Young People Develop Climate Change Solutions at Ipswich Hackathon

Sixteen young people gathered in Ipswich to develop innovative solutions for pressing environmental challenges during a recent hackathon. The event, hosted by Seeds of Hope and Change at the Jerwood Dancehouse, focused on empowering youth to address climate change through creative problem-solving.

The participants, aged 16 and 17, worked in timed sessions to devise posters outlining ways to tackle issues including light pollution, wildfires, ocean damage, and poor water quality. One group, including 17-year-old Baveen, focused on light pollution, proposing the use of low-intensity bulbs and motion sensors for streetlights to reduce unnecessary energy consumption.

"We wanted to talk about the cities and the sky and how it affects people and also wildlife," Baveen explained.

Another participant, 16-year-old Maryanne, highlighted the urgency of issues like ocean pollution. "We just want people to be aware of what's going on, especially with major issues such as ocean pollution," she said.

The hackathon was organized by ambassadors from the youth-led campaigning organization #iwill. Alex Harrison, an ambassador for #iwill, stated that a primary goal of the event was to remind young people that they can make a tangible difference despite the daunting nature of climate change.

Climate change, defined as the long-term shift in the Earth's average temperatures and weather conditions, has been increasingly evident. Provisional data from the Met Office indicated that the UK experienced its hottest summer on record, with human-induced climate change making such heatwaves approximately 130 times more likely.

The exhibition associated with the event, running until October 4, features 24 pop-up panels that present global information and case studies on the impact of climate change. The initiative aims to foster awareness and inspire action among young people facing these significant environmental challenges.