Innovation30: Young Climate Innovators Shaping the Future was launched as a pilot to explore how youth-led climate solutions can take root in real-world contexts. Rather than only showcasing promising ventures, it tested how early-stage innovations could be embedded into systems that support children and communities. Over two years, 24 climate solutions developed by entrepreneurs under 30 were selected in partnership with global climate accelerators. With support from ClimateX, a joint programme with the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership, the innovators worked with UNICEF country offices to pilot solutions, refine ideas, and identify what approaches were most effective.
Key learnings from Innovation30 revealed that startups need more than funding—they need structured access to real-world settings and government partners. Successful pilots were those aligned with local priorities, where UNICEF country teams were engaged from the start. Additionally, smaller, more focused cohorts allowed for deeper mentorship and tailored deployment support. Taken together, these insights showed that scaling innovation requires more than capital; it depends on building the right conditions for solutions to connect, take root, and grow sustainably.
One clear example of success was Cycleau, a greywater handwashing system founded by Noemi Florea. Piloted through UNICEF Tajikistan, the system is now set to reach more than 15,000 young people. Beyond deployment, it influenced local authorities’ approach to water reuse in public schools, helping to shape long-term standards. This illustrates how Innovation30 created early traction, opened doors, and built the relationships that enable solutions to evolve. Some ventures are now in talks with governments, while others have refined their models, leaving participants better positioned for future growth.
The pilot also highlighted the importance of country-level engagement. UNICEF country teams, with their deep understanding of local challenges, proved essential to absorbing and advancing new innovations. This experience laid the foundation for the next phase of support to climate entrepreneurs through the launch of UNICEF Climate Ventures.
The UNICEF Climate Ventures initiative aims to bridge urgent funding and support gaps for scalable climate solutions that protect children while strengthening local systems. Running from 2025 to 2030, it will invest in and support up to 60 ventures. Each cohort will focus on specific child-critical climate challenges, such as resilient health or energy systems, with mentorship from experts, country-level integration plans, and pathways for global deployment.
Building on the UNICEF Venture Fund’s decade of experience—153 investments across 68+ countries reaching over 16.9 million direct beneficiaries—Climate Ventures will target solutions with both impact and long-term viability. By acting as a connector, it will complement existing climate funding mechanisms and accelerate uptake of proven solutions.
Innovation30 was the starting point, demonstrating how UNICEF can add value not just by giving visibility to young climate leaders but by enabling them to test, adapt, and scale their work. Climate Ventures will deepen this approach with smaller cohorts, stronger partnerships, and greater real-world impact, supporting bold and scalable solutions to the climate crisis. Young people are already leading the way; the initiative’s role is to help clear the path for their innovations to thrive.
