Opportunity: COG Climate and Energy Leadership Awards Program

Today launches the 12^th year of the Climate and Energy Leadership Awards Program! Government agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), businesses, non-profits, and educational institutions across the metropolitan Washington area are now officially invited to apply or nominate candidate projects or programs for the 2026 Climate and Energy Leadership Awards offered by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG).

Winners serve as role models for the region and are recognized by local, regional, and national officials for their innovative climate stewardship projects and programs that engage and serve the region’s underserved communities. Winning applicants will also be featured on the COG website through project descriptions and a short video.

Climate efforts are categorized into four groups: government agencies, NGOs, for-profit businesses, and educational institutions. This year, five projects will be awarded:

• • (2) GOVERNMENT AGENCY (local, state, regional, quasi-govt, utilities or authorities)
    • Small Jurisdiction (population < 90k)
    • Large Jurisdiction (population > 90k)
  • (1) NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION (non-profit, for-profit, citizen or community-based groups)
  • (1) BUSINESS AND FOR-PROFIT
  • (1) EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION (K-12, public, private, or higher education)

The deadline to submit an application/project summary file is June 30, 2026.  For more information and past winners, visit MWCOG’s Climate Awards.