocating international marine environmental education.
Benefits
- Three outstanding winners will be selected, each receiving a $1,000 USD prize and an invitation to Taiwan to attend the award ceremony and present their ideas at an international forum.
Eligibility
The Youth Innovation Challenge is intended for young leaders and innovators aged 15–30. Your innovative solutions must provide a solution to one of the following key areas, using environmental education as a key component:
- Taking personal action to reduce waste and marine debris, such as reducing and/or mitigating the effects of marine debris and other waste, including the monitoring, clean-up, and recycling of marine debris.
- Developing marine debris strategies that address community and societal impact, including educating communities about how they can address these issues.
- Advancing global marine protection through collaboration, partnerships, and policy.
Application
Proposals will only be accepted in English at this time. Your video pitch and written responses will not be scored based on your English proficiency, but rather the strength of your solution and your ability to communicate your ideas and vision to the judges.
For more information, visit YIC.
