2025 Climate Solutions Challenge:

Circular Economy

Problem

New Yorkers produce nearly 4 million tons of residential waste and another 4 million tons of commercial waste every year. More than half of New York City’s solid waste consists of construction and demolition materials. Today, NYC diverts about 20 percent of solid waste from landfills3 and has committed to send zero waste to landfills by 2030. This waste stream drives greenhouse gas emissions across its life cycle, from the extraction of raw materials to its transportation and disposal. Waste transfer stations in many cities are in located in environmental justice communities, contributing to longstanding air pollution. Shifting to a circular economy that reuses, refurbishes, and recovers all kinds of materials, reduces waste trucking, and minimizes landfill waste and embodied carbon is key to achieving an equitable, net-zero city.

Challenge

How can circular economy products and solutions drive down the climate impact of the urban waste stream and extend resource recovery to our businesses and neighborhoods?

Innovation Tracks

• Low-carbon and circular construction products, including healthy materials.
• Products using resources that are recovered from the urban waste stream.
• Products and services that reduce construction and demolition waste by extending the useful life of existing systems and making more efficient use of new materials.
• Measurement tools and services that accelerate diversion from landfill and reduce solid waste.

Key Dates

• Release Date: October 24, 2024
• Webinars: November 7 (12pm) & November 12 (2pm)
• Optional Site Tour: November 15 (10am)
• Application Deadline: December 5 (5pm)
• Challenge Winners Notified: February 2025
• Pilots Begin: May 1, 2025

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

The Trust for Governors Island offers unique opportunities for innovators to test early-stage climate products and services in a real-world environment. Selected piloting projects utilize Governors Island’s built, social, and natural environments – including a 2.2-mile waterfront, 43-acre climate resilient park, 7 miles of car-free streets, and 50+ historic buildings – to accelerate climate innovation, economic opportunity, and social impact in diverse urban communities. 

All piloting projects on Governors Island address climate change through climate mitigation, climate adaptation, and/or environmental justice. Projects must be temporary and be supporting product development and deployment through real-world testing and solutions validation. 

Program highlights

• Receive access to a project site for 3 to 12 months with no fee, as well as technical support from the Trust as the sole owner and operator of eligible sites.
• Collect data in a real-world environment while also engaging with funders, investors, and prospective customers.
• Bring your climate solution to a high visibility public place with nearly 1M annual visitors. 

How to apply 

• Apply to the annual Climate Solutions Challenge by December 5, 2024: Win a $10,000 prize and access to supplemental grants generally not to exceed $20,000 to support project design and deployment. All program funding is non-dilutive and grant amounts will be based on demonstrated need. Selected teams can access opportunities with the Trust’s network of climate partners, including the New York Climate Exchange, regulatory agencies, and content area experts such as Closed Loop Partners.
• Submit a General Application on your own schedule: A year-round rolling application is open to all climate sectors. Project teams are responsible for all costs. 

Who should apply? 

• Startups and young companies, including those led by underrepresented founders, are encouraged to apply. Preference will be given to companies with 50 employees or fewer.
• Applicants must be incorporated as a legal entity and must be working on urban climate solutions (e.g., hardware, software, materials research, policy, or innovative business and financing models). 
• Project teams should identify a critical milestone that requires a temporary pilot site to support product development and deployment. 

Program Requirements

Project teams must be working on a climate solution that addresses one or more of the following: 

• Climate Mitigation: Does your product or service reduce harmful emissions that cause climate change?
• Climate Adaptation: Does your product or service maintain a safe, comfortable environment for everyday life in a changing climate? 
• Environmental Justice: Does your product or service address adaptation or mitigation while centering human health, the environment, or climate change in frontline communities? 

Climate piloting projects must meet the following requirements: 

• Projects must be temporary, with a plan for removal at the end of the term. Notwithstanding the foregoing, following the agreed-upon piloting period, the Trust may consider proposals for a longer-term arrangement, such as extending the pilot or future testing phases.
• Projects must meet all local code, permitting, and regulatory requirements. Project teams are responsible for professional design, permitting, expediting, or engineering services as needed to support deployment.
• Eligible pilot sites on Governors Island are managed by the Trust for Governors Island as the sole owner and operator. Project teams will be required to sign a license agreement with the Trust, on the Trust’s standard license template (click here to view), setting out the definitive terms and conditions of the program, including insurance requirements, details of award payments, rules for use of space on Governors Island, participation in public education and engagement, and other applicable terms. 
• Governors Island is a publicly accessible destination. Project teams must ensure safe and responsible deployment, operation, and maintenance of their project subject to their license agreement. 

Evaluation and Selection Process

• Applications will be scored by a selection committee made up of Trust for Governors Island representatives based on the degree to which proposals meet the selection criteria. Technical experts may be consulted in an advisory role. 
• An interview and site visit may be offered to a subset of applicants at the Trust’s discretion to explore feasibility and alignment, identify potential project sites, and inform a project workplan. The site visit will provide an opportunity to discuss additional information requests including but not limited to concurrent uses of the site, utility availability, and anticipated permits and approvals. 

Selection Criteria

Quality of Proposal (40%)

• Clear and compelling piloting project proposal.
• Sound methodology and readiness for place-based deployment. 

Economic and Social Impact (30%)

• Demonstrates an innovative approach that addresses a problem, inequity, or critical barrier in climate and offers an advantage or shifts the current paradigm. 
• Shows how piloting can positively impact the business or organization’s go-to-market or deployment strategy.
• Presents potential to accelerate an inclusive green economy and workforce in NYC. 
• Creates positive social impact, such as expanding DEI, climate and environmental justice, or a just transition.
• Supports underrepresented climate leaders, including locally based and minority and women-owned enterprises. 

Project Feasibility and Program Alignment (30%)

• Shows an understanding and makes good use of the physical environment on Governors Island.
• Shows an understanding and makes good use of promotional and public education opportunities, including for inclusive audiences.
   

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