Climate Impacts Awards: Unlocking Urgent Climate Action by Making the Health Effects of Climate Change Visible

Climate Impacts Awards: Unlocking Urgent Climate Action by Making the Health Effects of Climate Change Visible is sponsored by Wellcome Trust. Funds transdisciplinary teams to deliver short-term, high-impact projects that drive policy impact by combining evidence generation with influencing strategies.

Lead applicant career stage:Administering organisation location: Anywhere in the world (apart from mainland China) Up to £2. 5 million per award We expect to make around 10-15 awards in this highly competitive funding scheme.

### If you’ve spent time away from research #### Career breaks, parental leave, sick leave You can apply for this award if you have spent time away from research (for example, for a career break, parental leave or long-term sick leave). We will take this into consideration during the review of your application. If you have retired, you must contact us before applying.

You must have a guarantee of space from your administering organisation for the duration of any award. Lead and coapplicants can be part-time. Their part-time work should be compatible with delivering the project successfully.

We will accept resubmissions from proposals that were shortlisted **once** in any previous round of the Climate Impacts Awards. Teams must demonstrate significant revisions to the application based on the decision letter provided. Previously shortlisted proposals must also be in scope for this year’s awards.

You cannot apply for this call if: * You intend to carry out activities which involve the transfer of funds into mainland China. * You cannot demonstrate that you can dedicate enough time and resources to the project, if funded. * You are already an applicant on two applications for this funding call: * You can only be a lead applicant on one application and a coapplicant on another one.

* You can be a coapplicant on two applications. You must demonstrate that you have sufficient capacity for both projects if funded. * The applications should be for different projects with no overlap of activities.

* You already have applied for, or hold, the maximum number of Wellcome awards for your career stage. ## Is your organisation right for this scheme? The administering organisation is where the lead applicant is based.

It is responsible for submitting your final application to Wellcome and managing the finances of the grant if it is awarded. The administering organisation must be not-for-profit and can be a: * higher education institution * healthcare organisation * non-governmental organisation Commercial organisations are not eligible to apply as administering organisation for this call.

However, coapplicants and collaborators can be based at commercial organisations. Multilateral organisations can apply. Please **contact us** to discuss further.

Proposals must meet all scheme requirements. ## Is your research right for this scheme? ### What your research proposal must include We are looking for proposals that can generate or synthesise context-specific evidence on significant health issues arising from climate impacts.

We are also looking for proposals that account for the economic consequences of the health impacts of climate change at various levels. We will seek to fund projects that can use this research to advance narratives and support the development of policy solutions that can be scaled to multiple settings.

We will prioritise funding for research that involves and serves the needs of communities most impacted by the health effects of climate change. We will support proposals that: * **Invest in policy-relevant research.

**Teams must: * Identify an evidence gap that can be filled within a short time frame (for example, 12-18 months within the project duration) by generating and/or synthesising data and insights on the context-specific, direct and environmentally mediated health effects of climate change.

* Articulate clearly their methodological approach and why it is appropriate; we accept all forms of methodologies including arts and social sciences-based and traditional knowledge-based methods. * Be able to assess associated economic costs of the health effects of climate change and to communicate these in a way that is appropriate for decision makers.

There are many different methods to quantify the economic impacts of health damages from climate change. The costs can be direct costs (i.e. healthcare expenses for climate-sensitive illnesses), indirect costs (i.e. productivity losses, reduced income, long-term health impacts) and intangible costs (i.e. non-financial burdens related to morbidity/mortality).

We will accept a range of approaches and economic/econometric measures and tools for this analysis. * **Influence change. **Teams must: * Articulate a clear theory of change within their proposal and strong understanding of policy levers either at the local, national and multilateral levels, as well as a track record of influencing policy.

There must be a climate policy opportunity that can be targeted within the 3-year timeline whether focusing on adaptation, mitigation or loss and damage.

* Demonstrate the demand driving the research from decision makers, the policy goals of the proposed set of activities and how these can be achieved within the timeframe of the award (recognising that policy change is often incremental, takes time and cannot always be easily attributable). * Show how their research design is innovative and will help drive impact, supporting meaningful and sustainable climate and health action.

* Include a visibility and narrative plan, to ensure that the evidence can be meaningfully communicated to key stakeholders and build momentum. * **Engage people. **Teams must: * Meaningfully engage relevant stakeholders and communities from the outset, valuing the expertise of knowledge of different stakeholders.

This should be reflected in the composition of the team as well as the design of the research proposal. Wellcome supports the use of an engaged research approach. This approach asks researchers to include engagement in the design of their project, while being inclusive of a range of stakeholders.

In particular, we would expect to see the inclusion of the policy partners the team will work with in the proposal.

For this award, relevant stakeholders and communities could include: * local or national governments * civil society and community-based organisations * international or multilateral organisations * private sector or legal sector We strongly encourage you to provide letters of support from any collaborator involved in the project. Upload these in the ‘Additional information’ section of the form.

These letters will not count towards your two page A4 limit for additional information. Research with Indigenous communities should follow best practice protocols (see the CARE Principles for Indigenous Data Governance for guidance).

#### Inclusive research design The proposed research should be equitable, diverse and inclusive in a way that is appropriate to the place in which the research is conducted and the aims of the research or other activities.

* **Who defines and does the research**: we expect our applicants to demonstrate to us that their research team has substantive input from, and engagement with, the primary end users or subjects of their research, be they patients, participants or policymakers.

* **How the research is done**: we expect our applicants to demonstrate to us that their research agenda and the design and conduct of their research substantively engages with the needs and values of the people and communities who are participating in, or are the subject of, their research. * **Who benefits from the research**: Wellcome already has a commitment to focusing on those most affected by our health challenges.

We expect our applicants to be able to demonstrate within their research and activity plans that their outputs will be made meaningfully accessible and used by those who most need it and, if appropriate, those who participated in the research.

Wellcome’s Climate and Health team have modified the scope of this round of the Climate Impacts Awards, guided by learnings and insights from the past year and broader trends in the climate and health space. What is in/out of scope this year may not be the same next year.

* Proposals where the primary focus is on the current or future direct and environmentally mediated physical or mental health outcomes attributable to climate change (Haines and Ebi 2019 for definitions, figure 3). * Proposals that will also assess associated economic costs of the health effects of climate change. * Proposals that include the three key elements of: 1.

An evidence gap that can be filled in the short time available 2. A clear pathway to influence change including a theory of change 3.

An engaged research approach with key stakeholders identified * Proposals where the primary focus is on:​ * socially mediated health effects (such as migration and livelihoods) - we are aware that all health outcomes have a social context but we are looking for research where environmentally driven aspects of climate change are the primary driver(s) of a given health outcome.

* health co-benefits attributable to the consequences of climate change action (mitigation or adaptation); or the unintended consequences of maladaptation. * current or future health effects attributable to the drivers of climate change (for example: burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, waste decomposition).

Proposals cannot focus solely on fossil-fuel related air pollution but can include air pollution as a secondary driver of a given health outcome. * Impacts of climate change on health systems. * Proposals where the primary activity is evaluating an intervention.

* Proposals where the goal of the project is general advocacy for a specific issue, rather than a specific climate action target that can be achieved in a realistic timeframe through targeted and co-produced evidence and communications activities. * Proposals where the three key elements listed above are not articulated. View previous projects that have been awarded through this scheme.

## Research costs we will cover ### **Timing considerations for your application** You must leave enough time for: * reading all the information on this page before applying. * you and your coapplicant(s) to complete the application. * your administering organisation to review and offer feedback on your application, and for you to complete any suggested changes.

* the organisational approver at your administering organisation to have time to approve and submit your application to Wellcome by 15:00 BST on 8 April 2026. We do not accept late applications. ### **Getting support with your application** We offer disability-related support for applicants.

Read the disability-related support guidance if you: * are disabled or have a long-term health condition and you need help applying for funding. * need to defer your application. * need help completing your project, for example costs for assistive technology.

If you need further support with completing your application or need to request an extension to the deadline, please contact us. **If this is your organisation’s first time applying for Wellcome funding** If this is your organisation’s first time applying for Wellcome funding, you will need to request an organisation account. You can do this in the 'Add your administering organisation' section of your application form.

