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Oxford Saïd calls on students and teachers worldwide to combat climate change and health risks

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With the global cost of climate change on public health continuing to rise, Saïd Business School has announced the launch of the Oxford Saïd Global Climate Change Challenge 2025.

This pioneering competition, now in its third year, aims to empower young leaders and educators to develop solutions addressing the urgent intersection of climate change and health. 

Climate change has already led to an increase in respiratory diseases, heat-related illnesses and the spread of infectious diseases worldwide. According to the World Health Organization, climate change is expected to cause approximately 250,000 additional deaths per year between 2030 and 2050 due to malnutrition, malaria, diarrhoea and heat stress. Additionally, the economic toll of climate change-related health issues is projected to exceed billions of dollars annually. At the same time, addressing climate change is predicted to create an estimated 30 million new jobs worldwide by 2030, offering a unique opportunity for innovation and economic transformation.

To equip the next generation with the tools to tackle these challenges, Oxford Saïd invites high school students (ages 16-18) and teachers globally to participate in this competition. Entries open today, 3 March 2025, with a submission deadline of 30 June 2025.

Climate change is not just an environmental issue – it is a public health emergency, an economic challenge, and a humanitarian crisis. The Oxford Saïd Global Climate Change Challenge 2025 empowers students and educators to drive meaningful solutions at the intersection of these urgent issues.

Josephine Fawkes

Director of Global Inclusion and Youth Education at Saïd Business School

Empowering students and educators to lead climate action

The competition features two categories:

  • Student challenge: teams of three to five students will propose innovative solutions to address one or more of the following themes: air pollution, extreme weather events, food security, water scarcity and biodiversity.
  • Teacher challenge: educators will develop and submit lesson plans that effectively integrate climate change education into their respective curricula.

Finalists will present their solutions in global forums, providing them with an opportunity to gain international recognition for their work. The student finals will be hosted at Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, in August 2025, while the teacher finals will take place during COP30 in Brazil in November 2025.

A regional spotlight: China semifinals

In addition to the global competition, Oxford Saïd is launching a dedicated regional event: Oxford Saïd Know+ Climate Change Challenge China semifinals 2025. Open exclusively to students and teachers from China, this regional edition will allow the top five student teams and teachers to present their solutions at the China semifinals in August 2025. The winning student team and teacher will then advance to the global finals in Oxford and Brazil, respectively.

Addressing climate change requires fresh ideas and bold collaboration. This competition fosters critical thinking, problem-solving, and leadership – qualities essential for tackling the world’s most pressing challenges.

Juliane Reinecke

Professor of Management Studies at Saïd Business School

With climate change increasingly affecting economies, ecosystems and public health worldwide, the Oxford Saïd Global Climate Change Challenge aims to empower young innovators and educators by providing them with a prestigious platform to contribute to real-world solutions.

As the competition continues to expand, it remains committed to fostering leadership, education and action in the fight against climate change.

Find out more about the Climate Change Challenge