WILLEMSTAD – Many promising climate research ideas never get off the ground—not due to lack of quality, but because they don’t fit within the rigid structures of existing funding systems. A new study aims to tackle this issue and is calling on climate researchers to share their experiences. 

The initiative targets research projects that are often considered “too risky” or “too uncertain” by traditional funding bodies. According to the organizers, many transformative and innovative climate research ideas remain unseen simply because they do not align with the standardized criteria of conventional grant systems. 

Embracing the Unpredictable 

The goal of the study is to collect valuable insights that can help funders and research institutions rethink how they support climate research. The long-term vision is to develop funding frameworks that make room for the unpredictable, collective, and truly transformative work that is urgently needed in the face of the climate crisis. 

Climate researchers—broadly defined—who have experience with public funding and its limitations are encouraged to take part. The deadline to participate in the study is July 15. 

This effort comes at a time when the global scientific community is increasingly recognizing that bold, interdisciplinary, and community-rooted approaches are essential to address climate challenges—yet often fall through the cracks of current financing models.