We will ask you for your organisation's: * team email address for the people who will approve and submit your application (this is usually a research management team). We will create the organisation account and provide access to the approvers. Review our **guidance for research offices**.

### **Application process** * Make sure you read everything on this page. * You do not need to contact us before you write and submit your application. **2.

Submit your application to your administering organisation for approval** * Complete your application form on Wellcome Funding platform. * Submit your completed application form to the organisational approver at your administering organisation for approval. Make sure you leave enough time for the approver to review and submit your application before the deadline.

The approver may ask you to make changes to your application. **3. Administering organisation approves and submits it to Wellcome** * Your application must be submitted by 15.

00 BST on 8 April 2026 on the deadline day. We do not accept late applications. * We will check your eligibility for the scheme and that your proposed research is within the scheme’s scope.

If your application is ineligible or your proposed research is not in the scheme’s scope, we will withdraw your application and notify you of this. * The Climate Impacts Awards Advisory Funding Committee will assess eligible and in scope applications against the assessment criteria, to make shortlisting recommendations to Wellcome.

* Committee membership will be comprised of a diverse range of international members and will take into account Wellcome’s equity priorities. * If your application is shortlisted, it will proceed to the next stage. * We are unable to provide feedback on applications that are not shortlisted.

* The Committee will interview shortlisted applicants online and make funding recommendations to Wellcome. Interviews are scheduled to take place 21-23 July 2026. * The lead applicant will attend the interview, accompanied by up to two coapplicants.

* We’ll contact the lead applicant to ask if interview attendees have any accessibility requirements. * You will be asked to give a presentation at the start of your interview. Details of the requirements for this presentation, and the date when slides need to be submitted to Wellcome, will be shared in advance.

* We will provide further information on the structure of the interview and Committee membership before the interview. * The focus of the interview will be on questions and answers. The Committee will assess the application against the full set of assessment criteria, rather than one specific aspect of the proposal.

* The Committee will consider your application and interview responses when making funding recommendations to Wellcome. * Final funding decisions will be made by Wellcome. * You will receive an email notification of the funding decision soon after the decision has been made in August 2026.

* We will write to unsuccessful shortlisted applicants after this with the reasons for the decision. ## How applications are assessed The total number of projects we fund through this scheme will depend on several factors, such as the number and quality of applications received.

For this scheme, there is a preference for proposals focused on policy outcomes informed by communities most impacted by climate change in both high-income countries (HICs) and low-and middle-income countries (LMICs). There is no preference for single or multi-country studies. We are looking for proposals that aim to demonstrate the scale of the problem and the potential for climate action at scale.

All applications will be evaluated using the same weighted assessment criteria. ### Essential criteria and weightings **Research and methods (25% weighting)** * Relevance of the proposed work in driving context-specific climate action. * The importance of the proposed work in the context of the health impact.

* Appropriateness of the research approach including the economic analysis. * The quality, innovation and mix of methodologies proposed. For example, is the presented theoretical and conceptual framework informed by different perspectives (such as natural sciences, social sciences, epidemiological analysis, economic analysis, political analysis and climate sciences).

* Justification for the chosen methods, including qualitative and quantitative work packages.

**Policy opportunity (25% weighting)** * Theory of change: the team provides a plausible theory of change with a clear problem articulation, that describes where the climate and health evidence gap is (and explicitly frames it in the context of a changing climate), how the team will address it and how the team will use the evidence to target a specific policy opportunity.

* Clarity about the policy opportunity and implications of the proposed activities. * Potential to have policy impact in the timeframe of the award. For example, is this work scalable or transferable?

* Evidence of demand for this research. * Relevance and innovation of the proposed communication strategy. For example, the ability to communicate the policy opportunity, implications of the proposed activities and engagement with key stakeholders.

**Engaged research (25% weighting)** * Clear identification and justification of key stakeholders and impacted communities' involvement (for example, local, or national governments, civil society, community-based organisations, international or multilateral organisations, private sector, local or national government).

* Evidence of stakeholders and impacted communities contributing to the research design and research questions and their involvement is clearly shown throughout the lifespan of the proposed activities. For example, if the project responds to the needs, interests and capacities of the stakeholders and impacted communities.

