Students Build Climate Solutions in 60-Hour Pacific Hackathon

Students across the Pacific region are turning climate concern into climate action through a groundbreaking 60-hour hackathon launching this October.

Climate Hack-tion brings together university and TAFE students from Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific Islands, and the EU to build practical solutions for the world's biggest climate challenges. The European Union Delegation to Australia is hosting the event ahead of COP31, the UN's annual climate summit where world leaders gather to address global warming.

Running from October 2nd to 4th, teams of three to five students will choose one of five priority areas and bring their ideas to life. They can tackle electrification, zero waste and methane reduction, resilient cities and buildings, green industrialization, or climate awareness. By Sunday evening, each team must have a working prototype or realistic mockup ready to present.

The timing couldn't be more significant. Australia is serving as President of Negotiations for COP31, while Fiji and Tuvalu will host the Pre-COP Leaders' event from October 5th to 8th. Climate Hack-tion channels this regional momentum into youth-led innovation.

Students won't be working alone. Mentors from academia and industry will support teams throughout the weekend, offering guidance as ideas transform into tangible solutions. The collaboration mirrors the hackathon's core message that climate change requires everyone working together.

The Ripple Effect

This marks the first initiative of its kind by the EU Delegation to Australia under the FPI Facility, implemented alongside counterpart missions in New Zealand and Fiji. The hackathon demonstrates how regional cooperation can amplify youth voices in global climate conversations.

Winners will be announced at a closing ceremony on October 12th, with over $10,000 in prizes. But the real prize may be the solutions themselves, as student teams prove that the next generation isn't waiting for permission to tackle climate change.

The message is clear: when given the tools, mentorship, and platform, young people can build the climate solutions the world needs.