The call for nominations in the World Wide Fund for Nature's (WWF’s) South African leg of the Climate Solvers initiative is open, with the application deadline extended to November 21, the organisation said on Tuesday.

Climate Solvers was a global WWF initiative through which the organisation aimed to create a platform to stimulate and support innovation while creating a space for productive interactions among innovation actors including companies, the public sector, academia and society.

"Climate Solvers are small and medium-sized enterprises that are characterised as innovative firms with the potential to become leaders in South Africa and the world in tackling climate change," WWF South Africa’s Living Planet Unit special projects manager Louise Scholtz said.

Businesses would be selected as Climate Solvers based on their development of “cutting-edge technologies” that either contributed to reducing carbon emissions or generated power using sustainable clean energy solutions.

"The beauty of such companies is that not only do they contribute to the transition to a low carbon economy but, through clean technologies, many of them are addressing wasteful consumption and poverty while creating jobs, increasing access to energy and reducing emissions," she added.

Businesses awarded Climate Solver status would be exposed to business and networking opportunities with potential partners while enjoying enhanced exposure through WWF's extensive platforms.

Among other benefits, a promotional video would also be produced for each business and they would be able to brand themselves as a WWF Climate Solver.