* The engagement methods and framework that will be used and how these are integrated and beneficial to the wider ambitions of the project. **Team, skills and experience (25% weighting)** * Transdisciplinary teams: the team composition includes an appropriate combination of individuals and organisations with the capacity, skills and experience to deliver the project and its intended outcomes.

Outline how your team will work in a transdisciplinary way, and has expertise in climate and health, and relevant economic expertise. * Successful partnerships: evidence of a history of working together and using a transdisciplinary approach. * Evidence that the team has the relevant expertise to deliver the approach and methods outlined.

For example, triallists, policy analysis, policy practice, engagement practices and communication strategies. * Evidence of a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion. For example, your approach to recruiting a diverse team and how you will promote inclusion of members in the research and outputs produced.

* Clear articulation of what a positive research culture is and how teams will foster this through their future work. Applicants do not need to submit ethics approval to the administering organisation by the deadline but should give some consideration to potential ethical issues that may arise through the proposed work in the application. The Climate Impacts Awards were launched in 2023.

To date, Wellcome has funded 37 innovative global projects through the scheme. The funded grants from the 2025 Climate Impacts Awards will be available to view on the website soon. Despite the overwhelming evidence of the negative impacts of climate change, we are not seeing the scale and the speed of action required (IPCC AR6 Synthesis Report).

The aim of this scheme is to make the impacts of climate change visible across a wide range of physical and mental health outcomes in order to drive urgent climate policy change at scale.

There is a need for more evidence and better understanding of the cost of climate change-related health outcomes to create an urgent argument for action and advance progress on the three pillars of climate policy: adaptation, mitigation and loss and damage (2025 Lancet Report on climate and health01919-1/fulltext)).

We are looking to fund evidence on the health effects of climate change, added with this economic analysis, bringing together key stakeholders and partners to amplify impactful narratives and unlock urgent climate action. The health effects of climate change are not evenly distributed and disproportionately burden vulnerable communities in LMICs and HICs.

We will prioritise funding for research that serves the expressed needs of at-risk populations with high exposures and vulnerabilities to the health effects of climate change (in this context, vulnerability may result from the intersection of factors such as geography, socio-economic status, demography, gender, race, ability, ethnicity, co-morbidities and occupation).

We want to support evidence which can influence policy decisions with health and economic arguments but also can support decision makers to prioritise investments by understanding where impacts hit hardest and in which communities. Research must be designed using an engaged approach that includes the voices of key stakeholders (including policy and decision makers) and impacted communities.

A more detailed understanding of community level impacts can help bridge the gap between global climate discussions and local realities, making the urgency of climate action more relatable. We believe this will both drive greater climate action and help deliver equitable policy solutions in climate change adaptation, mitigation, and loss and damage. This scheme aims to make the impacts of climate change on health visible.

There are many reasons the impacts of climate change could be invisible.

These include but are not limited to: * **distance:** decision makers not being based where the impacts are happening * **ideology:** political polarisation results in missing voices, disinformation or lack of information * **unseen:** some of the climate impacts of environmental drivers of health outcomes (for example, certain chemicals, pollutants or microscopic organisms) may not be visible and therefore may be ignored * **linkage:** the links between climate change and health effects not being explicitly made or understood * **low priority:** climate change's effects on health are not given much focus due to competing priorities, unconvincing analyses and communications challenges ## Application process timeline You must submit your application by 15:00 (BST) on the deadline day.

We don’t accept late applications. ### Scheme opens to applications ### Eligibility, what we offer and application questions If you have a question about eligibility, what we offer or about completing the application form using Wellcome Funding, send our funding information advisers a message.

* If you are unclear about whether your proposed idea would be in scope for this scheme, you can send a very brief summary of your idea (no more than 200 words) by 6 March 2026 to climateimpacts@wellcome. org. * Include the title of the call '2026 Climate Impacts Awards' in the subject line.

* Based on the information provided, we will aim to reply to your email within one week, with an 'in scope' or 'out of scope' response. * Please note that this is not a requirement and will not impact your likelihood of being funded. The confirmation that a proposed idea is in scope does not constitute an active invitation to apply.

In addition to this, full proposals may still be deemed ineligible if they do not fulfil all the requirements of this scheme. * We do not answer questions on the competitiveness of proposals.