Ashden Awards is a annual industry award recognizing excellence in Sustainability. Organized by Ashden (UK climate solutions charity), it covers the Global region. Established in 2001.
The Ashden Awards are run by Ashden, a UK-registered climate charity (no. 1104153), and have spent 25 years spotlighting practical climate innovation — from tackling fuel poverty and local energy access to nature-based solutions and tropical forest protection. Each cycle honours a small cohort of winners (five in recent years) across categories that change annually to track where climate action is most needed; the 2026 round covered Local Energy Innovation, Nature-Based Climate Solutions, Outstanding Achievement, Solving Energy Challenges and Tropical Forest Protection. Judging panels of academics, investors, civil-society experts, journalists, business leaders and former winners examine entries and interview the people behind them before deciding who is honoured.
Winners receive a cash prize of up to £25,000 (the Outstanding Achievement award carries no grant), plus what Ashden describes as its real engine of impact: powerful storytelling, publicity and access to unique networks of funders and practitioners. Because the awards focus on solutions already working on the ground in the UK and the Global South, an Ashden Award is a strong credibility signal for community energy groups, social enterprises and NGOs seeking follow-on funding.
Entry is free, and businesses, NGOs, government organisations, social enterprises and community groups are all eligible. Applications typically open in the autumn and close in early December, with winners celebrated at a London ceremony the following June (the 2026 awards were presented at the National Gallery). Strong entries demonstrate implemented, community-rooted solutions with clear evidence of impact — expect judges to interview your team, so make sure your data and delivery story hold up beyond the application form.