In 2008 the British Council launched the European element of its global climate change programme, “Challenge Europe”. This is a three year project aiming to accelerate change to a low carbon future. The project brings together ambitious young people who want to make a lasting impact on climate change. It enables them to improve their knowledge of climate change issues and provides them with a platform to develop innovative and practical projects to reduce carbon use.
In 2010 we have started with the third and last year of the project that is taking place in 12 countries across Europe: Czech Republic, Denmark, Greece, Finland, France, Hungary, Ireland, Norway, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, and Turkey.
In each of the participating countries we have selected 15 ‘Climate Advocates’, from all walks of life, who want to commit their time to working together to tackle climate change. Over the period of one year each country team works collaboratively to identify the key areas where they think they can make a real difference. They then develop three concrete ideas to reduce carbon use through changes in policy, business or human behaviour. Through international networking events the Advocates also get opportunities to share their ideas with each other, improve them, and get inspiration from other countries.
Supported by the British Council the groups then take their ideas to potential stakeholders and broader public, reaching out to decision-makers and relevant organisations, campaigning for support to turn their ideas into reality.
The philosophy of the project is simple: to create momentum through collaboration, innovation, energy, drive passion, understanding and knowledge-sharing! The project will harness the power of arts and cultural exchange to make the message more effective.
CHALLENGE EUROPE IN FINLAND
As part of the Baltic Sea Action Summit in Helsinki February 2010 the British Council made a commitment to focus the Challenge Europe in Finland not only to mitigating climate change but also to helping to recover the Baltic Sea. By focusing on the effects of climate change on one of our dearest natural resources, we hope to motivate people to take concrete steps towards combating climate change.
In May 2010 we recruited a new group of passionate young people, future influencers, in Finland to become Climate Advocates. Climate Advocates will be part of a multidisciplinary country team working together in developing concrete ideas which have the potential to bring about carbon reductions and help to recover the Baltic Sea through changes in policy, business or human behaviour.
We are actively partnering with a number of organisations across Europe; including the corporate, non-governmental, environmental and academic worlds. Through these partnerships we will support the Climate Advocates by offering them access to: climate change experts, policy makers, business people, entrepreneurs, environmental groups, and centres of excellence. In Finland we are working closely with Baltic Sea Action Group, Dodo ry., Helsinki University Centre for Environment, Motiva and Demos Helsinki think tank to mention only few.
Please visit Challenge Europe portal for more information about the project and the ideas that Climate Advocates have for combating climate change.
Jari Ingerttilä
Projects and Partnerships Manager
Tel. +358 9 7743 3350
first.last@britishcouncil.fi
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