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The Sustainable Markets Initiative (SMI) and the Royal College of Art (RCA) have announced the shortlisted finalists for the Terra Carta Design Lab. 

Out of 125 original submissions, 20 teams of RCA students and alumni have been selected to continue developing their solutions to the climate crisis ahead of the winning projects being announced in April 2022.

Projects have been selected for their innovation, technical feasibility, potential for impact and alignment to one of the 10 Terra Carta themes: Energy in Industry and Buildings; Natural Capital, including Agriculture, Land Use, Forestry and Oceans; Mobility and Road Transport; Fashion and Textiles; Health Systems; Technology; Waste; Plastic, Chemicals and Petrochemicals; Aviation; Shipping.

Among the shortlisted projects are: 

• Race for the Arctic: an adventure documentary game that immerses players in an expert prediction of a world experiencing climate catastrophe and gives them a stake in working towards a positive future 

• ZELP: an innovative device worn by cattle to reduce the amount of methane released into the atmosphere

• Carbon Counting Club: a new system which aims to bring trust, transparency and rigour to the soil carbon offset market using blockchain technology. 

Following the announcement today, all shortlisted teams will now have the opportunity to develop their projects further before submitting them to the Terra Carta Design Lab Grand Jury this Spring for final judging. The winners will be selected by HRH The Prince of Wales, Sir Jony Ive, Dr Paul Thompson (Vice-Chancellor of the RCA), Professor Sir David King, and representatives of the Terra Carta Design Lab partners Octopus Energy, The Climate Pledge, Bank of America and Islamic Development Bank.