Climathon is a city-based ideathon led by The EIT Climate-KIC Spain. This academic year, the IE School of Politics, Economics & Global Affairs co-hosted the Climathon in Madrid in collaboration with the IE Eco Club Madrid and IE SDG Club. Its goal is to raise climate awareness, disrupt the status quo, and rethink the places we live in and the future we want as citizens.
The 2-day ideation at IE University brought together a diverse group of participants to co-create ideas that address local climate challenges. It kickstarted with presentations from Juan Carlos Silva-Tamayo , Academic Director of the IE Bachelor of Environmental Sciences for Sustainability, and Laura McDermott, founder of Colectivo and IE Adjunct Professor of Global Challenges. Student teams then engaged in a spirited debate moderated by Kevin Febres Castillo, IE debate coach, about collective decision-making on the allocation of funds for environmental public policy. Following the debate, the participants had the honor of receiving an exclusive workshop on sustainability value propositions from the esteemed Ramon Sánchez, Professor of Sustainable and Social Innovation at Harvard University. Finally, we had the honor of welcoming Luis Tejero, from the Madrid City Council’s Department of Environment and Sustainability who provided an insightful overview of Madrid’s climate-energy crisis.
This year’s challenge focused on SDG7, which advocates for affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all, and on SDG 13, which calls for climate action. IE students used a case study in Madrid to brainstorm innovative strategies and sustainable solutions that different stakeholders can implement to ensure renewable and accessible energy in low-income communities and pitched their proposals to a panel of sustainability experts for a chance to win the competition.
Students debating at the Climathon
How does the Climathon make sustainability a key point?
For the organizers, the main goal was to give the spotlight to all the participants who had innovative ideas and were enthusiastic about solving a real-world problem. Our university has taught us sustainability is present in every aspect of our lives today and that it is of utmost importance that we start considering it NOW. It is not only relevant to the environment but also to international relations, law, the corporate world, economics, and so on.
The Climathon as an event aims to spark an interest in sustainability ideation and project development that can bring together students with various interests. At IE we decided not only to resort to people with field knowledge of environmental science but also to comprise others from different careers who could bring something beyond the obvious to the table. Those coming from other fields can then learn and use sustainable practices in their subject area, and at the same time bring a fresh perspective into sustainability. In a way, we sought to build a symbiotic relationship, one in which people come together to share ideas. With a unique brainstorming, an enriching experience was brought that included workshops, debates, and talks igniting a genuine interest in the matter.
Lastly, another main idea to highlight is that a solution or change not only depends on the private or public sphere but also highlights the coordination between all stakeholders to achieve progress. We strongly believe that our current challenges will be solved through our ability to come together and act collectively, which certainly brings about more comprehensive solutions and strategies. As Laura Mcdermott , founder of Colectivo, herself shared with us “Alone you go faster, but together we go further”, and at the end of the day, this is what the spirit of the Climathon is all about.
Thoughts from the winning team: SOLFORALL
The Climathon at IE was a great incubator for new ideas, and without it, we would never have had the opportunity to be where we are right now. We did one specific thing during the event that has now become a central aspect of how we approach issues today. We were working around a table, deadline nearing rapidly, confused as to how to approach this wicked problem comprehensively, and I think it was Simon who said, “Why don’t we just go to Cañada Real?” Of course, there are numerous photos and articles online about the area, but seeing it with our own eyes grounded our project in reality and inspired us to pursue this mission of sustainable solutions beyond the Climathon. We cannot forget there are real people affected by these implementations, so placing yourself in their community puts a face on those affected and helps tailor solutions that endure.
We returned from this excursion and could not hold ourselves back from practicing this newly acquired knowledge. Therefore, we consulted Harvard Professor Dr Ramon Sanchez and together, we came up with an innovative solution: Let us present our SOLFORALL Energy Living Lab: Imagine a place where the sun's energy nurtures the community, where the streets contribute to a cooler, greener environment. Our project in Cañada Real is this vision brought to life. It's a symphony of sustainable technologies - solar farms, energy kiosks, eco-friendly pavements - all singing in harmony. But the heart of this project? The people. We're not just installing systems; we're empowering a community, weaving sustainability into the very fabric of their lives.
Next steps for SOLFORALL…
While Manuel García Hernández, Director General for Mines and Energy Policy at the Ministry for Ecological Transition and Demographical Challenge of the Government of Spain, had a positive reception of the project and also encouraged our actions to pursue this project, he recommended that we take this to the private sector, as the whole concept is very profitable as well. The encouragement from leaders like Manuel García Hernández was not just a pat on the back, but a clarion call to aim higher.
At no point after going to Cañada did we imagine a culmination of our vision after the Climathon. For us, this is just the beginning. So now, we are seeking the next energy-impoverished areas to introduce our Living Lab concept. We are looking for investors, advisors, visionaries, and anyone hungry to enact real change. We want to make IE the University that drives innovation beyond the name.
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