It seems the timing of my earlier post was somewhat fortuitous as NESTA (the UK-based National Endowment for Science, Technology and Arts) has launched a £1 million contest to find the brightest ideas to fight climate change. The Big Green Challenge, as they call it, is intended to stimulate the search for “Eureka moments” for reducing carbon emissions. The top ten finalists will receive £20,000 to help put their idea into practice. The lion’s share of the £1 million prize will be awarded to the most successful initiative in 2009. According to NESTA, the winner will have to achieve a measurable reduction in carbon emissions, involve the whole group or community and prove their idea can be expanded or copied in different settings.The goal is to reduce CO2 emissions in a community – which can be local, regional or more widely dispersed – by 60%.

NESTA is accepting application until February 29, 2008. Good luck!