Ysabella Louise Ante
In 2024, Singapore demonstrated its commitment to a greener future by hosting two dynamic events: Climate Hack and AlterCOP 29. These initiatives highlighted the power of technological innovation and grassroots action to address the world’s pressing climate challenges.
Climate Hack: Empowering Youth to Tackle Climate Change
Climate Hack, organised by the Singapore International Foundation (SIF), brought together bright minds from across Asia—equipping them with digital skills to create solutions for our planet’s biggest challenges. This programme, running from September 2024 to February 2025, connected young innovators and challenged them to lead the fight against climate change.
“Climate change affects every single one of us… At the SIF, we believe in driving collaborations to develop solutions for a better world,” said Mr. Jaryll Chan, Executive Director of the SIF’s Programmes Division.
The programme culminated in the Climate Hack 2024 Pitch Day, where ten shortlisted teams presented their tech-driven solutions to a panel of judges. After months of hard work and intensive training, three winning teams—E-Connect, SustainIQ, and Sustainloop—comprising 13 youths from India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, and the Philippines, were announced.
E-Connect developed a platform to match investors with climate adaptation projects, SustainIQ created an IoT-enabled system for food waste segregation, and Sustainloop designed an AI-powered platform to transform surplus into revenue. Their work addressed critical issues like ecological economics and waste management, demonstrating the power of cross-border collaboration.
Recognising that effective communication is key to driving change, participants also benefited from a storytelling workshop—a collaboration between SIF and TheOneHourProject (TOHP). This workshop equipped participants with the skills to effectively introduce and explain their climate solutions to diverse audiences, such as investors and customers.
Overall, Climate Hack was made possible by its powerful network of partners, including industry leaders, organisations, and dedicated volunteers. Collaborations with ActSEA, KidzStarter, Temporary Local, Cognizant, DataKind Singapore, and TheOneHourProject provided participants with invaluable mentorship, resources, and hands-on experience.
AlterCOP 29: Impactful Voices from the Ground
While Climate Hack championed digital solutions, AlterCOP 29 shed light on grassroots initiatives across Asia. As a remote alternative to COP29 in Azerbaijan, this inspiring event held at the Singapore Sustainability Academy last November brought together over 2,300 participants from 55 nations—including 250 speakers who shared strategies for building resilient, eco-friendly communities.
Through discussions and hands-on workshops, attendees gained practical skills and knowledge to drive climate action.
(credits: Nanyang Technological University)
Aligned with the themes of COP 29 in Azerbaijan, AlterCOP tackled critical issues such as climate justice, sustainable finance, and community resilience. Participants engaged in workshops exploring topics from regenerative agriculture to community-based conservation efforts. By uniting diverse voices and providing hands-on workshops, AlterCOP highlighted the power of community-driven solutions.
A key to AlterCOP’s success was truly collaboration. They partnered with The Matcha Initiative, Singapore Global Network, DutchCham Singapore, French Chamber of Commerce in Singapore, Traveloka, TheOneHourProject, and many others to bring together a diverse network of organisations and individuals.
Building a Sustainable Future Together
In 2024, Climate Hack and AlterCOP made a significant impact on climate action in Asia, showing how innovation and grassroots efforts can tackle urgent environmental challenges. By gathering people together and amplifying diverse voices, these events helped pave the way for a more sustainable future.
At TheOneHourProject, we were proud to be involved in these initiatives last year—and we’re excited to continue this work by supporting AlterCOP 30 this November!
If you’re passionate about grassroots climate action, we invite you to be a volunteer for AlterCOP! We’re looking for copywriters to craft compelling content, Canva creators to design stunning visuals, and social media planners to amplify our message online. This is your chance to support community-driven solutions and help create a more resilient world.
Volunteer for AlterCOP 30 today, and be part of this amazing movement in Singapore and beyond!