Challenge Europe participants from across Northern Ireland and Ireland have just completed a biofuel powered bus trip to Wales and England on a fact-finding mission.

The idea of the green journey came form the participants, who were keen to raise awareness of Challenge Europe and gain insights into how climate change is being tackled by influential eco projects.

_{All aboard the eco bus: Challenge Europe advocates atop the biofuel powered bus with driver, Noel O’Rourke}

The Irish Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, John Gormley TD, waved off the participants on their historic mission: ‘Ireland has its own unique challenges in the area of climate change, but there may be things we can learn from our nearest neighbours and I’m interested in seeing what this fact-finding mission uncovers,’ he said.

The journey visited the Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT), an organisation that researches sustainable and ecologically sound technologies and ways of life. Here, the group held a question and answer session with Development Director, Paul Allen, who talked about the importance of ‘living more eloquently for less’.

Challenge Europe advocate Eoin Campbell, one of the media group, at a stop-off in Eden. Three participants formed a media group, taking on responsibility for organising the trip and filming the journey

The group also visited Schumacher College and the UK’s first 'transition town' of Totnes, which is aiming to move from fossil-fuel dependency to self-reliance.

_{Challenge Europe advocate Eoin Campbell, one of the media group, at a stop-off in Eden. Three participants formed a media group, taking on responsibility for organising the trip and filming the journey}

The final day was spent at the iconic Eden project in Cornwall, where the advocates filmed their visions for how they would like the world to be in 2020 against the backdrop of the rainforest and Mediterranean biomes. They were also joined by four Challenge Europe advocates, who had travelled overland from Denmark and gave insight into their local projects.

Challenge Europe advocate Alicia Falvey said: ‘The ongoing media and training throughout the journey was an important part of the trip for me. It helped us realise our limitations and take steps to communicate our message better. We are experts in our fields and know the messages but now are in a better position to communicate these messages.'

Leading up to the 823 mile journey, the participants from a variety of backgrounds began to develop projects to reduce carbon consumption and the corresponding impact on climate change. These projects include the development of a corporate carbon club community, promotion of community gardens and the formation of innovative food and transport policy initiatives.

The advocates have now returned home and are keen to form a think-tank leading to concrete action. They plan to meet twice a year, once in Northern Ireland and once in Ireland, and focus on three to four agreed ideas to present as a paper to local politicians.

Challenge Europe comes under the umbrella of the British Council’s north-south strategy, which sees Northern Ireland and Ireland working on shared projects. The green journey is one of several events organised through the north-south prism to mark the British Council’s 75th anniversary.

For more information please contact Liz McBain.