Czech Climate Advocates have already selected three projects they will focus on during their one-year ‘mission’. The result of their work will include creating of beer mats with climate friendly messages, a publication for parents and children showing the advantages of buying local fruit and vegetables, and a seminar for future owners of wooden houses.
The first project, inspirational beer mats with climate friendly messages, is about creating personal relationships with the environment. ‘Most people think of climate change as something that doesn’t concern them,’ says Magda Šimonová, one of climate advocates. A beer mat should be a tool for our message to them, a message that will be simple, clear and witty. ‘We hope we will find a brewery that will identify with our idea.’
The second project, LILEK (Local ecological and economical cuisine) aims to raise awareness of the advantages of buying locally produced fruit and vegetables. Climate advocates would like to organise a fair at a local market in Brno with educational activities and games for families with children and to create a publication that will bring attention to local food production. ‘We would like to stimulate a discussion with customers at the market – for example on the topic why of it is better to buy a tomato grown in the Czech Republic than one from South America,’ reveals Barbora Pešková.
Wooden buildings is the third project and is, of course, about the promotion of wooden buildings as they still have a negative image in the Czech Republic. Climate advocates decided to break this prejudice and promote the benefits of these types of buildings by offering educational opportunities through a seminar and an excursion to see wooden buildings in use. They will offer a bonus, a competition with the main prize - a weekend in a wooden house.
 

The great on-line debate of the “Jezersko Principles for Climate Action” is open now. This is the chance to give your opinion on what our leaders should be doing at COP15. Should they go for “tough” limits on emissions and risk getting no deal, or should they compromise? Should we be using GDP as a measure of “progress”, or should we use other measures that consider the environment? Should environmental costs be included in the price of goods and services? There are ten key questions on which you can give your opinions – through which you will be voting, Yes or No. Don’t just wait for others to decide your future: have your say now!
 

At a networking event organised by British Council during the Nordic Climate Solutions Conference in Copenhagen in September, Fintan Keenen a Climate Advocate in Denmark, was introduced to Christina Anderskov from World Climate Community. As a result the two got together and organised an event for youngsters at the Copenhagen International School in Hellerup on 23 October. Students were treated to several lectures on the subject of climate change and were then sent out in the neighbourhood with video cameras to make films about this very important subject.

Fintan Keenan said: "The future is in the hands of our children, and we have to think about the survival of the whole planet. We created this project to give the students knowledge and because they are the best ambassadors to get the message across that we have to act now. We choose the creative angle asking them to make films that will be uploaded to the Internet, as that's the best way to spread the word, and there's nobody better at doing that than our youth."

And the youth had great fun. "We are allowed to be involved in spreading an important message by making a video which describes our actions and the consequences they are having on the environment. It is really, really important and it's great fun to go online and see our own film - and share it with friends" adds one of the students Madison. You can see the results of the young people's work at the following websites of World climate community and also here.
 

Climate advocates at the Scottish Parliament highlight that 350ppm is all our atmosphere can take

This weekend 38 Challenge Europe Climate Advocates from 12 European countries will descend on Comrie to discuss climate change, awareness raising and education. Comrie has been chosen as the UK venue for this British Council event and will be at the centre of Europe from Sunday 25th October until Wednesday 28th October 2009.

The teams of Climate Advocates from across Europe will come together to share progress on their particular climate change related projects and be inspired and challenged by each other, invited guests and the local Comrie community. Projects range from local food production, promoting urban sustainability and carbon-friendly entrepreneurism to environmental art and providing information and support to encourage business led environmental change. Advocates will be staying at the award winning Comrie Croft with activities and workshops based in and around Comrie. 

Dr Conor Snowden, Science and Climate Change Advisor, British Council Scotland said, “We are impressed with the drive and action of Comrie Development Trust and the fantastic facilities at Comrie Croft and therefore we are absolutely positive that the projects will gain a significant momentum.”

Comrie has been successful in attracting this year's UK event to the village through the work of Comrie Development Trust's Carbon Challenge Project, one of four national exemplars for the Scottish Government's Climate Challenge Fund. This event follows the success of the Comrie Climate Change Conference for Communities held in June this year and firmly cements Comrie's position as a leading community in the climate change debate.

Climate Advocates attending the UK event will have travelled from Hungary, Greece, Czech Republic, Turkey, Finland, Slovenia, Slovakia, Sweden, Ukraine, Northern Ireland, Ireland and the UK itself.