The effects of climate change grow more visible with each passing day. With the world population set to hit a staggering 8 billion by November 2022 and rapid urbanisation gripping the Asian region, the decarbonisation of our economies and cities has become more urgent than ever.

As the world’s largest carbon sink, climate regulator and provider of key ecosystem services, our oceans have been taking the brunt of climate change and are now at a dangerous tipping point. The continual absorption of excess energy, heat and waste from human activities has caused unparalleled cascading effects including sea-level rise, changing weather patterns, ocean acidification and pollution.

It has become more urgent than ever to take concrete steps to restore and maintain the vitality of our environment. Besides technology-based solutions that decarbonise our economies, solutions that restore and regenerate ocean ecosystems are also important to help us adapt to changing climates.

This year, TLC is looking to build on its efforts in enabling solutions that remove carbon emissions at scale, including revolutionary technology-based carbon capture, utilisation and storage solutions; low-carbon solutions or solutions that decarbonises energy, urban infrastructure, and transport and logistics systems.

TLC is also looking to support the scaling of viable solutions for ocean ecosystems that include restorative and regenerative efforts for coastal and marine ecosystems.

Decarbonisation-related solutions should:

● Significantly reduce the carbon emissions produced by industries and buildings (e.g. cooling systems); and/or
● Effectively capture, and convert carbon emissions into useful products (e.g. building materials, reclamation sand or synthetic fuels)
● Be carbon negative in the overall lifecycle and have zero/minimal externalities
● Be technology-based solutions (e.g. physical, chemical)
● Be commercially viable and scalable
● Conduct the pilot in Singapore

Ocean-related solutions should:

● Create value from the conservation or restoration of coastal and marine ecosystems in Southeast Asia (e.g. seagrasses, mangroves, seaweed, kelp, and salt marshes)through sustainable business models and the generation of carbon credits; and/or
● Improve measurement, reporting, and verification of environmental, social, and economic impacts (e.g. carbon sequestration, co-benefits); and/or
● Prevent and reduce pollution in coastal and marine ecosystems (e.g. oil spills, plastic, runoffs)
● Emphasise affordability, accessibility, reliability of the technology used as well as the potential for field calibration and maintenance in remote locations
● Describe the full observational, experimental, modelling expertise and capacity
● Be commercially viable and scalable
● Conduct the pilot in Southeast Asia

With rising constraints on land, water, and energy, coupled with climate change and global supply chain disruptions, there is an increasing need for nations to enhance their food security. 

This year’s challenge aims to establish a circular, net-zero urban food system in three areas critical to ensuring food security: agriculture, aquaculture, and alternative nutrition sources (including protein, carbohydrates, and fats). We are seeking breakthrough technologies to provide affordable, nutrient-dense and safe food.

Submitted solutions should:

● Deliver breakthroughs in food production over current methods of production in at least one or combinations of the three areas critical to ensuring food security(agriculture, aquaculture, and alternative nutrition sources)
● Maximise production efficiency and minimise resource requirements and waste outputs(e.g. through circularity of materials, incorporating clean energy sources)
● Produce foods with improved nutritional quality without compromising on taste and texture
● Be commercially viable and scalable in a dense urban environment
● Conduct the pilot in Singapore