Al x City Climate Action Hackathon 2025

Applications are now open for the AI x City Climate Action Hackathon 2025! Cities are at the forefront of the climate crisis, and this hackathon invites innovators, students, researchers, and technologists to co-create solutions that empower cities to reduce emissions, expand energy access, and build resilience.

📖 About AI x City Climate Action Hackathon

This year's edition builds on the momentum of 2024, offering a broader scope, deeper collaboration opportunities, and a unique hybrid format. Participants will gain access to:

• Expert mentorship from leading voices in climate science, artificial intelligence, and urban innovation.
• Curated datasets provided by city networks and partners to bring ideas to life.
• Technical workshops and Q&A sessions to sharpen skills and develop actionable solutions.

As part of the "Road to COP30" initiative, this year's hackathon includes a regional spotlight on Latin America, with a deep dive hosted in Córdoba, Argentina. Engage with local experts, universities, and networks tackling climate challenges in the region.

Key Details

• Date Published: May 19, 2025
• Application Deadline: September 1, 2025
• Category: Contest
• Sponsor Organisation: Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy (GCoM)

🌟 Themes

This year's hackathon features two expanded themes to inspire diverse and impactful solutions:

Theme 1: Expanding Energy Access and Alleviating Energy Poverty

• Design bold solutions to help cities deliver reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy for all, with a special focus on supporting vulnerable communities.

Theme 2: Identifying Actions and Tracking Implementation

• Develop tools to identify, monitor, and accelerate the actions cities are taking to cut greenhouse gas emissions and strengthen their resilience to climate change.

🎁 Benefits

Participants in the AI x City Climate Action Hackathon will enjoy the following benefits:

• Finalists will have the opportunity to pitch their solutions during New York Climate Week 2025, either live on stage or virtually.
• Winning teams will receive seed funding to further develop and pilot their solutions.
• Winning teams will also be paired with a city to explore on-the-ground implementation of their ideas.

✅ Eligibility Criteria

The hackathon is open to:

• Students, professionals, or a combination of both.
• Participants who can develop a methodology to tackle the challenge statement using:
  • AI applications
  • Geospatial tools or data
  • Dashboards or other data science applications
  • Case studies

🏆 Judging Criteria

Submissions will be assessed by a jury of experts based on the following key areas:

1. Innovation

• Originality and creativity of the solution.
• Introduction of new ideas or approaches not widely implemented.
• Differentiation from existing tools or methods.

2. Impact

• Potential to enhance cities' climate action efforts.
• Addressing specific challenges faced by cities.
• Providing tangible benefits to communities.

3. Feasibility

• Practicality and implementability in real-world urban settings.
• Consideration of resources required for implementation (technology, funding, manpower).
• Scalability to multiple cities or regions.

4. Presentation

• Clarity and effectiveness of the project presentation.
• Well-organized, engaging, and visually appealing presentations.
• Ability to convey complex ideas in an understandable manner.

📅 Application Process

1. Visit the AI x City Climate Action Hackathon Application Portal to view details.
2. Apply directly through the registration link.

🗓️ Application Deadline

The deadline to apply is September 1, 2025. Don't miss this opportunity to make a meaningful impact on climate action!

Take part in this exciting initiative and help shape the future of sustainable cities! 🌱

• Finalists will have the opportunity to pitch their solutions during New York Climate Week 2025, either live on stage or virtually.
• Winning teams will receive seed funding to further develop and pilot their solutions and will be paired with a city to explore implementation on the ground.