The international climate camp in Slovenia came to an end with the presentation of the participants’ ideas for tackling climate change in the Slovenian parliament.

1. Binding Targets for CO2 concentrations that give us a realistic chance of staying under a 2°C rise
2. An alternative to GDP as a measure of progress
3. To get the prices right: reflect the true environmental and social cost
4. Finance for structural change to low carbon transportation, green buildings and food production
5. To Ease Technological Transfer to developing countries
6. To address global population growth
7. An adequate contribution to the adaptation fund for developing countries
8. A global sectoral approach to emissions reduction
9. An agreement to establish mandatory targets at a national level for renewable energy production
10. For all countries to establish a Ministry dedicated to climate change to ensure implementation of agreed targets

30 young Climate Advocates from six countries, who are all engaged in the British Council’s Challenge Europe project, came together in the mountains of Slovenia to define their own top ten priorities for action on climate change. These ideas are targeted at both the forthcoming UNFCCC conference in Copenhagen and at wider global issues that affect our approach to climate change.

After three days of intensive work with input from DECC and other international experts, the Advocates stayed up until two o’clock in the morning to finalise their presentation - but it was worth it! The parliamentary session was introduced by the Speaker of the Slovenian Parliament who welcomed the British Council’s initiative and stressed the global importance of action on climate change. Robert Monro, Director Slovenia, then outlined the purpose of the climate camp before giving the floor to the Advocates themselves to deliver their presentation.

The audience consisted of more than 70 Slovenian policy makers and diplomats from numerous countries, plus representatives of the EC and the UN. The Director of the UN Information Service from Vienna gave the first response to their proposals, noting how they complemented and reinforced many of the UN’s goals.

Maher Nasser, UNIS Vienna: »It was a great pleasure and a valuable experience for me and UNIS to have been involved in the British Council's Climate Camp. I am confident that the 30 participants you have had in Jezersko will continue being active and dedicated climate advocates who are now equipped with knowledge, insight and confidence.«

The Head of the EC Representation in Slovenia also welcomed their ideas and gave her full support to what they were trying to achieve. There were several other comments and extensive media coverage of the event, with many people commenting on the maturity and professionalism of the Advocates’ presentation.

The Advocates themselves unanimously praised the concept and organisation of the camp.
Estelle Mandigout: I would like to express my positive feedback of the Climate Camp as I think the experience was really interesting but most of all though provoking. In this sense I feel that the goal is achieved and I hope that the facilitator will enjoy a week off now. Regarding the accommodation in Jezersko I was impressed by the quality of service and the gastronomy.

Akos Lukacs: Indeed, greatest thanks for the super week for the British Council Slovenia, this international gathering was something, we maybe dreamed of, but saw how great and useful it became only, as we met in Jezersko, and made the TOP 10, best wishes to all, who help this come true.
I would like to thank you for all your organisation, and help at the Slovenian Climate Camp, I think we had a great and very useful time spent in Jezersko. Altough I don’t have the email adress of Mr. Monroe, but great thanks to him, to chair the camp, and help us coming up with best, consensed ideas on climate change.

Turkey Team: Thank you very much for last week’s great organization! We all saw how much effort you all have put into it. We just would like to write this small note to show how much we appreciate it.

At it they gained new knowledge, exchanged ideas, got to understand the perspectives of people from other countries, and started to believe that they could actually make a difference. When they get back home they will present their ideas to policy makers in their own governments through meetings arranged by the British Council, the British Embassy and their Ambassadors in Slovenia.

In developing this event the British Council secured the support and cooperation of the President of Slovenia, the Speaker of Parliament, the UN, the EC, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Environment, DECC, the embassies of all the countries involved (including the FCO), and the two most prominent environmental NGOs in the country. As a result of this it attracted substantial media attention, both in Slovenia and in the other countries involved, and firmly established the BC and the UK as innovators in the field of climate change.