The Ocean Conservation Administration (OCA) of the Ocean Affairs Council is proud to announce that the 2026 Global Youth Innovation Challenge (YIC) is now officially open for submissions. Since 2021, the OCA has partnered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) and the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) through the Global Environmental Education Partnership (GEEP) to empower young leaders aged 15 to 30 to propose innovative solutions for the world's most pressing marine issues.

      Now in its fifth year, the 2026 Challenge emphasizes a holistic approach to ocean conservation. This year's initiative encourages participants to start with individual action and scale their impact to families, communities, and the international stage. The OCA envisions a platform where youth can transform creative concepts into tangible actions, raising global awareness and inspiring a collective movement to safeguard our marine ecosystems.

     The OCA is pleased to announce that the 2026 Global Youth Innovation Challenge will officially open for submissions at 12:00 AM (Taiwan Time) on April 15, 2026. All entries must be submitted in English, with a submission deadline of May 31, 2026. Three outstanding winners will be selected, each receiving a prize of USD $1,000 and an invitation to Taiwan to attend the award ceremony and present their ideas at an international forum. This year’s challenge focuses on:

Reducing personal waste and marine debris,
Promoting positive community and societal impacts, and
Advocating international marine environmental education,For more details, please visit the official program webpage:https://thegeep.org/programs/youth-innovation-challenge.

      To support prospective applicants, the NAAEE will host an online applicant webinar on May 5, 2026, at 10:00 PM (Taiwan Time). The session will cover proposal writing tips and include a Q&A segment to assist participants with their submissions. The OCA strongly encourages interested youth to take advantage of this valuable learning and networking opportunity.

     The OCA emphasizes that the ocean is a shared treasure for all humanity. We look forward to seeing young innovators illuminate new pathways for conservation—turning sparks of creativity into a steady force for change. From individual efforts to community-wide shifts, every step counts toward a clean and sustainable ocean.

Responsible entity and spokesperson: OCA Deputy Director-General Yi-Che Shih
Phone: 07-3383203 or 0905-167-616
Date: April /16/2026