Sustainable AI Hackathons and challenges
These events not only foster creativity and technical excellence but also drive meaningful impact by promoting solutions that align with sustainability goals. Participants and enthusiasts alike are increasingly recognizing the potential of AI to build a more resilient and eco-friendly future.
AI for Climate Action Award 2025: Now open for submissions
The UNFCCC Technology Executive Committee, in partnership with the Climate Technology Centre and Network and Korea International Cooperation Agency, officially launched the AI for Climate Action Award 2025. This global competition seeks open-source, AI-powered solutions that support climate adaptation and mitigation efforts in least developed countries (LDCs) and small island developing States (SIDS).
”The AI for Climate Action Award is a genuine effort to accelerate climate action through the power of people and technology, supporting bold ideas in adaptation and mitigation.” – Simon Stiell, UN Climate Change Executive Secretary
- Date: registrations open until 31 july 2025
- Themes: solution for low-emission and/or climate-resilient development in agriculture, energy, water, waste, transport, early warning systems, health or other areas. Submissions should demonstrate how AI is being used to address climate-related challenges in innovative, impactful, and context-specific ways.
AI for Climate Innovation Factory: Calls for Startup pitches on!
Environmental degradation remains one of the most pressing global challenges, threatening ecosystems, economies, and human well-being worldwide. To address this crisis, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), in collaboration with its partners, is proud to announce the 2025 AI for Climate Action Innovation Factory. This initiative aims to harness the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to develop innovative solutions that help mitigate environmental impacts and support global adaptation efforts.
The culmination of the 2025 AI for Climate Action Innovation Factory will take place during the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Brazil. Selected finalists will present their projects to a panel of esteemed judges comprising climate experts, technologists, and policymakers. Winners will receive recognition, prizes, and opportunities to collaborate with global organizations to bring their solutions to life.
- Date: registrations open until 31 july 2025
- Themes: carbon reduction & clean energy transition, sustainable agriculture & food security, biodiversity conservation & ecosystem restoration, inclusive environmental action.
FutureHacks 7
FutureHacks 7, an AI-focused hackathon hosted by AiGoLearning, is set to take place virtually from April 18-20, 2025. This year’s event revolves around the theme of Sustainability, inviting students to develop AI-powered solutions that address pressing environmental and social challenges. The hackathon aims to inspire creativity and innovation while fostering a commitment to sustainable development.
Participants will work in teams to design and develop projects that align with the sustainability theme, showcasing their technical skills and innovative thinking. The event will culminate in a judging session where industry experts will evaluate the projects based on creativity, technical excellence, presentation quality, and the ability to respond to questions.
- Date: April 18-20, 2025
- Format: Fully virtual
- Platform: Zoom
Water Scarcity
Hosted by Capgemini, the Water Scarcity Hackathon is an international event focused on technology, innovation, and ecology, has been launched since February 2025, and will last until May 2025. This hackathon challenges participants to develop solutions that reimagine water management, fostering a sustainable future through data science.
Participants, either individually or in teams, will create predictive models to forecast water flow within a watershed and optimize water allocation among various economic stakeholders in an eco-friendly manner. The hackathon offers a unique platform to explore innovative predictive models, learn from experts in hydrology, data science, and climatology, and contribute to open-source sustainable solutions.
- Dates: February 2025 – May 2025
- Duration: 3.5 months, divided into two phases: Phase 1 for developing the predictive model and Phase 2 for optimizing water distribution.
- Format: Fully virtual
