Project Earth was the winning proposal of the Climathon Viladecans 2023, a hackathon that was held last 28th October with the aim of finding solutions to heat islands and planning more sustainable and liveable cities. The project proposes to cover the squares with bio-panels and put on top grass that can generate clean energy. It also suggests the installation of a canalization system that collects the rainwater that is filtered and that it can be sprayed through a spray system. This hackathon is part of the Climathon program, the largest international event on climate change. This year it is celebrated in 38 cities around the world, 8 of them Spanish, to encourage citizen participation around this global problem.
In Viladecans, 21 young people aged between 16 and 18 from different high schools in the city dedicated the day to make proposals on the topic chosen in Spain, the problem of heat islands. The hackathon, organized by the City Council, took place between nine in the morning and seven in the afternoon. A true marathon of ideas where creativity and local talent came together to address climate challenges. The young participants attended a talk on climate change and the effects of heat islands by Mauro Manca, an architect specialized in sustainable architecture, energy efficiency and the circular economy, and then formed teams of three to face the challenge requested in the ideation processes, they were accompanied by experts who helped them in the prototyping of ideas and concepts. The presentations of the proposals were defended before a specialized jury bind together to the challenge.
Apart from the winning project, the jury also wanted to highlight as a finalist the Green Nuke project, which proposed the installation of vertical and hanging gardens in streets and squares where there is a lot of heat accumulation. The winning team took home an urban bike for each team member. The rest of the young people, just for participating, received an annual AMBici bonus.
With this initiative, we want to transmit knowledge about climate change and the ecological transition to young people, introduce them to the concept of innovative entrepreneurship and empower them to take an active role in climate and social change.
More sustainable cities and healthier urban spaces
The Climathon seeks to achieve healthy urban and community spaces, which improve people's quality of life, and reduce CO₂ emissions. The eight Spanish cities participating in the action are Viladecans, Cartagena, Eibar, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Murcia, Madrid, Sevilla and Valencia. Once the Climathons of Valencia and Las Palmas are held, the last to be held, they will all meet to evaluate and share the proposals made with the aim of finding the most effective solutions for the cities. The program is driven by CitiES 2030, the Platform of Collaboration for the Climate Neutrality of Spanish Cities, and EIT Climate-KIC, the largest public-private collaboration in Europe focused on innovation to mitigate change climate and adapt to it. Since its inception in 2015, EIT Climate-KIC has powered more than 900 Climathons worldwide, with the participation of more than 35,000 people. In Spain, 54 Climathons have been held in 24 cities, thus demonstrating the country's commitment to this global struggle
