More than ever before, we are beginning to feel the effects of climate change in the places where we live. We are seeing more flooding challenges in our streets, more extreme heat in the summers, with biodiversity being affected as a result. Our towns and cities are not prepared to deal with some of the challenges that climate change will bring, and we know that these problems are not going to go away. We need to find ways to adapt, but also to mitigate the increasing effects of climate change.

The good thing is that there are many things we can do to redesign our towns, cities and rural neighbourhoods to become more sustainable, to encourage lifestyles that not only are better for us, but help us become more resilient to some of the changes to our climate in future decades, as well as help us to reduce our carbon emissions.

Here in the Planning department in the School of Natural and Built Environment, we would like to invite you to hack the place where you live. To imagine a better, happier and healthier place to live that responds to the climate crises. We want you to become a planner, and plan for your neighbourhood, town or city!

You could make a map of where new and innovative flood alleviation schemes could help stop our streets from flooding, as well as provide important biodiverse habitats. You might want to design new streets so people can cycle and walk more easily to get to where they want to go. You could consider new strategies for urban cooling and shade, green walls, compact neighbourhoods. What about new energy sources? Every place is different and will respond in different ways.

Interested? Here’s what to do:

Step 1: First, register with us via the form at the bottom of this page. We’ll send you some tips and suggestions from some of our students, graduates and staff to guide you along the way.

Step 2: Go for a walk where you live. Take a look around. What issues do you see in the built and natural environment around you? How do you think climate change is going to impact where you live? What can we do to create more sustainable neighbourhoods?

Step 3: Take notes and pictures. Draw a rough map of where things are. You might even want to go at different times of the day or week to see if things are different.

Step 4: Write about or draw/map what you think would make the place better. Imagine a happy climate friendly place where you are. What key changes would you make?

Step 5: Submit your submissions to us by 28 April here

Please choose one of the following formats:

1. Written report: Your submission should be no more than 800 words and can include some pictures.
2. Poster Presentation: Your submission should include an overall map of the changes you are making to your local area and can include some explanatory notes. (up to two A3 pages)

For more details, please email - Dr Laura Michael l.michael@qub.ac.uk (Key Stage 3, GSCE and A Level submissions) or Dr Neil Galway: n.galway@qub.ac.uk (undergraduate submissions)

This competition is open to local (NI, GB, ROI) and international students from Year 8 or equivalent upwards.

Competition winners will be contacted by email.

Cover image credit: from Roe & McCay (2021) Restorative Cities, London: Bloomsbury.