ECMWF Opens 2026 Climate Data Challenge Applications With New Africa-Focused Stream
The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts has announced the challenge problems for its 2026 Code for Earth program, opening applications to developers, data scientists, and researchers who want to work on climate and weather data problems with direct operational implications.
The program, running since 2018, pairs participants with mentors from ECMWF and partner organizations. Teams work for several months on defined problem statements, producing open-source tools and services. All teams that complete their projects successfully receive recognition.
This year's challenges
The 2026 cycle includes problems across four distinct streams. Three are continuations of established Code for Earth categories: data visualization, machine learning, and software development. The fourth is new: a stream dedicated to challenges defined by African partner organizations, focusing on climate resilience and digital transition.
Among the specific challenge areas announced: improving rapid decision-making support systems for wildfire response, where the speed and clarity of forecast data can directly affect emergency management choices. A second challenge involves exploring flood forecast data from a network of 10,000 monitoring stations globally - a scale that creates both analytical and visualization challenges current tools handle poorly. A third targets detecting implausible behavior in machine learning weather model outputs, where the model produces physically unrealistic predictions that standard validation routines may miss.
"Code for Earth is all about innovation, collaboration and open-source coding," said Athina Trakas, ECMWF Innovation Actions and Partnerships Coordinator. "Each year we look forward to meeting the participants and discovering the innovative solutions they bring."
The Africa stream
The new Africa-focused stream marks an expansion of Code for Earth's geographic scope. Challenges in this stream are defined by local and regional partner organizations rather than by ECMWF itself, ensuring that the problems reflect actual needs in the regions targeted.
"Having this additional stream in Code for Earth will also support African young talent through the opportunity to work on real world challenges in the region," said Stijn Vermoote, Head of Partnerships and Engagement at ECMWF.
The collaborating organizations include the Copernicus Climate Change Service, the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, Destination Earth, and Strengthening Early Warning in Africa.
What previous editions produced
Last year's participants delivered tools including accessible meteorological charts designed for visually impaired scientists, an interactive platform showing how extreme weather events affect energy systems, and an application that lets users visualize how local sandstorms or wildfires affect air quality. The emphasis on practical, deployable tools rather than academic papers distinguishes Code for Earth from conventional research programs.
Applications are accepted from individuals or teams. The deadline is 23:59 Central European Time on April 9, 2026. Eligibility requirements for each stream are detailed on the Code for Earth website.