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Climate Hacktion unites students to build climate solutions ahead of COP31

The EU Delegation is hosting a hackathon for students in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands to re-imagine climate solutions.

Climate
© European Union, 2026

Climate Hack-tion is a hackathon for university students across Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific Islands and the EU, run ahead of COP31 - the UN's annual climate summit. Teams build a realistic working solution that helps advance one of COP31's priority areas: electrification, waste and methane reduction, resilient cities and buildings, green industrialisation, and broader climate awareness and education.

COP31 is a moment for the region. With Australia serving as President of Negotiations and the Pacific hosting the Pre-COP, Climate Hack-tion channels that regional momentum into youth-led action ahead of the summit.

The EU is a genuine climate partner to the region. Through its direct relationships and cooperation with Australia, New Zealand and Pacific countries, the EU is investing in shared climate priorities and in the young people who will carry that partnership forward.

With Australia serving as President of Negotiations for COP31, and the Pre-COP Leaders' event hosted in Fiji and Tuvalu from 5–8 October 2026, Climate Hack-tion channels the region's climate momentum into youth-led action.

Climate change is a shared global challenge, and solving it takes everyone. Running from 9am AEST Friday 2 October to 9pm AEDT Sunday 4 October 2026, teams of three to five students will turn one of COP31's five priority areas - electrification, zero waste and methane reduction, resilient cities and buildings, green industrialisation, and climate awareness - into a working prototype or realistic mockup.

Teams will be supported by mentors from academia and industry, and the winners will be announced at a closing ceremony on Monday 12 October, with a total prize pool of over A$10,000.

Get ready to Build for 35.

Event details

  • What: Climate Hack-tion -  A hackathon to reimagine climate solutions in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.
  • When: 9am AEST Friday 2 October – 9pm AEDT Sunday 4 October 2026
  • Who: University and TAFE students (18+) from Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific and the EU
  • Where: Online, via the Junction platform
  • Registration: Open now via: Event Platform Link

*Pacific Islands including Fiji, Cook Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Palau, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Tonga, and Tuvalu, Solomon Islands,Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea.