Climate Curve Prize: Methane 2026
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Quick Answer
Eight laureates get US$25,000 (about ₹23.75 lakh) each for active projects cutting methane from food, farming and waste. The 2026 round closed on 17 April 2026.
- Funding amount
- Varies
- Funding type
- Competition
- Provider
- Climate Curve
- Application deadline
- Closed
- Location
- International
Results & next round
Applications for this round closed on 17 April 2026. The organiser has not published a selection list that we can verify yet.
Selections for this programme are announced by Climate Curve. Official links are listed under Sources below.
We update this page when results are published, and when the next round opens.
About this competition
The 2026 Climate Curve Prize: Methane is closed. Applications opened worldwide in late February and closed on 17 April 2026. The official page, written before that round, says the application cycle begins in February 2026 and offers an email list for news; it announces no later round, so check Climate Curve's newsletter before planning for the next one.
The Climate Curve Prize: Methane is run by Climate Curve, formerly the Global Warming Mitigation Project, a US nonprofit in Aspen, Colorado. It is supported by the Global Methane Hub and is described as the first global prize dedicated to methane mitigation in food and waste systems, starting with agriculture and waste. It is modelled on the Keeling Curve Prize. This page explains how the 2026 round worked so you can prepare for the next one.
What the prize offers
Eight laureates are named each year and each receives US$25,000 (about ₹23.75 lakh), awarded at New York Climate Week in September. Climate Curve describes the funding as tailored and trust-based, with no strings attached. Beyond the cash, innovators get global visibility, access to a community of climate leaders and membership in a network of innovators scaling solutions. Sixteen finalists were announced on 1 July in the 2026 cycle.
Who can apply
The prize is for current, active projects or programs, not past work, unimplemented ideas or untested hypotheses. Applications are open worldwide wherever Climate Curve is permitted to distribute funds. Climate Curve follows US sanctions rules, so places such as Cuba, Iran, North Korea and the Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine are excluded, as is anyone on the US sanctions list. India is not excluded, so Indian startups, social enterprises and NGOs working on methane can apply. Applications are in English. Previous winners may apply only with a new project that uses different methods and approaches.
It suits a team that already has a working project in dairy, rice, livestock, manure, landfill, food waste or similar, and can show early results. It does not suit a founder who only has an idea or a research plan.
The four categories
- Mitigation
- Social & Cultural Pathways
- Finance
- MRV (monitoring, reporting and verification)
You choose a primary category and a primary emissions source (agriculture or waste) and can list secondary ones, but you can win in only one category a year.
How to apply
Read the Eligibility and Requirements page for the round, prepare an English application and submit it within the open window. Every application should try to quantify its methane mitigation impact and explain how the project can scale, both functionally and financially. A practical tip: gather your measurement method, baseline and results before the window opens, because numbers are what separate a working project from an idea.
How applications are judged and what happens next
A team of analysts, advisors and judges reviews applications through what the page calls a rigorous, science-based vetting process. In 2026 the timeline was: applications close 17 April, 16 finalists announced 1 July and eight laureates announced in September at New York Climate Week.
About Climate Curve
Climate Curve runs the Keeling Curve Prize, the Constellations Fellowship and the Climate Impact Conduit alongside this prize. The methane prize is dedicated to Manfredi Caltagirone, a former director of the International Methane Emissions Observatory who helped build a global methane tracking system. The page notes that methane is more than 80 times as potent as CO2 and that food and waste systems account for 60% of human-caused methane emissions.
Things to check before you apply
- Confirm the current eligibility page, since rules and dates can change between rounds.
- Make sure your project is already running and can show a measured effect on methane.
- Check how any prize money would be received by an Indian entity; a foreign payment may need a review of FEMA and tax treatment with an adviser.
- A practical tip: pick the category where your strongest evidence sits, since you can win in only one.
Eligibility
See if you're eligible
Full eligibility criteria — entity type, stage, sector, founder profile and registration requirements — plus your fit for this program. Sign up to view.
Organizers
Prizes & Awards
What You Get
Eight laureates each receive US$25,000 (about ₹23.75 lakh) to support their work, awarded at New York Climate Week. Climate Curve describes the funding as tailored and trust-based, with no strings attached. Applicants also get global visibility, access to a community of climate leaders and the chance to join a network of innovators scaling methane solutions.
- Cohort size
- 8 startups
- Bootstrap friendly
- Yes
Timelines & Process
Selection Process
Analysts, advisors and judges review applications through a science-based vetting process. In 2026, 16 finalists were announced on 1 July and eight laureates were named in September at New York Climate Week.
Application Process
- 1
Submit application
Apply in English during the open window with an active methane project.
You - 2
- 3
- 4
How to apply
Four steps from draft to disbursement — one action each.
- 1
Submit on the official portal
Use the official application link and verify all details before final submission.
- 2
Follow up
Reach out 5–7 days after submitting to confirm receipt and ask about the review timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Climate Curve Prize: Methane open now?
No. The 2026 round closed on 17 April 2026. The official page announces no later round, but invites visitors to subscribe to Climate Curve's email updates.
Who can apply?
Active projects or programs from anywhere Climate Curve is permitted to distribute funds. US sanctions rules exclude places such as Cuba, Iran, North Korea and parts of Ukraine.
Can Indian startups or NGOs apply?
India is not on the excluded list, so Indian startups, social enterprises and NGOs with an active methane project can apply. Check the Eligibility and Requirements page for the round and confirm how an Indian entity can receive foreign funds.
How much is the prize?
Each of eight laureates receives US$25,000 (about ₹23.75 lakh). Climate Curve describes the funding as tailored and trust-based, with no strings attached.
Can I apply with an idea?
No. The prize is for current, active projects. Past work, unimplemented ideas and untested hypotheses are not accepted.
What are the categories?
Mitigation, Social & Cultural Pathways, Finance, and MRV (monitoring, reporting and verification), across agriculture and waste. You may list several but can win in only one category a year.
Is it a grant or equity?
The page describes cash funding with no strings attached and does not mention equity. It is a prize paid to laureates.
What is the timeline after applying?
In 2026 applications closed 17 April, 16 finalists were announced 1 July and eight laureates were named in September at New York Climate Week.
Do I have to travel?
The official page says laureates are named at New York Climate Week but does not state whether attendance is required or paid for.
Can past winners apply again?
Only with a new project that uses different methods and approaches from the one already awarded.
Sources
Data on this page is compiled from official program and provider references.
