The first Global Climate Changers Challenge
In the past 50 years, the global average sea level has risen by 10 inches. Extreme weather triggered by climate change has caused thousands of people to lose their homes, lives and income. In the past 15 years, global temperatures have risen by 1.1°C, well above the targets set by technology. The Global Climate Innovation Center also announced at a luncheon with the theme of sustainable development held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on March 2, 2023 that it will hold the Global Climate Innovation Summit and the first Global Climate Innovators in New York during this year's United Nations Climate Summit. Challenge, and an Ambassador Awards Dinner will be held that evening.
The Global Climate Changers Challenge is a non-profit competition closely integrated with the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. It provides a platform for innovation and entrepreneurial teams related to climate change and sustainable development to showcase their uniqueness and significance. Extraordinary innovative concepts. The competition has a high-level review team from multiple fields, including important experts from relevant United Nations departments, top universities, multinational companies and investment companies involved in carbon neutrality, climate change, sustainable development, green finance and other fields.
theme of the competition
Accelerate progress towards the 1.5 °C climate target
youth group: Develop policy recommendations and strategic visions to promote climate change and sustainable development and bring about positive changes at the global, regional or local levels.
occupational groups: Focus on implementable projects, put the needs and voices of stakeholders, customers, workers and communities at the core, and particularly encourage innovative, unique and original approaches to previously neglected climate and sustainability issues.
the participants
The Global Climate Maker Challenge is open to individuals of all ages and nationalities from around the world.
Among them, innovators will have the opportunity to receive guidance and be invited to participate during the project promotion process.Global Climate Innovation Summit, United Nations Headquarters Ambassadors Award Gala。
Changer
There are two participating groups for innovators:occupational groupsandyouth group。
-occupational groups(No age limit)
Professional participants can serve aslegal entities(Start-ups/social enterprises/companies/laboratories/research centers) participate in the challenge. You need to submit a report before the deadlineSummary of the solution, this plan requiresClear phase interpretation (proof-of-concept/prototype/pilot/ MVP/commercial)。
-youth group(24 years old and under)
Youth track allows2-4 people formed a teamJoin the challenge. All team members must not be older than 24 years old. You need to submit a report on yourA plan of ideas。
(If you have a mature business model and experience, you can also apply to join the professional group)
content of the competition
Youth group: Creative video track, environmentally friendly creative book track and technology small creative track.
Occupational groups: Projects with valuable ideas and relatively solid product prototypes or service models, or can focus on feasible solutions and actually respond to the United Nations climate innovation and sustainable development goals.
how to compete
The judging team will conduct a comprehensive evaluation of all entries. In order to ensure the quality of the review, a maximum of 100 innovative projects will be enrolled for each topic selection. Challenge events will recruit innovators to participate in a rolling manner.
Step 1: Register your basic information.
Step 2: Submit the material to challenge@gcic-sdgs.org
Deadline for the first round of submissions: August 25, 2023
Acceptance of materials will be finally stopped on September 1, 2023
(With rolling approval for project registration, the sooner the registration resources are submitted, the more opportunities you will have to get the attention of the judges)
In your email, please include the following
Email title:2023 Changers_Career/Youth Group_Names of innovative projects
Email content:
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Innovation project name
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Selected topics
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Describe your innovation project and how your innovation project relates to the challenge issue (100 - 200 words)
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Contact information (name/position/unit/email/phone)
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Address (city/country)
For professional participants
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Year of incorporation
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Phase of the solution (proof-of-concept/prototype/pilot/ MVP/commercial)
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Solution summary (English PDF)
For young participants
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Team member (name/unit/email/phone)
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Proposal of ideas (English PDF)
Competition rules and guidelines
judging criteria
To qualify for the Innovator Challenge, your innovation project should align with the United Nations SDG13 priority issues.
The selection criteria for the occupational group and youth group are as follows:
occupational groups
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Influence and extensibility: The envisioned vision and the identified target group can demonstrate the potential to solve challenges.
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Feasibility and adoption: It can prove economic and technical feasibility and can be adopted by the target group.
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Overall advantage: Demonstrate your competitive advantage, such as outstanding social or intellectual capital.
youth group
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Originality of the idea: The idea demonstrates a unique approach or creative thinking that distinguishes it from existing solutions.
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Quality of the idea: The idea is feasible, realistic, and has a high probability of successful implementation.
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Clear thinking: Ideas can be expressed clearly, easy to understand, clear, organized, and persuasive.
