The Climate Resiliency Challenge is an invitation for organizations and teams across the globe to develop solutions that will empower frontline communities to be ready and resilient against disasters caused by climate change – in particular, wildfires, floods, and extreme weather.
We are increasingly experiencing the effects of climate change and climate-related disasters on our lives, environments and ecosystems. Disruptive climate events such as wildfires, floods and extreme weather are often accompanied by loss of life, reduced quality of life, long recovery times and property loss and damage.* Climate-related disasters cause $120 billion in damages annually in the United States. That figure is five times greater than 50 years ago, and projections are $2 trillion by the end of the century.*
This Challenge is built around three themes that inspire our thinking about where innovation can most benefit frontline communities. Themes are not meant to be exclusionary of each other, and solution ideas can fit under any and all of the themes.
PREVENTION: Eliminating the risk of climate-related disasters and/or reducing the likelihood or severity of its impacts.
PREPAREDNESS: Taking actions to prepare communities and individuals for climate-related disasters.
RECOVERY: Taking immediate and long-term actions to recover from the impacts of disasters.
Offered Benefits
Multiple awards will be given in each category listed below, making up to a total of $1 million. Winners will be announced on or around August 1, 2023. We are excited to support innovators across multiple stages of development:
Emerging Innovator Award: Early-stage concepts: Up to $50K USD
Mid-stage Innovator Award: Growth-stage concepts: Up to $100K USD
Advanced Solutions Award: Scaling-stage concepts: Up to $200K USD
Moreover, solutions submitted will receive:
-
Media Coverage and Visibility: Throughout the Challenge, participants will be promoted through a variety of media and channels, including an extensive partner media, social media, website, and email campaign.
-
Exposure to Networks: All submissions and participants will be visible to experts, investors, and funders across a wide range of industries, academia, policy organizations, and sponsor partners.
-
Connections to Like-minded Partners: All submissions and participants will benefit from engaging with the open innovation community and getting acquainted with like-minded individuals who can become future collaborators and/or partners in each others’ ideas.
Application Process
Go to OpenIDEO on challenges.openideo.com to apply
- Open Submission Phase: After creating an account, feel free to start browsing the Resources tab to see what might nudge your thinking. You're also invited to add content to inspire your peers and share knowledge. When you're ready, click on Submit a New Solution to start drafting your submission. To submit your solution, you will need to complete the questions in the form and click Submit Solution.
- Evaluation Phase (Selecting Finalists): After July 10, a panel of judges will begin reviewing all ideas to select finalists for the prizes. Finalists will be announced by July 18, 2023, they will receive feedback from the judges on how to improve and revise their submissions. Ideas that were not selected will no longer be considered for the prizes.
