Gibbs Rehlen
February 26, 2025
ecoAmerica unveiled the 10 finalists for the sixth annual American Climate Leadership Awards (ACLA), the nation’s premier recognition program honoring outstanding efforts to expand climate advocacy and action with $200,000 in awards. Chosen from a competitive pool of over 260 applicants by a distinguished panel of national judges, these organizations and individuals exemplify leadership in driving local, state, and national climate solutions. Together, they will share $155,000 in awards, celebrating their innovative approaches and commitment to a sustainable future.
“Our changing climate and shifting weather patterns are impacting communities across America right now. This isn’t someone else’s problem — we all have a role to play in reducing climate pollution and ensuring our homes and communities are resilient,” said ecoAmerica President Bob Perkowitz. “ Amid these challenges, individuals and organizations are stepping up and making a real difference. The 2025 American Climate Leadership Awards celebrates their leadership and innovation, sharing their successes to inspire and empower us all to take action for a sustainable future.”
The American Climate Leadership Awards honor schools, health organizations, faith institutions, everyday individuals, youth, and many others with outstanding performance across the following criteria:
- Measurable impact and a track record of success
- Replicability
- How the initiative is broadening participation in climate action by engaging new audiences not typically involved in the climate movement
- Innovation, including new, novel, or uniquely effective tactics
- Effective storytelling, including demonstrating the success of how your program built public support and/or political will to slow and/or stop climate change or prepare or build resilience to it
Register here for the April 16 American Climate Leadership Awards broadcast, to celebrate all finalists and hear the announcement of the winner, runner-up, and youth winner, who will receive $50,000, $25,000, and $10,000 in total awards respectively.
The finalists in the youth category, each receiving at least $5,000 for work up to the state level:
- Alexia Leclercq
- Bay Area Youth Climate Summit
- Carolyn He – Project Green Schools
- Golda Och Academy (GOA) Chapter of the Jewish Youth Climate Movement (JYCM)
- Pencil 2 Planet
- Prairie Restoration Crew – St. Mark’s School of Texas
- Siddhan Shah – Quest Science Center
- SEI Climate Corps
- Silicon Valley Youth Climate Action
Read more about the selection process HERE.
ecoAmerica is a nonprofit organization that moves society toward climate solutions by engaging and supporting trusted national institutions to inspire and empower their millions of members in local communities across America to visibly act and advocate for ambitious, just, climate mitigation, resilience, and restoration.