New Delhi, Feb 28 : The Singapore International Foundation’s (SIF) Climate Hack 2024 recently concluded with three cross-border teams emerging as winners at the Pitch Day event. This marked the finale of the five-month program, which began in September 2024. Launched in 2021, Climate Hack empowers young individuals across Asia with digital skills to develop and scale tech-driven climate solutions.
The winning teams, comprising 13 youth participants from India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, and the Philippines, presented innovative solutions emphasizing cross-sector collaboration, personalized user experiences, and cost-effective alternatives to existing models. Over 300 participants from 27 countries took part in the program, receiving training from industry experts in digital proficiency, problem-solving, entrepreneurial thinking, and effective presentation techniques. Notably, nine out of the ten shortlisted teams featured members from multiple countries, highlighting the significance of international cooperation in addressing climate issues.
Manvitha Yalamanchili, a member of the winning team Sustainloop from India, shared: “Despite being from different countries, my teammates from Malaysia and the Philippines and I shared a common vision of driving meaningful change in the climate space. Our diverse backgrounds provided valuable insights, and I am grateful to have found inspiring mentors within my team.”
Winners Announced at Climate Hack 2024 Pitch Day
At the Pitch Day event, 10 shortlisted teams presented their tech-driven solutions to a panel of judges, addressing environmental issues in areas such as natural resource management, land use, transport, waste management, and ecological economics. The winners were selected based on creativity, impact, teamwork, and feasibility:
1. E-Connect (Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, and the Philippines)
2. SustainIQ (Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, and the Philippines)
3. Sustainloop (India, Malaysia, and the Philippines)
Additionally, Ecovolve (Cambodia, Indonesia, and Singapore) won the People’s Choice Award, determined through social media voting and live audience engagement. All four teams will travel to Singapore in March to gain insights into the Singapore Green Plan 2030, a nationwide initiative to advance sustainability efforts.
Carla Gomez Briones, Climate and Sustainability Specialist at the United Nations Development Program’s Global Centre for Technology, Innovation, and Sustainable Development (Singapore), praised the participants: “The ingenuity and depth of thought displayed by these young changemakers are truly inspiring. Their solutions not only address pressing climate challenges but also showcase the power of cross-border collaboration in building a sustainable future.”
Sheena Joy Palcis, a member of E-Connect from the Philippines, reflected on the experience: “Climate Hack has helped me turn climate-resilient ideas into action. The workshops provided valuable skills, and the mentorship ensured our solution remained relevant in an evolving global landscape. While there is still much to be done, the youth-led innovations showcased at Pitch Day give me hope for a more sustainable future.”
Organized in partnership with Action for Change in Southeast Asia (ActSEA), Kidzstarter, and Temporary Local, Climate Hack 2024 was supported by volunteer trainers and mentors from Cognizant, DataKind Singapore, TheOneHourProject, and independent professionals. Since its inception in 2021, Climate Hack has trained nearly 1,000 youths across 24 countries, leading to the development of 130 digital prototypes aimed at tackling climate-related challenges. The program was recognized with the World Bank Digital Skills Innovation Award in 2021 for its role in advancing digital proficiency in Asia.
