The Basalt CO-based Rocky Mountain Institute, India’s Department of Science and Technology, and Mission Innovation — a 23 country and EU collaboration whose mission is to accelerate the pace of clean energy innovation — is offering $3 million to the air conditioning genius who can solve this problem.
This Global Cooling Prize, will be awarded to develop a climate-friendly residential cooling solution that can provide access to cooling to people around the world without warming the planet. The prize’s ambassador is billionaire philanthropist Richard Branson.
“Our planet is getting hotter,” the Global Cooling Prize’s website says.” Already, 30 percent of the world’s population is exposed to potentially dangerous heat conditions; by 2100, up to three-quarters could be at risk. Affordable cooling is becoming a global necessity, allowing for increased productivity, positive health outcomes, and accelerated economic development.”
- have one-fifth of the climate impact of existing air-cooling tech
- operate under specific material, consumption and maintenance guidelines
- be affordable
Last updated: December 26th, 2025
