The Climate Intervention Environmental Impact Fund (CIEIF) invites applications from innovative investigators and organisations worldwide developing climate intervention technologies that are approaching small-scale field testing.

The Fund provides grants to support independent environmental impact assessments (EIA), predictive impact modelling and engagement with potentially affected stakeholders. Its aim is to help assess the potential environmental, economic, social and human health impacts of proposed climate intervention field tests before or alongside the necessary preparation for implementation.

The programme prioritises innovative technologies with the potential to deliver meaningful climate benefits at a globally relevant scale. Non-profit institutions receive the highest priority, although private businesses preparing climate intervention field tests are also encouraged to apply.

The funding is exclusively for assessment and analysis related to proposed field tests. It does not fund basic research or implementation of the field test itself.

Funding and Support

• Funding available: Three grants of US$75,000 each.
• Grant amount: US$75,000 per successful applicant.
• Funding purpose: Environmental impact assessment, predictive impact modelling and stakeholder engagement.
• Disbursement: The initial third of the grant is paid after scoping discussions with CIEIF. Subsequent payments are linked to project benchmarks and follow an agreed schedule.
• Additional support: CIEIF personnel may provide advice on environmental impact assessment and consultation concerning technical, siting, legal and permitting issues.
• Future funding: Repeated annual funding may be possible.

Grant funding can cover relevant staff time, independent consultants and closely associated expenses for the eligible assessment and engagement work.

Purpose and Objectives

The Fund aims to:

• Support independent assessment of the potential impacts of innovative climate intervention technologies.
• Improve understanding of environmental and other foreseeable risks associated with proposed field tests.
• Support predictive modelling and independent impact analysis.
• Facilitate engagement with potentially affected communities, government agencies and other stakeholders.
• Assess technologies with the potential to address root causes of global warming or its major global effects.
• Encourage transparent, independently reviewed publication of results to inform future climate intervention research and field testing.

Priority Areas or Scope of Work

Applications must focus on at least one of the following areas:

• Environmental impact assessment (EIA).
• Predictive environmental impact modelling.
• Engagement with potentially affected stakeholders, including local communities and government agencies.

Examples of eligible climate intervention technologies include:

• Biochar and black soot removal or mitigation.
• Carbon dioxide removal technologies, excluding Direct Air Capture (DAC).
• Cloud brightening.
• Enhanced weathering.
• Ice and land albedo enhancement.
• Livestock methane capture and other agricultural interventions.
• Methane removal.
• Ocean fertilisation and other marine carbon dioxide removal interventions.
• Coatings that remove greenhouse gases.
• Technologies for nitrous oxide and chlorofluorocarbon removal.
• Updraft chimneys or towers designed to remove greenhouse gases.

Projects should demonstrate potential for scaling to a level that could deliver meaningful climate benefits.

The Fund excludes stratospheric or higher Solar Radiation Management (SRM), Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS), and Direct Air Capture (DAC). Applications focused on climate adaptation, clean energy, climate resilience, emissions reduction or sustainable development without an eligible climate intervention are outside the Fund's scope.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must:

• Be an eligible organisation or project team developing an innovative climate intervention technology approaching small-scale field testing.
• Demonstrate that the proposed intervention addresses a root cause of global warming or its major global effects.
• Present a clear plan to use the US$75,000 grant primarily for environmental impact assessment, predictive impact modelling and/or stakeholder engagement.
• Demonstrate the potential of the proposed innovation to scale to deliver meaningful climate benefits.
• Address relevant technical, environmental, economic, social, public health and safety considerations.
• Identify required government permits and approvals at the relevant levels.
• Identify at least two independent consulting firms or suitable consultants who could support the proposed impact analysis, modelling or stakeholder-related work.
• Confirm willingness to publish results in a peer-reviewed journal or through an independently peer-reviewed report.

Applicant priorities and exclusions:

• Non-profit institutions receive the highest priority, other factors being equal.
• Private businesses preparing climate intervention field tests are also encouraged to apply.
• Government agencies, individuals and students are not eligible for funding.
• Projects must comply with applicable permitting and regulatory requirements; CIEIF funding does not replace these processes.

AI-use restriction: CIEIF explicitly prohibits the use of AI in cover letters and grant applications. Applications identified as using AI will be rejected, and the applicant will be barred from future applications.

Geographic Scope

Global. Applicants and proposed field tests may be based anywhere in the world, subject to the Fund's eligibility criteria.

Important Dates

• Application deadline: 1 December 2026
• Expected grant decision announcement: 1 February 2027
• Grant round: Sixth round

Application Process

There is no standard application form or template. Applicants must prepare a concise grant request in English, not exceeding 20 single-spaced pages using 12-point font. Biosketches and relevant scientific publications may be supplied as supplementary material.

The application must address the following ten areas:

1. Contact details and biosketches of all personnel, positions held, information about the applying entity and its website.
2. Description of the proposed field test, supporting research, technical readiness, proposed site, anticipated impacts, challenges, innovation and scalability.
3. Required government permits and approvals.
4. Prior publications concerning the feasibility and climate-relevant scalability of the technology.
5. At least two independent consulting firms or suitable consultants for the required analysis or engagement.
6. A proposed budget explaining how the US$75,000 will be used.
7. Other sources of funding for the investigation.
8. Insurance coverage relevant to the proposed field test.
9. Confirmation of willingness to publish the results at an appropriate time.
10. Any additional key information about the proposed project.

Before sending a completed application, applicants must contact Peter T. Jenkins, Manager of CIEIF, at info@CIEIF.org to discuss the appropriate method of submission.

Successful applicants must agree to be identified on the CIEIF website and acknowledge the Fund on their own websites. Results must be published in a peer-reviewed journal or an independently peer-reviewed report, with timing that may take account of permitting, stakeholder engagement and implementation-funding considerations.

Industry / Sector

Climate intervention; environmental impact assessment; climate science; predictive impact modelling; carbon dioxide removal; greenhouse gas removal; environmental research and stakeholder engagement.

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United States; South Africa; Kenya; New Zealand; Belgium; Netherlands; Canada; Chile; Brazil; Australia; Japan; India.