Future Proofing Our Climate and Weather Grant

About this grant

Future Proofing Our Climate and Weather is an opportunity space defined by ARIA's Programme Directors, focused on undertaking careful and responsible research into climate interventions and whether they could protect the planet and society from climate tipping points. The programme addresses the risk that abrupt and potentially irreversible changes to the Earth's climate system — such as melting ice sheets or sudden changes in ocean currents — could occur with limited tools available to mitigate the effects. ARIA believes that ethical and governable interventions to prevent tipping points, or adaptations to a post-tipping-point climate, could be possible, but that an enormous amount of research is still needed to determine how such approaches could work and what their regional and global effects might be. Within this opportunity space, ARIA is offering two distinct funding mechanisms. First, opportunity seed funding of up to £500,000 (approximately $625,000) is available for early-stage research exploring new pathways for climate adaptation and resilience, open until 31 July. Second, ARIA has launched a dedicated programme called 'Exploring Climate Cooling,' backed by £56.8 million (approximately $71 million), which aims to transparently explore — under rigorous oversight — whether climate cooling approaches proposed as potential options to delay or avert tipping points could ever be feasible, scalable, and safe. The opportunity space recognises that while decarbonisation remains the only sustainable route out of the climate crisis, environmental changes are outpacing current mitigation efforts. ARIA's position is that now is the time for society to undertake responsible and transparent research into climate intervention options, including solar radiation modification, before such approaches become prematurely embedded in climate roadmaps or dismissed as infeasible without adequate scientific exploration.

Eligibility

The opportunity seed funding is open to applicants proposing early-stage research that explores new pathways for climate adaptation and resilience. The page does not specify precise organisation types, geographic restrictions, or sector restrictions beyond the thematic focus on climate adaptation and intervention. Applicants must be proposing research relevant to climate cooling approaches, climate tipping points, or related adaptation and resilience topics. No prior-recipient rules or stage restrictions are described on this page.

How it's scored

The page does not provide specific evaluation criteria, scoring weightings, or panel composition details for either the opportunity seed funding or the Exploring Climate Cooling programme. Applications are reviewed and selected by ARIA's Programme Directors, who direct the review, selection, and funding of a portfolio of projects within the opportunity space. Oversight and governance structures are noted as part of the programme framework.

Key requirements

• ✓Research focused on climate adaptation and mitigation tools for abrupt climate system changes
• ✓Groundwork for informed decision-making in climate crisis scenarios
• ✓Expansion of adaptation and response options through careful research
• ✓Check ARIA programme page for specific funding amount and detailed eligibility criteria

Frequently asked questions

How much funding does Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA) offer?

Future Proofing Our Climate and Weather offers See ARIA programme page.

Who can apply for Future Proofing Our Climate and Weather?

Eligibility covers organisations in GB, UK; startup, sme, university, research-institution. See the eligibility criteria above for the full conditions.

Relevant sectors

About this sector

Climate adaptation funding helps communities, infrastructure and businesses prepare for heat, flooding, drought and sea level rise. Most of it is public and multilateral money, often targeted at vulnerable regions and delivered with local government. Calls usually ask for a climate risk assessment and evidence that local people shaped the plan.