Climate Change Challenge

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Students and teachers across the world are invited to help tackle the climate crisis ahead of COP28.

Burjeel Holdings and Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford have launched the Climate Change Challenge - a global competition for high school students (aged 15 to 18) and teachers.

The challenge invites young people and educators across the world to contribute their ideas and take action towards creating solutions to the greatest and most complex threat to humanity: the climate crisis.

The finalists will be invited to present their solutions to a distinguished audience in Dubai, during COP28 in December, and the winners will be invited to the United Kingdom where there will be given the unique opportunity to take part in a tailored climate change programme at Saïd Business School in Oxford next year, led by world-leading academics. For finalists and winners, all expenses will be covered by Burjeel Holdings and Oxford Saïd. They will also gain access to a vibrant community of influential entrepreneurs and thought leaders in innovation and social impact from around the globe.

Why are we doing this?

The next generation will inherit a planet suffering from the extreme effects of climate change, in ways we do not yet understand. We do know that no country, continent or community will be left untouched. From the devastation wrought by drought and flood, threatening the supply of food and water, to the ever-rising number of climate change refugees, tomorrow’s leaders will have significant climate change challenges to contend with.

Burjeel Holdings, one of the leading healthcare providers in the Middle East, is an organisation committed to protecting life. Oxford Saïd, one of Europe's leading business schools, is committed to giving future business leaders the tools and knowledge to innovate in creating a better, safer, cleaner world. That is why, together, we have launched a global competition for today's teachers and tomorrow’s leaders, entrepreneurs and change makers, that seeks to protect life on Earth.

At a time when the world is dealing with a climate crisis, initiatives like these are the beacons of hope for a better future.

Amir Dossal

Challenge Judge; President, Global Partnerships Forum; Distinguished Fellow, World Economic Forum

What do we want you to do?

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We want to inspire high school students and teachers across the world to bring their innovation, creativity and problem-solving skills, in generating unique solutions to tackle this crisis, whether at a local, national or global level.

In their entries, we are asking entrants to respond to one of five key climate change challenges:

  • air pollution
  • extreme weather
  • diseases carried by insects
  • food security
  • water scarcity.

Read more about these challenges on the How to enter page.

What happens next?

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A panel of international judges with expertise in business, healthcare and climate change solutions, has been carefully curated - find them below. Once the competition closes (on 15 October 2023) they will begin scoring the entries with finalist student teams and teachers announced at the beginning of November.

All finalists will be invited to an award ceremony during COP28 in Dubai on 8 December. The winners will then be invited to attend a tailored climate change programme in spring 2024 at Oxford Saïd in Oxford, United Kingdom, taught by Saïd Business School’s world renowned academics. Finalists and winners will not have to pay to attend COP28 or the programme in Oxford; all expenses will be covered by Burjeel Holdings and Oxford Saïd.

The Climate Change Challenge is an incredible opportunity for young people and educators to put their minds to solving this crisis, and to share their ideas on a global stage.

Zoe Cokeliss Barsley

Challenge Judge; Director Of Sustainability, Oxford University Press

The judges

  • Amir Dossal, Founder and President, Global Partnerships Forum; Distinguished Fellow, Health and Healthcare, World Economic Forum
  • Ashley Thomas, former Innovations/Early Pipeline Project Lead, X, The Moonshot Factory
  • Eleanor Hevey, Strategist and Policy Leader, Centre for Disaster Protection; Advisory Board member for the UN and Red Cross climate early action and finance initiatives and Women in Climate Finance Network
  • Elena Branet, CEO and Founder, Digital Camp
  • Fatna Ikrame El Fanne, Environmental Engineer; Co-Founder and Director of Projects, Youth For Climate
  • Ishaq Bolarinwa, CEO, Anfani
  • Juergen Heeg, Managing Director, Hillhouse
  • Dr Karan Thakur, Group Sustainability Lead and Vice President - Public Affairs, Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd
  • Karuna Singh, Regional Director Asia, Earth Day Network
  • Dr Lynn Kirkpatrick, CEO, Ensyce Biosciences
  • Dr Manju Kak, Secretary General, All India Women’s Conference
  • Nadim Matta, Founder and President Emeritus, RE!NSTITUTE; co-founder and president , nafda Lebanon
  • Nicholas Henderson, Director, Essai
  • Nick Valenzia, Founder of Leafr Climate Freelancing
  • Puja Balachander, Head of Venture Launchpad, Carbon13
  • Dr Rajiv Chhibber, Vice President, External Affairs, Sahajanand Medical Technologies
  • Revital Marom, Senior Board Advisor, Digital Camp
  • Sidarth Bali, Assistant Vice President Carbon, ReNew Power
  • Shikhar Malhotra, Director and Board Member, HCL Corporation; Chancellor, Shiv Nadar Institution of Eminence
  • Dr Yubin Park, Chief Data and Analytics Officer, ApolloMed
  • Zoe Cokeliss Barsley, Director Of Sustainability, Oxford University Press

How do I enter?

See our resources below for inspiration and to learn more about the challenges facing our planet. When you're ready, find out how to enter the challenge.

Resources

Helpful resources on each of the five challenges to support your application.

Help with lesson plans

To equip students and teachers in entering the challenge, the world-renowned Eden Project has offered free access to a lesson plan - Climate Response - Doers, Shoppers, Learners, Shouters - and further teaching resources. You can also access Climate Conversations, their archive of resources on climate change.

Free live workshops

We are collaborating with a number of likeminded organisations, including the Digital Camp and Eden Project. Both are running free live workshop events to help support students and teachers looking to take part. They’re free to join and could help your entry stand out.

Key documents

Before entering the challenge, please review these key documents.

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