Crowd4SDG, an EU-funded project involving CERN as a partner organisation, is launching its third and final call for projects. This time the call aims to attract innovators interested in tackling climate change and promoting justice through crowdsourcing initiatives.
Climate change affects us all, but not all in the same way. It will likely lead to inequalities within and across nations and between current and future generations. “Climate justice” is a term used to frame climate change as an ethical and political issue rather than one that is purely environmental or physical. Climate and justice correspond to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 13 and 16, respectively.
Crowd4SDG is calling for ideas for projects that will address climate justice, helping to increase the resilience of communities and individuals across the globe affected by climate change, especially the most vulnerable, through crowdsourcing.
“By gathering local data, through social media, for example, on the situation in a local area that is otherwise unavailable for national statistics offices, participants can affect national and regional policies,” says Francois Grey, professor at the University of Geneva and coordinator of the project.
Participants must first pitch ideas on addressing climate justice on the Goodwall platform – a social network connecting young talent with opportunities. From there, 50 people will be selected for online coaching with crowdsourcing experts from the Crowd4SDG partner organisations. Those who complete this first cycle will receive a certificate from the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).
The most promising teams and projects will progress to an intensive online workshop. This will include sessions on pitching and the chance to develop a functional prototype using Crowd4SDG tools, co-organised by the innovation space at CERN, IdeaSquare.
Representatives of two of the most promising teams will then be invited to travel to Geneva, Switzerland, to present their projects to potential UN and NGO partner organisations and impact investors during an international conference called the Geneva Trialogue.
The deadline for applications is 30 September. More details of the call are available here.