What is Challenge Europe?

The Challenge Europe project aims to rise to the challenges that climate change represents for Europe and aspires to make a definite and lasting impact on the climate change debate.

The project takes 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 will select 15-20 young influencers from all walks of life to become ‘Climate Advocates’. Over the year each country team will work collaboratively to identify the key areas where they think they can make a real difference and to develop concrete ideas to reduce greenhouse gases.  

The groups will then pitch their ideas to broader publics, specifically reaching out to decision-makers and organisations, campaigning for implementation and support in an effort to make the ideas become reality.

Who can take part?

The participants should :

			Be interested in climate change issues and want to make a real contribution to finding solutions
			Be aged between 18 and 35 years old
			Be creative and be prepared to work in a team
			Have the agreement of their professional or academic institution to participate in training sessions and intercultural exchanges, especially in the United Kingdom.
			Have a good level of English language to be able to make the most of exchanges with participants from other European countries and training sessions in the UK.
			Be available (approx. 150 hours during the year including some weekends) to work in a team to transform the ideas into real projects
			Have skills which will be useful for team-working (leadership, project management, scientific, artistic, design…)
			Be prepared to communicate widely about their projects through real and virtual networks.

How does it function?

Throughout the programme, we will be actively partnering with a number of organisations across Europe spanning all sectors; including the corporate, non-governmental, environmental and academic worlds. Through these partnerships, we will support the Climate Advocates in their quest, offering them access to some of the best minds in Europe through established networks of expert groups and individuals: climate change experts, policy makers, business people, entrepreneurs, environmental groups, and centres of excellence. We will also give them the opportunity to participate in training sessions in the United Kingdom to develop their skills in project management, in communication and give them the possibility to exchange experience and best practice with other European participants.  

The philosophy of the programme is simple: to create momentum through collaboration, innovation, energy, drive, passion, understanding and knowledge-sharing.

You can see examples of projects from previous years.

Further information can be found on the general site.