2026 Global Youth Innovation Challenge: Your Ideas Have the Power to Protect Our Oceans!

The Ocean Conservation Administration (OCA) of the Ocean Affairs Council is proud to announce that the 2026 Global Youth Innovation Challenge (YIC) is now officially open for submissions. Since 2021, the OCA has partnered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) and the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) through the Global Environmental Education Partnership (GEEP) to empower young leaders aged 15 to 30 to propose innovative solutions for the world's most pressing marine issues.

Now in its sixth year, the 2026 Challenge emphasizes a holistic approach to ocean conservation. This year's initiative encourages participants to start with individual action and scale their impact to families, communities, and the international stage. The OCA envisions a platform where youth can transform creative concepts into tangible actions, raising global awareness and inspiring a collective movement to safeguard our marine ecosystems.

Applicants can now apply for the 2026 Global Youth Innovation Challenge, with a submission deadline of May 31, 2026. Entries must be in English. Three outstanding winners will be selected, each receiving a $1,000 USD prize and an invitation to Taiwan to attend the award ceremony and present their ideas at an international forum.

This year’s challenge focuses on:

• Reducing personal waste and marine debris,
• Promoting positive community and societal impacts, and
• Advocating international marine environmental education.

For more details, please visit the official program webpage: https://thegeep.org/programs/youth-innovation-challenge

To support prospective applicants, NAAEE will host an online applicant webinar on May 5, 2026, at 10:00 PM (Taiwan Time). The session will cover proposal writing tips and include a Question and Answer segment to assist participants with their submissions. The OCA strongly encourages interested youth to take advantage of this valuable learning and networking opportunity. Register for the webinar at https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/47TVjLgpQkasYyL81quiHA.

The OCA emphasizes that the ocean is a shared treasure for all humanity. We look forward to seeing young innovators illuminate new pathways for conservation—turning sparks of creativity into a steady force for change. From individual efforts to community-wide shifts, every step counts toward a clean and sustainable ocean.