How might we use #tech4good to accelerate nature, climate and energy solutions?

Supported by UNDP Nature Climate Energy Team | UNDP Chief Digital Office | Government of Japan

‍

Why

‍

The latest IPCC report warns of the irreversible impacts of global warming. And evidence suggests that to accelerate a just, green, and resilient climate transition, major coordinated action must happen. To accelerate structural transformations, UNDP seeks proven digital solutions that can help usher in greater climate responses at scale and speed. We also recognize that there are potential risks to digital technology – misinformation, data privacy, cybersecurity – and that solutions should also address the needs of the most vulnerable and mitigate the tendency for digital to reflect and amplify existing inequalities.

‍

The #Climate Challenge

‍

The UNDP Nature, Climate, and Energy team works in 146 countries across over 700 projects and we know not one size fits all, so in this sense we are cognizant that localized solutions are critical.  As natural environment, climate change and the need for adaptation, mitigation and resiliency responses contrast according to context, we are expanding our digital portfolio of tools that address the dual nature and climate crises. Specifically, our integrated support to governments is delivered across key nexus areas, like sustainable cities, plastics and zero waste, energy, and agriculture, food, and water. We are creating a Digital Solutions Catalogue of existing tools that can support countries and governments to address various climate and nature challenges.

‍

The Global #Climate Challenge is seeking ‘ready-to-scale’ digital solutions that can be used by UNDP and its partners to bridge digital divides and last mile challenges. Solutions should answer the broad question: How might we use #tech4good to accelerate a global transition to a sustainable future, contributing to green recovery that helps the world's most vulnerable escape poverty and build resilience?

‍

Types of digital solutions we are looking for:

‍

Digital tools that contribute to building credibility and enhance green finance.

• Digital tools that help Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) of greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental and sustainable development benefits based on internationally approved methodologies.
• Digital tools that monitor and detect changes in the natural environment, such as illegal logging activities in protected areas, or wildlife monitoring using new data sources.
• Open algorithms for carbon credit ledgers.

‍

Data driven solutions for SMART behavior change and decision making.

• Digital tools that support sustainable transport, such as e-fleet, electric car charging port planning, more energy efficient public transport.  
• IoT, ML/AI, remote sensing digital solutions that can collect, store, and verify sustainability data for supply chain traceability at the last mile.
• Open-source algorithms to surface data that can feed into national energy access planning or sector coordination, especially in data scarce areas.
• Software as a service climate risk analysis models and tools for climate risk-informed decision making and adaptation planning.
• Digital tools that enable the mapping of plastic waste and other pollutants, using citizen science, AI and other novel methodologies.

‍

Digital tools and activities that empower local action for nature and climate.

• Digital tools for civil society engagement and awareness raising.
• Digital tools that support farmers in joining public engagement opportunities, build capacities, utilize climate information, or find market opportunities  
• Digital tools that support the activation of green markets, resilient livelihoods, employment, transitions to renewable energy, and women’s economic empowerment.

‍

Learn more about the selection criteria, timeline, eligibility and application process. Explore the FAQ here.

‍

Get started with the FAQ & apply!

‍