Climate Justice Idea Competition 2026

On August 15, 2026, The Daily Star Centre hosted the grand finale of Season 5 of the Climate Justice Idea Competition 2026. The event brought together young innovators, mentors, judges, and partners for a day of urgent conversation, solutions, and hope.

From 240+ submissions across three categories Green Business, Water Rights, and Energy Transition- nine teams were chosen to present their final pitches. The entire submission and screening process was managed through an online portal provided by GUIDE, with The Earth Society conducting the full screening process for all 240+ ideas received.  Before the finale, each team joined a grooming session where nine mentors offered guidance, helping the groups polish their proposals and enhance their presentations.

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When the competition was first launched, initiatives of this kind were far less common. The competition helped inspire others to create similar platforms and competitions, contributing to a growing space for climate-focused ideas and innovation. Over the years, it has reached thousands of participants, allowing them to develop new ideas, think critically about climate challenges, and explore solutions that could shape the next generation of climate entrepreneurs and leaders.

More than a contest, it was a platform for youth ideation and refining concepts after receiving critical feedback from the judges to address operational loopholes. Adjudicators raised probing questions, and teams answered with facts and figures, showing the real learning that comes when young people are trusted to act. The nine finalists on stage represent many more across the country: students, entrepreneurs, and community members who are continuously working in the field to reduce plastic emissions, accelerate an affordable energy transition, decrease fossil fuel reliance, and ensure safe drinking water.

As the day closed, the mood was not one of endings, but of beginnings, a shared dream of securing a safe home for everyone. Pointing to instances where forests are destroyed due to illegal sand extraction or sliced through by road construction, The Daily Star reaffirmed its commitment to constantly addressing these crises and shedding light on environmental degradation; its reporting will remain active through investigative journalism, policy conversations, and multimedia coverage to help link innovators with mentors, funders, and decision-makers. Moving forward in partnership with ActionAid Bangladesh, the initiative proved that with proper guidance and persistence, local ideas can grow into real answers for climate justice and a safer future for our communities.

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Farah Kabir
Country Director,
ActionAid Bangladesh

Bangladesh is a delta, so we are a nation that’s carved by water. But today, that same water has challenged us in multiple ways. It’s rising, there is salinity, and we have the climate crisis. We also say that we inherited the Earth, and it’s a legacy. But I feel what we have done is a total injustice to the planet; we have borrowed it from the young people, our children, and messed it up. So, we feel that in these unpredictable, uncertain times, our young people are going to try and come up with solutions. We often say that young people are future leaders. I disagree. Young people are leaders now. 

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Kamal Ahmed
Consulting Editor,
The Daily Star

Beyond the endless talk of policymakers, real hope for Bangladesh’s safe future lies in youth initiatives. This youth-led initiative is extremely encouraging, and it is on this platform that we find hope. Youth have accepted the challenge of climate justice very well, and we saw the proof of that right here. Whether it is waste management, the plastic crisis, or water crisis, there is water everywhere, but no safe water. There is no reason to give up. We must find solutions to these problems because this is about our survival. Ultimately, if we cannot protect this planet, we will not survive.