YOUNG CLIMATE CHAMPIONS READY TO ACT AGAINST
CLIMATE CHANGE - SPREAD THE WORD AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE

VOTE NOW!

The Indian Climate Champions 2008 competition was launched in January 2008 to select 20 young ambassadors for Climate Change. The response was overwhelming – over 450 applications from across India. Out of 20, three were selected as the International Climate Champions 2008 to represent India at meetings in London and Kobe, Japan.

The International Climate Champions (ICC) initiative is part of the British Council’s three-year Low Carbon Futures programme of activities to provide an international platform for young people, local partners and leaders around the world to build an international consensus around action on climate change.

International Climate Champions - Jaswanth Madhavan (Chennai), Karan Sehgal (Delhi) and Nidhi U Patel (Vadodara).

Indian Climate Champions 2008 - Dhruv Sengar, Saud Bhoira, Rohit Chakravarty, Goodly Kar, Agastya Muthanna, Archana Jayaraman, Shruti K N, Aditya Kumar, Shagun Arora, Karan Sehgal, Rishika Das Roy, Vishnupriya Das, Angshuman Hazarika, Gautam Akiwate, Aishwarya Padmaraj, Jaswanth Madhavan, Ann Raymond, Nidhi U Patel, Parnika Praleya, Aaditi Sinha

In March, the three International Climate Champions had an exciting time in London developing networks and a calendar of initiatives to involve schools and communities for the next three years. Also in preparation for Kobe, the champions discussed their concerns and aspirations with the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), Hilary Benn MP, at 10 Downing Street, leading him to comment: “Young people will be affected more than anyone else by the decisions we take on tackling climate change. These Champions from the G8+5 countries have a crucial role to play in inspiring more young people to make their voice heard across the world. I congratulate them on their commitment and on the work they have done so far and I know they are making a difference.”

The next big step for the International Champions will be the 'Kobe Challenge' a high level meeting in Japan in May with participants from Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, South Africa, United Kingdom, and the USA. The 'Kobe Challenge' was developed in London with three aspirational challenges for the G8 Environment Ministers. Each challenge is a statement which captures the key concerns and aspirations young people hold dearly on climate change. Also, young people from across the world are invited to vote for their preferred option. The option with the maximum votes will be christened the 'Kobe Challenge', and presented to the senior ministers in Kobe. We encourage everyone to vote, which you can do by visiting the Climate Champions website. Also, you can read blogs by the climate champions, reflecting their thoughts and experiences as part of this inspirational journey. It is also a site where all young people across the world, can express their views and vote. VOTE NOW TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

The International Climate Champions will now work with the country champions and others to develop networks and a calendar of initiatives to communicate the issue, engage decision makers and promote the role young people can play in tackling climate change. As a follow up to the Kobe event there will be a commitment from each International Champion to implement a climate communication project in their country within a year.

For more on the International Climate Champions 2008 programme click here.