The 2024 edition of The Liveability Challenge (TLC), a global crowdsourcing platform was launched today at Cities: Possibilities, a forum dedicated to sustainable cities.
Launched in 2018, TLC identifies and accelerates the commercialization of innovative solutions to address urban challenges in cities, according to the press note.
Presented by Temasek Foundation in its seventh edition this year, the challenge saw more than Singapore $2 million pledged to support innovative projects and solutions that will have a significant impact on the planet and people.
Head of programmes at Temasek Foundation Lim Hock Chuan has said: “The Liveability Challenge aims to be a key enabler in sourcing for disruptive game-changing innovations globally to solve pressing climate issues. In its seventh edition, this concerted effort has grown year on year,” it reads.
This year’s edition will feature two tracks to seek innovative solutions from around the world – Climate Change and Food & Nutrition.
The winner of each track will be awarded a prize of S$1 million.
Themed “Taking stock. Raising ambition” and held in the lead-up to the COP28 climate summit, which will be hosted by the United Arab Emirates in Dubai, Cities: Possibilities 2023 convened leaders and decision-makers across government, financial institutions and the venture capital sector to discuss what needs to be done to achieve an ambitious outcome critical to avoiding the most extreme impacts of climate change.
Jessica Cheam, founder and managing director of Eco-Business said “With this year’s Cities: Possibilities forum focused on taking stock of the planet’s progress since the Paris Agreement, it is critical that we continue discourse on how to mobilise finance to fund solutions that could help slash current emissions by half in the lead up to 2030 if we are to achieve net zero by 2050.”
“We are encouraged that decision-makers in the region gathered today outlined specific actionable steps that we can take forward into our work.”
Vinamra Srivastava, CapitaLand Investment’s chief sustainability officer, who gave the opening keynote at the forum said, “The urgent need to take climate action remains amid the current macroeconomic and geopolitical environment, and the rapidly urbanizing Asia region plays a key role in creating a more sustainable built environment.”
The event saw Her Excellency Kara Owen, British High Commissioner to Singapore, provide the closing summary and remarks.
The forum concluded with the exclusive premiere of the 360 documentary “Wasted”, a documentary investigating the issue of waste and ways to turn waste pollution into solutions, which was written, directed and produced by Eco-Business.
TLC’s call for submissions officially opened today and will close on 9 February 2024.
Two steering committees on climate and food will convene to select the finalists, who will pitch their solutions to judges and investors at The Liveability Challenge Grand Finale in April 2024.
Some 180 decision-makers gathered at Catapult in Singapore for Cities: Possibilities 2023 with more than 230 participating virtually.
The event was live streamed on social media platforms.
