Contests

Each Solution Search contest gathers global responses to the world’s most urgent environmental problems.
  1. List

    1. Enter

    Organizations submit entries through the Solution Search website over a three month period. 

  2. Judging

    2. Judging

    First, a technical panel narrows the entry pool to 30 solutions. Next, our expert judges from the fields of conservation and environment select ten finalists, and vote a ‘Judges' Choice' winner.

  3. Vote

    3. Vote

    Finalists are announced for voting on the Solution Search website and winners for the ‘People’s Choice’ category are chosen by the public.

  4. Share

    4. Share

    Rare continues to work with winners and finalists – Rare’s ‘Solutionologists’ – to promote and spotlight their solutions on the global stage.

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Current Contest

Parrot with Bike

Changing Unsustainable Trade

Changing Unsustainable Trade

Illegal and unsustainable wildlife trade threatens global biodiversity and environmental stability. The illicit wildlife trade is the fourth largest illegal trade – behind narcotics, human trafficking and counterfeiting.  Mo...
Enter Now
21 days until judging ends
Parrot with Bike

Changing Unsustainable Trade

Changing Unsustainable Trade

Illegal and unsustainable wildlife trade threatens global biodiversity and environmental stability. The illicit wildlife trade is the fourth largest illegal trade – behind narcotics, human trafficking and counterfeiting.  Mo...
Enter Now
21 days until judging ends
Parrot with Bike

Changing Unsustainable Trade

Changing Unsustainable Trade

Illegal and unsustainable wildlife trade threatens global biodiversity and environmental stability. The illicit wildlife trade is the fourth largest illegal trade – behind narcotics, human trafficking and counterfeiting.  Mo...
Enter Now
21 days until judging ends

Past Contests

Turning Tides for Coastal Fisheries

Turning the Tide for Coastal Fisheries

Turning the Tide for Coastal Fisheries

The first Solution Search contest, sponsored by Rare and National Geographic, sought demonstrated proven solutions that benefit coastal communities and marine biodiversity. Over 100 entries were submitted from 48 different countries, ...
See Results
Contest ended 02/28/2012
Reducing Our Risk

Reducing Our Risk

Reducing Our Risk

Communities across our nation face dangerous and damaging weather patterns. Droughts along the Corn Belt, wildfires in the West, tornadoes across our heartland, hurricanes along the southern and eastern c...
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Contest ended 06/08/2015
Farming for Biodiversity

Farming for Biodiversity

Some recently-emerged and innovative solutions bring farming in harmony with the natural environment. Some solutions have increased the biodiversity of plants, animals, and insects. This contest sought to...
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Contest ended 11/01/2017
Climate Change Needs Behavior Change

Climate Change Needs Behavior Change

What people eat, what they buy and what they use contributes directly to climate change. And while human behavior is the root cause of climate change, it can also be the solution…if we use what we k...
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Contest ended 09/19/2019