northernireland-northsouth-europelowcarbon

The Idea: To develop a puppet show targeted at children, their teachers and parents to highlight the issue of climate change in an entertaining and fun way. The children will make the puppets out of recycled material and will put on the puppet show for teachers and parents

An educational information pack will be made available to accompany the puppet show and all educational resources will also be made available on a website for teachers and parents to access directly
(Jen, Elaine)

The ‘Hot or Not’ Campaign & Survey

The Idea: 'Hot or Not' is an all-Ireland campaign aimed at analysing and improving awareness amongst the public of home energy efficiency grants. Through the use of social and print media, the campaign is encouraging a younger cohort of the population, between 25-40, to take part in a fun, interactive online survey hosted on a dedicated website: www.hotnotireland.com. Research has shown that this audience has been the slowest to take up government retrofit grants. The online survey contains a selection of key questions designed to gauge perceptions and awareness of home energy efficiency measures and grants.

Electric Picnic tickets are on offer to encourage its completion and the 'hotnotireland.com' website will be populated with details on government energy grants. The results of the survey will be used to develop a suite of policy recommendations for improving the communications and design of national retrofit schemes helping to contribute to national climate change targets. (Michelle, Ryan, Emmanuelle)

Making the GAA Score with Hot Water

The Idea: To raise awareness of water usage in GAA clubs across the island of Ireland. The objectives include promoting simple water conservation measures, providing clear independent information to clubs and highlighting the facts about water in a poster campaign to be disseminated through GAA clubs directly. Advocates are also working to secure a high profile event in Croke Park, Dublin during the coming 2011 season and this will serve to further highlight the campaign.

It is hoped that the guidance and campaign will prepare clubs for the impending impact of water metering, will result in lower cost bills and will significantly reduce CO2 emissions in clubs throughout Ireland and Northern Ireland. (Trevor, Suzanne)

Business in a low carbon community

At the end of November, 29 Challenge Europe business advocates from 11 European countries visited Ireland for a unique international networking event. Officially opened by Eamon Ryan, Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, the event provided advocates with the opportunity to share ideas on how businesses can play a part in reducing greenhouses gasses. Click here to read the event report.

	Challenge Europe

The Challenge Europe 3 year programme has now ended. If you would like further information please visit the Challenge Europe webpage, where you can view the 'Be Inspired' exhibition and vote for your favourite projects!

CHALLENGE EUROPE

In 2008, the British Council launched the European element of its global climate programme; Challenge Europe. The Challenge was a three year campaign that aimed to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by bringing together ambitious young people – Climate Advocates – who wanted to make a lasting impact on climate change. The philosophy of the campaign was simple: to create momentum through collaboration, innovation, energy, drive, passion, understanding and knowledge sharing.

Since 2008, over 600 Climate Advocates have worked together in 18 European countries and have developed over 100 projects that aim to bring about carbon reductions through changes to law, business practice and human behaviour. In Northern Ireland and Ireland, a network of over 50 Climate Advocates have designed 11 ambitious projects across a range of themes including transport, housing, food and agriculture, energy, education, media and green enterprise.

The Climate Advocates were not alone on their journey. Through established British Council networks, they were offered access to some of the best minds in Europe and were supported and mentored by several hundred international and national experts and partners spanning all sectors; including the corporate, non-governmental, environmental and academic worlds.

In Ireland and Northern Ireland, Challenge Europe was delivered in partnership with the Cultivate Centre, Comhar, Business in the Community NI and NI Sustainable Development Commission.

Find out more about the Climate Advocates and their ideas.

Climate Inspirations!

A CHALLENGE EUROPE INTERNATIONAL SHOWCASE EVENT

24-26 March 2011

From 24-26 March, over 30 Challenge Europe advocates from 11 European countriesl visited Dublin, Ireland for a unique international showcase event. Entitled 'Climate Inspirations', the event was managed by the British Council in collaboration with the EU Commission

During the main conference on Friday 25 March, advocates had the opportunity to meet experts from Ireland, Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK and with them, to inspire renewed interest in the climate change debate and demonstrate the value of local action in the absence of global leadership. The Challenge Europe 'Be Inspired' exhibition was a focal point throughout the day and helped advocates to introduce their projects and show how practical and tangible action has changed business practice, policy and public behaviour across Europe.

On the final day, advocates had the opportunity to reflect on and evaluate their involvement in Challenge Europe and developed a plan of action to ensure the sustainability of this network of advocates, experts and projects in the future.

Presentations from the event;