Guide for Organizing a Climathon
The Office for Climate Education (OCE) presents the Guide for Organizing a Climathon, a comprehensive resource designed to federate schools and the broader community—students, teachers, local associations, parents, NGOs, policymakers, scientists, and urban planners—around collaborative climate action. This guide, inspired by Climate-KIC’s methodology, provides a step-by-step plan, execute, and follow up on Climathons, inspiring climate adaptation and mitigation projects with real-world impact.
A Resource for All Stakeholders
This guide is more than just a teaching tool—it is a call to action for the entire educational ecosystem. Whether you are an educator, a member of a local association, or a policymaker, this resource empowers you to collaborate in addressing local climate challenges through project-based learning and active community involvement.
What is a Climathon?
A Climathon (climate + hackathon) is a structured event where participants co-design solutions to a climate-related challenge in their community. Adapted for formal education by OCE, this methodology integrates local context, expert insights, and hands-on learning into a transformative project-based approach.
What’s Inside the Guide?
Step-by-Step Methodology
Phase 1: Preparation
Establish the local context and gather a team of educators, students, and experts. Lay the foundation with professional development workshops and identify specific challenges to address.
Phase 2: Climathon Day
Engage in collaborative brainstorming with experts, teachers, and students to develop actionable climate solutions. This day includes interactive workshops, scientific talks, and solution design sessions.
Phase 3: Project Realisation
Implement the selected project(s) through hands-on activities involving the entire school and local community. These projects may include greening schoolyards, water conservation, or sustainable urban planning initiatives.
Phase 4: Feedback and Evaluation
Reflect on the impact of the projects, celebrate student contributions, and evaluate learning outcomes to ensure long-term engagement and continuous improvement.
Who Can Use This Guide?
Teachers: Gain a clear roadmap to lead interdisciplinary, action-based climate education.
Local Associations and NGOs: Provide expertise and resources to enrich student-led initiatives.
Policymakers and Urban Planners: Collaborate with schools to address local climate adaptation and mitigation challenges.
Community Members: Support student projects and enhance community climate resilience.
Why Organize a Climathon?
By engaging the whole educational community, Climathons foster:
Collaborative Learning: Strengthening connections between schools, experts, and communities.
Empowerment: Encouraging students and stakeholders to take actionable steps toward climate solutions.
Sustainable Practices: Promoting behaviors and projects that mitigate and adapt to climate challenges.
This guide is part of OCE’s commitment to empowering educators and communities worldwide with high-quality resources to address climate change collectively.