Youths brainstorm climate solutions

On the occasion of Global Climathon Day, a solutions-hackathon was organised at The Daily Star Centre by Gen Lab, a youth engagement platform, on October 25-26. This hackathon is a part of Climathon, a global year-round programme initiated by EIT Climate-KIC, the EU’s main climate innovation initiative, said a press release.

Across 122 cities, Climathon brings together entrepreneurs, students, programmers and policymakers to formulate creative solutions to local climate change challenges.

A total of 85 participants were present at this year’s event, focusing on problems surrounding food safety, waste management, and energy consumption in Dhaka, with help from experts in corporate, development, and public service professions.

The three winning teams will get to continue working on their ideas with Brac University’s Centre for Entrepreneurship. Team Nikhad devised the idea of an app that provides fresh product from farm to table, Xerotech came up with an energy efficient lighting system using solar power, and Waste Fixers created a cartoon character that will help create mass awareness.

IPDC Finance was the sponsor of Climathon for the second consecutive time, while United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Torun Digital, Colours FM 101, JCI Dhaka North, BNO Lubricants, Save and Serve Foundation, BracU Centre for Entrepreneurship Development, ULAB Centre for Sustainable Development, International Centre for Climate Change and Development, Independent University Bangladesh, and Green Savers Association were partners.

“Young people should raise their concerns to policymakers. I urge them to use fresh ideas which the previous generation could not implement,” said Khurshid Alam, assistant resident representative of UNDP Bangladesh, “We should work together for a better planet and ensure sustainable consumption.”

Waseqa Ayesha Khan, member of parliament; Dr Saleemul Haque, director of International Centre for Climate Change and Development at Independent University Bangladesh, and Professor Rahim B Talukdar, advisor at Centre for Entrepreneurship Development also spoke at the event.

At the closing ceremony, Dhaka North City Corporation Mayor Atiqul Islam awarded the three winning teams a total of Tk 25,000 each.

Shamim Ehsanul Haque, assistant professor at BracU; Momin U Islam, CEO and managing director of IPDC Finance were also present, while MP Nahim Razzaq was the youth ambassador for the event.