Students across Bangkok are being invited to design the city’s electric mobility future through the Empower E-Mobility Challenge, a new competition launched by UK PACT (Partnering for Accelerated Climate Transitions), the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the International Labour Organization.
“Through the Empower E-Mobility Challenge, we see the power of youth innovation in shaping a just transition to sustainable mobility. Our partnership with the BMA demonstrates how local action and regional cooperation can advance a greener future for all,” said Lin Yang, Deputy Executive Secretary, United Nations ESCAP.
The competition gives young people an opportunity to contribute their vision and creativity for how electric mobility can be more inclusive, resilient, and responsive to community needs. The BMA is already taking steps to expand electric mobility as part of its broader vision of developing Bangkok as a “Liveable City for All.”.
From e-bikes and tuk-tuks to buses and boats, electrification is advancing rapidly. The Challenge builds on this momentum by making sure student voices help guide the transition. Governor of Bangkok, Chadchart Sittipunt, said “The development of Bangkok would not be complete without ideas from young people. Bring your real-life experiences and creativity to the Empower E-Mobility Challenge - a platform where you can help shape the future of mobility in Bangkok.”
High school, vocational, college and university students in Bangkok are encouraged to participate, either individually or in teams of up to four, with ideas that improve life in local communities. Entries can focus on improving infrastructure design, creating smarter charging solutions, strengthening resilience to floods or heatwaves, supporting repair and reuse of vehicle parts, or developing awareness campaigns that promote the benefits of electric mobility.
Entries may be submitted as either a two- to five-minute video or a visual design such as a poster, drawing or digital sketch. Each proposal should identify a challenge, present a solution and explain its benefits for users. Submissions will be reviewed by a panel of experts from government, academia, the UN system and industry, and assessed for their sustainability, inclusivity, creativity and feasibility in Bangkok’s context.
Nine finalist teams – first place and runners up in each education category - will be invited to present their ideas at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok in January 2026. Winners will receive career-oriented prizes including work-shadowing and internship opportunities with leading electric mobility companies, as well as official ESCAP certificates and recognition on ESCAP’s social media platforms.
The competition officially launched during Bangkok Climate Action Week on 28 September and entries will be accepted until 15 December 2025, through a dedicated online submission portal. A submission form is available through ESCAP competition website.
For further information, please contact the competition team at escap-emobilitychallenge@un.org.
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