As the triple planetary crisis continue to threaten our planet, the need for innovative, digital solutions has never been more urgent. Recognizing the critical role of youth, Hack for the Environment is designed to harness creativity, technical skills, and passion to generate practical digital solutions to environmental challenges. This hackathon will empower young innovators in Nairobi to design digital and data tools to tackle local issues related to climate change, nature conservation, and pollution.

What You'll Gain

• Expert Mentorship & Masterclasses: Learn directly from specialists at the United Nations, Government of Kenya, global tech firms, and top academic institutions — a unique chance to engage with the leaders shaping the future of digital and environmental innovation.
• High-Level Networking: Connect with global experts, policymakers, and potential collaborators across sectors.
• Recognition & Certification: Receive official certificates, LinkedIn achievement badges, and opportunities for international recognition.
• UN Showcase Opportunity: The top 5 teams will present their solutions at the United Nations in Nairobi and participate in structured networking sessions with high-level stakeholders.
• Path to Implementation: Outstanding ideas may be selected for further development within UNEP’s Digital Accelerator Lab.
• Real-World Impact: Use data and technology to tackle the triple planetary crisis and contribute to building a more sustainable and resilient future for Kenya and beyond.
• Cash prize for winners: 1,000 USD for winning team, 600 USD for 2nd place, 400 USD for 3rd place

Solution needs & ideas

Provided by the Action Lab under the Office of the Special Envoy on Technology for the Republic of Kenya

• Climate Change:
  • Weather and disaster prediction to enable early warning for vulnerable communities.
  • Affordable adaptation technologies, e.g., mobile apps for drought/flood alerts, to support farmers and urban areas.
• Biodiversity and Nature Loss:
  • Community-driven monitoring apps to empower locals in tracking species or deforestation, e.g., for Tsavo ecosystems.
  • Capacity building to integrate traditional knowledge (Maasai, Luo, Kikuyu practices), enhancing community-led conservation.
• Pollution and Waste:
  • Waste tracking platforms to monitor water quality or organize community waste collection.
  • Circular economy solutions to promote reducing plastic consumption, or recycling and reuse, reducing plastic leakage.

Kenya, a biodiversity-rich nation hosting UNEP’s headquarters, is grappling with the triple planetary crisis, endangering ecosystems and livelihoods.

• Climate change intensifies droughts in Turkana and floods in Mombasa, driven by insufficient emission reductions from fossil fuel-heavy transport and industry, risking 2.8°C warming by 2100 (2024 Emissions Gap Report). Scarce real-time monitoring leaves communities vulnerable.
• Biodiversity loss escalates due to slow progress on the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, with only 8% of Kenya’s land protected against a 30% target by 2030, threatening species like rhinos and ecosystem services like water purification. Deforestation in Mau Forest and mangroves, fueled by logging and agriculture, disrupts water cycles, while limited community engagement overlooks Maasai rotational grazing, Luo sustainable fishing, and Kikuyu agroforestry, reducing conservation buy-in. Poor biodiversity integration into agriculture and infrastructure fragments habitats.
• Pollution and waste, including plastics clogging rivers like Athi-Galana-Sabaki, persist with low recycling rates (10%) and weak infrastructure. Single-use plastics endure despite the 2017 ban, and data gaps on pollution sources hinder effective policies, escalating environmental and health risks. These crises demand urgent digital solutions from Kenya’s youth to support UNEA-7’s vision (December 2025).