Celebrating Sustainability: BE OPEN's Innovative Solutions at COP29 in Baku

BE OPEN's Sustainability Initiatives at COP29

On November 16, 2024, BE OPEN showcased its commitment to sustainability during a dedicated session at the COP29 conference held in Baku, Azerbaijan. This session was part of their ongoing multi-year competition program aimed at supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). The event brought together innovative minds to celebrate the talented winners of the recent "Design Your Climate Action" competition.

The venue, known as the Extreme Hangout Zone, buzzed with enthusiasm as Elena Baturina, the founder of BE OPEN, outlined the motivations behind the foundation's competition program. Each year, the focus of the competition shifts to a different SDG, with past themes including Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG12), Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG11), Zero Hunger (SDG2), Affordable and Clean Energy (SDG7), and Climate Action (SDG13). Baturina emphasized the foundation's mission to inspire younger creatives to devise innovative solutions for a sustainable future, stating, "Every year we collect hundreds of outstanding, well-researched, creative projects from young people all over the world. Through this initiative, we are reaffirming that empowering the youth to be leaders of sustainable change is indeed the most promising path forward."

The highlight of the session was the presentation of winning projects. Notably, the Public Vote winners, South African students Tshepiso Motau, Tsebo Mokwena, and Bongeka Buthelezi from the University of Johannesburg, introduced their pioneering "Swiftguard Early Flood Warning System." This invention is an integrated communication system designed to provide advance warnings for flood situations, featuring a telemetry buoy, signal tower, and solar-powered alarm.

Emilia Ziolek, a student from Ireland's University of Limerick, won both the Third Place and Founder’s Choice prizes for her innovative work on the "Tidal Energy Turbine Form Redesign with Biomimicry." This project proposes a groundbreaking design concept for bladeless turbines, which enhances energy conversion efficiency while minimizing the ecological impact on sea life by removing traditional rotating blades.

The premium award, First Prize, was claimed by Colombian students Darcy Rincón and Michelle Aljure from Universidad de los Andes. Their project, the "Inspira System," is focused on cultivating spirulina in lower-income neighborhoods in Bogotá to combat malnutrition, create job opportunities, and promote sustainability within vulnerable communities. Their presentation garnered significant attention, including support from representatives of the Colombian Embassy, showcasing the importance of their work to global audiences.

Following the presentations, BE OPEN extended an invitation to the students in attendance to engage in their new initiative, "Designing Futures 2050," which aims to increase awareness of urgent sustainability actions needed today. This ongoing competition seeks to inspire realistic implementations of sustainability principles by identifying and fostering innovative ideas.

To encourage participation and reward excellence, BE OPEN offers monetary prizes ranging from €2,000 to €5,000 and opportunities to attend major sustainability events. The foundation firmly believes that equipping young people with the right tools and encouragement is essential for igniting meaningful actions towards sustainable living.

In conclusion, BE OPEN's participation in COP29 exemplifies its unwavering dedication to sustainability and highlights the significant contributions young innovators can make to the global sustainability dialogue. Through initiatives like the Design Your Climate Action competition, BE OPEN continues to empower future leaders, fostering a strong commitment to a more sustainable world.