British Council Supports UK Interests at Rio+20

The British Council is convening a delegation of accomplished eco-entrepreneurs and emerging leaders from its global youth network at the Rio+20 Conference in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, so that they can showcase their successful green enterprises and initiatives at the Conference and help promote the UK as a leader of the global green economy in meetings with influential organisations and senior policy makers. 

 

Selected on the basis of their proven leadership skills, previous participation in global forums and innovative eco-solutions, the 11 British Council delegates are members of the British Council’s ‘Global Changemakers’, ‘Climate Champions’ and ‘E-idea’ programmes. They include several eco entrepreneurs, a member of the Climate Change Commission for Wales, and the founder of an award-winning social enterprise developing green energy solutions in London. 

 

Caroline Spelman, the UK’s Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) said, “I believe it is hugely important for global leaders to listen to and heed the advice of young people. They are the ones who will inherit the world that my generation leaves them, so I am pleased to see the British Council supporting 11 young international eco-entrepreneurs, who will be attending the summit to represent youth voices and experience in the UNCSD process.” Addressing the delegates, she added, “I am very impressed by your willingness to take your messages about the importance of green economy in sustainable development and relay them to global leaders in Rio.”

 

Andrew Picken, co-leader of the British Council delegation, said, “our eco-entrepreneurs are pioneers in what has been called a “new industrial revolution,” and our programmes that foster eco enterprise help to position the UK as world leader in the green economy, which now employs nearly 1 million Britons and generates £112 billion a year in the UK, making it the country’s sixth largest industry.” 

 

Mr Picken added, “As Foreign Secretary William Hague said at the launch of our E-idea programme in 2011, “We believe the most successful economies of the future will be built on low-carbon growth. And the challenge is to seize the opportunities that this presents and be one of the leaders of the pack in this regard."’ Mr Picken said, ‘Our work is supporting this challenge.”

 

In Rio from June 15 to 23, the members of the British Council delegation will share their scalable eco-solutions and best practice, meet with decision makers, deliver presentations in the UK Pavilion and Riocentro Convention Centre, stage events and exhibitions, write articles, and host an ‘Earth Debate’ that will be webcast from Rio to audiences around the world. 

 

British Council delegate Jelena Kiselova who launched ‘Green Resident’ a project which supports the development of sustainable energy at a community level in London and won an O2 Think Bigger award, will share her expertise in running sustainable community projects in meetings and events. Delegate Jessica McQuade, is an expert on sustainable development policy, governance and social justice who will discuss at Rio her central role in making Cardiff the first registered Transition city in Wales, and thus ensuring that it will be able to thrive while  cutting its carbon emissions and adapting to the effects of Peak Oil.

 

Dr. Jo Beall, Director of Education and Society at the British Council said, “Sustainable development is a significant concern for tens of millions of people with whom we work and we can use our experience building cultural relations in over 100 countries to connect individuals, communities and organisations to foster the trust and understanding that this objective requires.’ She added, ‘Sending these outstanding delegates to Rio underscores the British Council’s commitment to growing next generation leadership. These young people will leverage the knowledge, contacts and experiences gained at Rio to enhance their projects, work internationally and communicate what they have learned to large audiences in their countries.”

 

ENDS

 

 

 

 

Please contact us to arrange interviews with British Council Climate Champions and Climate Change programme managers.

 

Sweta Saxena

British Council Rio+20 Communications Manager 

 

Ana Signorini

Media & Public Relations Manager, British Council, Rio de Janeiro

+ 55 21 2172 5202 

 

Adam Pillsbury

Senior Communications Manager, Climate Change and Sustainability

+86 (10) 6590 6903 ext 257

 

UK

Casia Zajac

Head of Press & Homepage

+44 (0)20 7389 4268

 

The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. They work in over 100 countries worldwide to build opportunity and trust for the UK through the exchange of knowledge and ideas between people. They work in the Arts, English, Education and Society – including science and sport – and contribute to the security and prosperity of the UK and the countries where they work. Last year they engaged face to face with 18.4 million people and reached 652 million. The British Council is a non-political organisation which operates at arm’s length from government.

 

With a proven track record working with young people across countries and cultures, the British Council is ideally positioned to engage and empower young people committed to finding solutions to climate change and sustainability issues. 

 

For more information about the British Council, please visit www.britishcouncil.org 

 

The 11 members of the British Council’s delegation he 11 British Council delegates hail from nine countries in four continents and are members of the British Council’s ‘Global Changemakers’, ‘Climate Champions’ and ‘E-idea’ programmes. 

 

You will find individual profile pages of each of the delegates and a trove of blog posts, video, event and partner information and links to our social media outlets on the British Council’s Rio Delegation website.  

 

The British Council operates a Climate Generation programme that provides opportunities for young people to gain access in their classrooms and communities to UK ideas, expertise and resources on science, sustainability and climate change. We collaborate with expert partners to deliver training and mentoring that enables young people with energy and vision to devise grassroots projects that promote sustainability and address climate change in their communities.

 

Among other strategic outcomes, this activity demonstrates UK innovation and leadership in climate science, education and communications, and builds cross-cultural relationships and networks which lead to action on climate change mitigation and adaption.

 

The most accomplished participants in Climate Generation are invited to become Climate Champions and they receive additional opportunities to receive training, engage with peers, policymakers and organizations in other countries, develop their communications, negotiation and influencing skills, and attend international climate conferences.

 

For more information, please visit www.britishcouncil.org/new/climatechange

 

E-idea is an innovative programme co-developed and launched by the British Council and Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance (LRQA) that funds and mentors young eco-entrepreneurs in Australia, China, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam. 

 

Chosen through a competition, the eco-entrepreneurs receive technical, marketing, and financial support as well as international training, networking opportunities and access to LRQA’s global business network of 60,000 clients to gain the leadership, business, project management, fundraising and communications skills they will need to bring their E-ideas to fruition.

 

For more information about E-idea, please visit www.e-idea.org 

 

 

Global Changemakers is a network of young activists, volunteers and social entrepreneurs. Bringing together people from over 120 countries, it’s a place to share experiences, build skills, apply and test ideas and access some truly amazing opportunities.

 

Global Changemakers are at the forefront of running innovative projects in their communities, shaping policy and speaking truth to power through access to institutions and high-level platforms.