The Think Trade, Think Green: Commonwealth Innovative Youth Essay Award 2024 application period is now open.

The Commonwealth Secretariat’s Trade and Youth teams are hosting a competition for young researchers and students aged 18-29 to share their perspectives on addressing the climate crisis in their country through trade and policy.

The award’s goal is to encourage young people in the Commonwealth to investigate the relationship between trade and climate change and propose ways in which trade policy can help to address the climate crisis.

Essay Topic: In what ways do you think trade and trade policy can help to address an aspect of the climate crisis in your country? Identify a specific problem, explain how it is linked to the climate crisis, and clearly explain how trade or trade policy can be used to address it.

Prizes

  • First prize: £1,000
  • Second and third prizes: £500 each

The top three essays will be published as part of the Trade Competitiveness Briefing Series and launched at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa in October.

Eligibility

  • You must be aged between 18-29 years old and a Commonwealth national to participate in this competition.
  • Essays must be a maximum of 2,000 words (including in-text references and footnotes, excluding reference list).
  • Full referencing in any style (in-text and reference list).
  • Entries should be submitted as a single PDF or Word file, 1.5 spacing, Times New Roman font.

Judging Criteria

  • Entries will be evaluated based on the originality of the challenges identified and solutions proposed, quality of writing and coherence with international trade policy frameworks. All essays will be blind peer-reviewed by the Trade and Youth Team. A distinguished panel will assess the papers and award a prize to the author of the best essay.

Application

Details required in the application include:

  • Name
  • Age
  • Nationality
  • Contact information (email, address, telephone)
  • CV or short bio

Email your submission and details to [email protected] by August 21, 2024. If you have any questions about the competition, contact [email protected].

For more information, visit Commonwealth Innovative Youth Essay Award

Deadline: August 21, 2024

Also Apply: