Climate Science is a global charity creating and providing educational resources on solutions to climate change to 100,000s of people worldwide. It’s an UK based charity driven by volunteers from all over the world.

Climate Science has organized this Olympiad to find solutions to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Olympiad is divided into three phases. These are:

1. Qualifiers

Compete in teams of 2 (recommended) or on your own. Teams can apply together. Individual applicants are, if they wish for it, matched up with a teammate by the organizers.

In a qualifier, you choose one of three problem statements to respond to. To help you prepare, you are told the topics 10 days before the event, but the exact problem statement is only revealed at the start of the actual qualifier event.

Then you have 3 hours to research (with internet connection) and write essay responses to questions related to the problem statement. Climate Science will score each team’s solution. In-person qualifiers are organized locally (in e.g. university venues). Online qualifiers are held regionally too.

2. Semi Finals

The top 5% of all qualifier participants advance to the global semi finals. Semi finals are held online.

Semi finalists, are invited to a community education program that helps them prepare for the semi final (and final)

3. The Final

If you make it to the final, you have essentially won already. Why?

Depending on the COVID-19 situation in Nov 2021, the final will be conducted in-person in Glasgow, UK or online. If in-person, finalists will also be invited to the United Nations Climate Summit (COP26) in Glasgow, UK.

On top of that, the top 3 teams split the prize pool of $10,000 (USD) with $5,000 for 1st place, $3,000 for 2nd, and $2,000 for 3rd.

Benefits

• Winners: The top 3 teams win US$5,000, US$3,000 and US$2,000, respectively. The prize money is split half/half between the two team members or awarded in full in case the winner participated on their own.
• Finalists: If there’s no more pandemic, finalists will meet in person and attend the ‘Green zone’ of the United Nations Climate Summit (COP-26) in Glasgow on Nov 1-12, 2021.
• Semi-finalists: You are invited to a Climate Science-led training group to help you prepare for the semi-final and, if you proceed, for the final.

Eligibilities

• Climate Science host two age brackets: 14-17 and 18-25. If none is in one of those at the time of registration, they are eligible regardless of nationality or other factors.
• Both members of a team must be within the same age bracket at the time of application. They will require proof-of-age from everyone who makes it to the semi-finals.
• Both age brackets participate in the same qualifiers and answer the same type of problem statements. However, Climate Science only compare participants within their age groups. This means they score the two brackets independently and normalize them within each other. Semi-finalists, finalists and eventually the winners are then chosen based on the highest normalized score across age groups. This ensures fair comparison regardless of age.

Eligible Regions: Open for all.

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