The climate crisis is accelerating, and high school students are rising to create solutions that require innovation, creativity, and activism. This guide briefly outlines ten rewarding competitions in which students of all ages can take their desire to take action towards sustainability. All opportunities were designed to provide access: many of them are free, have scholarships available, as well accept students from many backgrounds. Participants will build valuable skills in project management, public speaking and collaborative problem solving, and have experiences they can include in college applications.
1.Oxford Said Global Climate Change Challenge
Location: Hybrid (Finalists present in Oxford, UK, and COP30)
Program Dates: Submissions open until March 2025
Cost: Free
Eligibility: Students aged 15–18 worldwide
Deadline: March 1, 2025
This international competition calls on students to propose their own solutions for climate change issues such as air quality issues and food security. Finalists present at COP30 and also receive a spot in Oxford’s Future Climate Innovators Summer School. The participants will spend time working and collaborating with their teachers to develop an implementable project, and receive mentorship from Oxford Faculty. The winning teams will receive travel and training funding fully funded, and these will become new international advocates for climate change.
2.Clean Tech Competition
Location: Virtual
Program Dates: Rolling submissions until 2025
Cost: Free
Eligibility: High school students globally
Deadline: Varies by region
Students are creating sustainable technologies which have the potential to solve environmental problems ranging from renewable energy generation to waste reduction. In the competition, projects are judged by a panel of experts based on innovation, feasibility and impact (the winners can earn up to 20,000 dollars!). Throughout the competition, students engage in meaningful hands-on STEM work and are provided resources such as implementation guides and mentorship. Some past winning projects include biodegradable packaging solutions, and solar-powered water purifiers.
3.TCI Water and Soil Hackathon
Location: Virtual
Program Dates: Annual event (January 2025)
Cost: Free
Eligibility: High school and college students
Deadline: January 2025
In a 48-hour hackathon, students are tasked with developing new ideas and solutions that focus on water scarcity and degradation of land, soil, and environmental resources. Teams create prototypes such as IoT-based irrigation systems, or educational applications for communities to use, where the winning projects receive up to $7,500. All participating students will attend educational workshops focusing on environmental justice. Students also have to pitch their project ideas to judges from universities and NGOs.
4.Burjeel Holdings Oxford Saïd Climate Challenge
Location: Dubai (COP28 finals)
Program Dates: July–December 2025
Cost: Free
Eligibility: Students aged 15–18 and educators
Deadline: October 2025
This competition is focused mainly on climate resilience and will require students to address either extreme weather or vector borne diseases. The educators submit lesson plans that challenge students to take action on climate. The finalists present at COP28 and winner also have a spot in executive programs at Oxford. The projects may include using AI to support response efforts with disaster recovery and urban green spaces.
5.Innovating for the Future Competition
Location: Virtual
Program Dates: Annual (2025 dates TBA)
Cost: Free
Eligibility: High school students in the U.S.
Deadline: February 2025
Students design business or technology solutions that are relevant to the UN Sustainable Development Goals - for example, carbon capture devices or zero-waste app initiatives. The finalists then pitch to industry judges, and the prize money goes back to the winning team's school to fund projects towards sustainability. The focus is on real-world applications, collaborating with organizations like Tesla and Patagonia to provide mentorship opportunities.
6.Ocean Awareness Contest
Location: Virtual
Program Dates: Submissions open until June 2025
Cost: Free
Eligibility: Students aged 11–18 globally
Deadline: June 9, 2025
Through this contest, students explore art and writing through notions of connection to nature through various mediums- poetry, film, sculpture. The submissions are analyzing work related to ocean conservation, climate justice or water equity. The prizes are scholarships and a chance to get published. One submission led to immediate change in local policy (i.e. banning single use plastics)!
7.Egis Foundation International Student Challenge
Location: Global (Finale in Paris)
Program Dates: September 2025–March 2026
Cost: Free
Eligibility: High school and university students
Deadline: December 2025
Teams from all over the world come together to fast-track innovative climate adaptation action projects designed to demonstrate their skills and expertise in building flood-resilient cities, creating drought-resistant crops, and more.At this stage, final project submissions are reviewed and selected, moving the best ideas into the next phase. The winners work with experienced Egis engineers who provide support, guidance, and mentorship through the process.The winning ideas are showcased at a major summit in Paris getting global recognition and accolades from experts and stakeholders from around the world.In addition to the acclaim and prestige of winning, the delivered ideas are supported by a partner NGO like Nepal's rain gardens project.
8.Project Green Challenge
Location: Hybrid (Finals in San Francisco)
Program Dates: October–November 2025
Cost: Free
Eligibility: High school and college students
Deadline: October 1, 2025
A monthly program offers daily eco-challenges, such as reducing food waste and lobbying for policy changes. The top finalists attend a climate summit to pitch their projects for a $5,000 prize. Past winners have successfully implemented school-wide compost programs and created viral social media campaigns that make a lasting impact. These challenges foster innovation and inspire individuals to take action on environmental issues. Participants can track their progress and stay motivated with a supportive community.
9.Xylem Global Student Innovation Challenge
Location: Virtual
Program Dates: April–June 2025
Cost: Free
Eligibility: Students aged 13–25
Deadline: April 21, 2025
The teams, who were challenged with innovating tech solutions to combat issues around water security, like designing a glacier-monitoring drone or flood prediction algorithm, will receive cash prizes totaling $17,000 and will be able to pitch their ideas to engineers at Xylem. The focus of the competition is on AI and data analytics and the contestants will also attend workshops run by climate scientists.
If you are a high school student pushing yourself to stand out in college applications, RISE Research offers a unique opportunity to work one-on-one with mentors from top universities around the world.
Through personalized guidance and independent research projects that can lead to prestigious publications, RISE helps you build a standout academic profile and develop skills that set you apart. With flexible program dates and global accessibility, ambitious students can apply year-round. To learn more about eligibility, costs, and how to get started, visit RISE Research’s official website and take your college preparation to the next level!
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