ecoAmerica Announces 2026 American Climate Leadership Awards Semifinalists

Now in its 7th year, the program honors exceptional youth and adult climate leaders with over $200,000 in prizes.

ecoAmerica has announced the 30 semifinalists, along with 9 youth finalists and 14 honorable mentions, for the annual American Climate Leadership Awards (ACLA) 2026. This premier US awards program highlights individuals and organizations driving local, state, and national climate solutions, with over $200,000 in prizes awarded to advance their work. 

The 2026 awards saw a 41% increase in applications. There was a solid showing of local and regional initiatives with strong representation from the education, faith, and health sectors.

The ACLA26 youth contenders stood out for their clear focus on replicable climate solutions, public engagement, and measurable success metrics. Nearly half of the semifinalists selected were locally rooted initiatives. 

Read the full list of 2026 semifinalists, finalists, and honorable mentions HERE. 

The 2026 awards continue to elevate grassroots and national efforts to accelerate climate solutions. Join us on April 16, 2026, to celebrate together.

About ecoAmerica
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.