Developing applications using open source technologies
David Clark Kurz in partnership with the Linux Foundation
IBM Technology Support from Climate Policy to Artificial Intelligence

Software developers around the world are exploring ways to use open source technologies to combat climate change.
IBM and the David Clark Curze Foundation, together with the United Nations Human Rights Council and the Linux Foundation, are hosting the Call for Code Global Challenge.

The competition aims to develop practical and innovative applications that can impact climate change. This includes Red Hat's OpenShift, IBM Cloud, IBM Watson, IBM Blockchain, and The Weather Company's data.

The United Nations, which celebrates its 75th anniversary this year, is conducting various campaigns to solve pressing global issues such as climate change, and IBM is working with major UN organizations and world leaders to participate in this effort.

According to a recent IBM survey of more than 3,000 people around the world, including developers, emergency medical personnel, and social activists, 77% of emergency medical personnel and developers identified climate change as the most urgent issue facing our generation.

79% of respondents agreed that problems caused by climate change can be reduced or solved using advanced technologies, and 87% of respondents said that it is important for companies to take action to address climate change.

Eight in 10 respondents said most people want to do something to combat climate change, but don't know where or how to start.

“With the urgent need to address climate change, IBM is proactively connecting talented developers with relevant experts,” said Bob Lord, senior vice president, IBM Cognitive Applications and Developer Ecosystem. “We are mobilizing the full breadth of IBM technology—from climate policy to our weather forecasting capabilities powered by AI and supercomputers—to find technology solutions that can create a better world for future generations.”
Meanwhile, last year’s event attracted over 180,000 participants from 165 countries around the world, and more than 5,000 applications focused on natural disaster preparedness and relief were developed. The Prometheo team, consisting of three veterans and emergency medical nurses, won the award for developing a wearable device that monitors the safety of firefighters in real time and checks their health by measuring carbon monoxide, smoke concentration, humidity, and temperature. The solution was developed with the support of IBM’s Code and Response program and recently completed its first wildfire field test.

IBM, the UN Human Rights Council, the David Clark Curze Foundation, and the Linux Foundation are investing $30 million over five years in a massive climate change developer competition.