The University of Auckland’s Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, in partnership with Vector, hosted Auckland’s first ever Climathon. A 24 hour global ideas hack, the event took place simultaneously in over 233 cities worldwide. Climathon was designed by Europe’s largest public-private innovation partnership focused on climate change, known as Climate-KIC.

The Auckland Climathon event was held over 24 hours from Friday night, 27th October to Saturday night, 28th October. Students, staff, and the greater Auckland community participated in this large scale international programme with the aim of bringing to life innovations and solutions to climate change issues.

In the lead up to Climathon, the Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship invited 16 researchers and sustainability professionals from the University of Auckland, Vector, For the Love of Bees, Generation Zero, Auckland Council and the Australian National University to write about what climate change means for Auckland.

• Think globally, act locally – Will Steffen – Emeritus Professor, Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University
• How thinking of environmental issues as a personal problem leads to something truly special – Dan Bowden, CEO of O2O2
• All hands on deck: climate action, prosperity and Auckland Council – John Mauro, Chief Sustainability Officer, Auckland Council
• Kaitiakitanga – it is our only hope – Dr Dan Hikuroa, NgāPae o te Maramatanga and Te Pūnaha Matatini
• The impact of climate change on our native forests – Dr Cate Macinnis-Ng, School of Environmental Science
• Vector: helping to create a new energy future for Auckland – Karl Check, Group Manager Sustainability, Vector
• How will climate change affect marine life around Auckland? – Mark J. Costello and Chhaya Chaudhary, Faculty of Science
• Imagining life beyond Auckland as a way to ensure its future – Dr Stephen Knight-Lenihan, School of Architecture and Planning
• The case for housing density in the face of climate change – Greer Rasmussen, Generation Zero and Women in Urbanism Aotearoa
• Solving traffic without relying on motorways – Tatjana Buklijas, Liggins Institute
• Embracing renewable energy to ensure Auckland’s future – Professor Basil Sharp, Energy Centre
• Close the gender gap in climate change policy – Professor Dory Reeves, School of Architecture and Planning
• For the love of bees – Sarah Smutts-Kennedy, For the love of bees
• The problem with trickle-down sustainability – Dr Julie MacArthur, Politics and International Relations
• Esutarine health: the key to preserving Auckland’s economy and culture – Diana LaScala-Gruenwald, Faculty of Science
• Noho Māmā, Live Lightly for Auckland’s low carbon future – Lucy Pierpoint, Auckland Council

Thank you to all of our writers who have contributed such thought-provoking material.