Match timeline
Application deadline is August 25, 2023
Rolling style, up to 100 innovative projects per topic
Acceptance of materials will be stopped on September 1, 2023
(With rolling approval for project registration, the sooner the registration resources are submitted, the more opportunities you will have to get the attention of the judges)
The shortlist for the semi-finals will be announced on September 7, 2023 (less than 50 innovative contestants)
Innovative contestants may be required to provide additional materials.
The final shortlist will be announced on September 14, 2023
October 2, 2023 Final Day
The finals will be held on the same day as the Global Climate Innovation Summit. The event will be conducted on-site and online.
On the same day, the top three finalists will be announced and they will be invited to attend the Ambassador Awards Gala held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
After the finals, the top nine finalists will be invited to join the accelerated program. The program provides innovators with the means and support to grow rapidly over the next 12 months.
Project results display in October 2024
The top three finalists will be invited to present their project progress at the 2024 Global Climate Innovation Summit.
Participation benefits
We provide a variety of benefits to innovators (career/youth group) participating in the Challenge. GCIC provides a platform for innovators to join a community of nearly 200 contestants from more than 50 countries around the world to establish an innovator network to gain recognition from the public and decision makers in the climate field, and to communicate with other guests with important achievements in climate-related issues to exchange and share experiences, learn about important issues such as decarbonization, sustainable business, green finance, energy resilience, and corporate social responsibility, and establish a network with other innovators. Get guidance and guidance from top investment companies, and have the possibility to obtain funds and resources to accelerate project development.
Career/Youth Group
semi-final
recognition Competitors entering the semifinals will receive an internationally recognized certificate of entry.
innovation community Semi-finalists will be invited to join the community, where they can connect with other innovators and receive invitations to apply for other climate innovation competitions, innovation boot camps, climate scholarships and internship opportunities organized by United Nations-affiliated agencies and GCIC partners internationally.
finals
obtain guidance Finalists have the opportunity to receive further guidance and exchange views with top investors and thought leaders.
Participate in the Global Climate Summit The final day will be held simultaneously with the summit. Finalists will present their creative ideas to a well-known panel of judges and be invited to participate in the rest of the summit. There will be more opportunities to reach out to decision-makers in the climate world.
common exposure Finalists will have a full month to receive publicity and observer votes. They will accept exposure in front of the media and the public.
Seeking climate talent We provide finalists with free access to the employment portal to help them find climate talent for their projects.
Top 3 players in the finals
Attended the Ambassador Awards Gala held at the United Nations Headquarters The top 3 finalists will be invited to the Ambassadors 'Dinner, where we will recognize and reward organizations and individuals who have made outstanding contributions to innovative climate solutions. The Ambassador's Dinner looks forward to gathering together with permanent ambassadors to the United Nations and other high-level figures in relevant fields.
Innovation Acceleration Program The top three finalists will receive continued support over the next 12 months, including guidance, feedback, training and resources from the GCIC network of relationships, such as priority access to opportunities to work with climate funds and incubators.
Project display in 2024 The top three finalists will be invited to showcase their progress in project development over the year at the 2024 Global Climate Innovation Summit.
Corporate Member (Professional) Enjoy 1 year of tailored corporate membership benefits. Benefits include, but are not limited to, preferential access to GCIC resources, invitations to GCIC closed-door events, and other influential climate action-related events.
Youth development (youth group exclusive) Enjoy one-year tailor-made youth development support, such as internship opportunities, entrepreneurship training courses, etc.
bonus
Career Group: $10,000+ (More sponsors and investors are negotiating, more funds will be available)
Youth Group: (More sponsors and investors are negotiating and more funds will be available)
specifically stated
The Global Climate Maker Challenge does not charge any fees during the application process or at any stage of participation in the project. We are very willing to provide a fair and just platform for all applicants. If you receive any suspicious information requesting any form of payment, please contact us immediately at info@gcic-sdgs.org so that we can investigate and take appropriate action.
In addition, we would like to remind all contestants that all submitted materials and ideas must be original works of the contestants and must not infringe on the copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, concepts, designs or otherwise of any third party. The materials and ideas submitted must not contain the dissemination, incitement, intensification or dialectical expression of racial hatred, xenophobia and any other form of racial discrimination and hatred.
We appreciate your cooperation in helping us ensure that the application process for all participants is safe and fair. If you are interested in supporting the project and the work of GCIC, please contact us at development @ gcic-sdgs. org.