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Climate change is here, and it’s time to take action! The Coding for Climate Challenge, running from March 17 to April 27, 2025, is the perfect opportunity for educators to inspire students while helping them make a real difference. Organized by Take Action Global, this initiative invites classrooms around the world to combine coding with climate solutions.
At Endless OS Foundation, we’re thrilled to support this challenge by offering our FREE MakeCode curriculum.
We sat down with Jennifer Williams, Executive Director and Co-founder of Take Action Global, and Kayla Henn, the organization's Marketing and Communications Director, to talk about the inspiration behind the Coding for Climate Challenge and its impact. Watch the full interview here.
What inspired this challenge?
Jennifer told us that they've always had an interest in computer science and technology, and many of their educators were already integrating these subjects into their classrooms. Since they work with climate education globally, they wanted to create a program that combined both. In 2024, they launched the first Coding for Climate Challenge with almost 4,000 classrooms joining. They were amazed by the response.
How the Challenge Works
Research the Problem – Students choose a climate issue to tackle, researching local and global problems while engaging in discussions and expert talks.
Pick a League – Students select a theme that excites them:
Water League: Water scarcity, drought, and pollution
Energy League: Renewable energy and efficiency
Ocean League: Plastic pollution and marine conservation
Land League: Deforestation, air pollution, and biodiversity
We loved the badges! Super cool designs and an amazing way to gamify the experience.
Create Solutions – Using the free resources supplied here, students design games and projects that raise awareness and propose real solutions. Yes, our MakeCode curriculum is available here as well!
Share Innovations – At the end of the challenge, students showcase their projects during a global Earth Day event, sharing their solutions with the world!
Real Classroom Impact
The impact of this challenge goes beyond just coding. As Jennifer shared, classrooms around the world are using storytelling, science experiments, and advocacy campaigns to engage in climate action:
“We have classrooms that are creating art installations, doing storytelling, and finding ways to tell the stories of people impacted by climate change. They’re conducting science experiments, building inventions, and leading advocacy campaigns. The coding solutions are just one part of a beautiful portfolio of student action.”
The beauty of this challenge is in its adaptability. Teachers don’t have to follow a rigid curriculum, students can create in a way that makes sense for them:
“We designed with inquiry in mind because we know there’s no one-size-fits-all program for classrooms. We want students to take the lead, get creative, and surprise us with their ideas.”
What are the key benefits for students?
Kayla mentioned that beyond coding skills, students develop critical thinking, problem-solving, collaboration, and communication skills. They engage in virtual exchanges with classrooms worldwide, learning about global environmental issues and gaining a sense of agency in sustainability. Many students also build confidence and creativity as they interact with different perspectives.
What about educators?
Educators gain just as much as students. Many are working in online spaces for the first time, pushing past their comfort zones while connecting with teachers around the world. They’re learning new ways to facilitate student-led learning, focusing on research, planning, and execution. Plus, they don’t need to have all the answers—this challenge encourages students to take ownership of their learning where some of the key notes that Jennifer shared with us
A Powerful Example: From Coding to Real-World Change
One inspiring example comes from Pineree Junior High School in Texas, where students tackled deforestation after unexpected snowstorms destroyed many trees in their community. They started by designing a game about reforestation, but then took their project further:
“They decided to move beyond game design and launch a tree-planting initiative. They partnered with a local bank, secured funding, and planted trees in the community. Months later, their work was even covered by local media.”
For these students, the impact wasn’t just in coding, it was in physically seeing their solutions take root in their neighbourhood.
How to Get Involved
Participating in the Coding for Climate Challenge is simple:
Sign up on the Coding for Climate website.
Access free resources, lesson plans, and project guides.
Join virtual workshops and training sessions.
Connect with a global community of educators and students.
Showcase student projects at a global Earth Day event!
We can’t wait to see what educators and students create! Want to join the movement? Get involved before April 27th.