Join youth from across the world in this 2-day challenge to design solutions addressing the climate crisis!
No coding experience needed! Solutions don’t have to be app/web-site based!
About the Challenge:
Climate change is among the most urgent issues of our time. 2011-2020 was the Earth’s warmest decade in recorded history by most estimates. Up to one million species are at risk of extinction due to climate change. Tens of millions will be displaced from their homes because of it. The Climate Action Tracker anticipates a 4 degrees increase in global temperatures by 2100 if we keep at our current trajectories. The delicate balance that we have on Earth is at risk.
So, what do we do about it? The need for action & innovation is more urgent than ever. And to make headway in addressing the problem, it will not be a “magic bullet” that solves everything, but rather the joint efforts of engineers, artists, coders, educators, politicians, business-people & others coordinating with a variety of differenc solutions to make a difference.
Our challenge: Can you create that next big solution to our climate change dilemma?
The Logistics:
There’s still details to be worked out, which we anticipate should be finalized by February 12. But in brief, you will have Friday to Sunday evening to work on original ideas (not submitted to past hackathons or developed at a significant level in other places) that can make a difference to our climate crisis. We will recommend teams of four, which can come pre-formed or which can also be developed before the hackathon, with a Slack channel TBA to help with matching. Important as well is that at least two members of your team must be students.
During the hackathon, at least one team member will be expected to join two workshops during the course of the event (on the business model canvas & pitching), in addition to the very first intro session and at least one session with a mentor that you will need to book. A more detailed schedule with further logistics should be available by February 12.
A final note that the submission itself with be a four-minute video, with finalists then being invited to present their solutions live at the Ocean Bridge National Conference on March 6-7 (details TBA).
Themes:
Over the course of this 48-hour hackathon, we will focus on four sets of challenges that will need to addressed as we fight climate change. These are described below:
1. The Environmental Challenge:
Acidification, plastic pollution and other ocean-related impacts
Food waste and the promotion of greener choices for what we eat
Deforestation, desertification and soil degradation as a result of climate change
The loss of biodiversity as temperatures warm and fluctuate
Or any other environmental issue that relates to climate change!
2. The Economic Challenge
Green investing and divestments
Carbon taxes and other incentive systems to promote greener choices
Solutions related to promoting/ developing renewable energy sources
Solutions related to making current renewable options more sustainable/ feasible
Or any other issue that relates to the green/ blue economy
3. The Socio-Cultural Challenge
Promoting environmental behaviors and quantifying individual impact
The climate refugee crisis that has already begun with sea level rise
The question of incorporating indigenous and immigrant perspectives in our knowledge
Motivating political action, for instance to coordinate climate strikes or international colloboration
Or any other issue that relates to the socio-cultural impacts of climate change
4. The Information Challenge
Addressing gaps in climate research
Making current research more accurate (for example, climate change modeling)
Innovating climate change education for all age groups
Guarding against disinformation
Or any other issue that relates to education/ information processes around climate change
Throughout the weekend, there may be educational workshops, mentorship sessions, networking opportunities, and more! These themes may be modified closer to the hackathon date.
Awards:-
$CAD4,000 in prizes
TBD
$4000+ in prizes! The exact prize structure will be announced soon.
Deadline:- 28-02-2021
