Challenge Europe project

France Climate Advocates 2010/2011

Dariush AMDJADI PIRES
Dariush (23) is a student of environmental economy in Paris and hopes to go on and complete a Masters in energy economics. Particularly conscious of the physical signs of climate change, Dariush is convinced of the urgency to move towards real sustainable development. He also believes that effective communication about climate change is required, both in the media but also between different cultures. Dariush already has some experience working in intercultural issues as he was in charge of ISO 9001 standards for a Brazilian company during a university exchange.

Angélie BARAL
At the age of 34, Angélie has a wealth of experience as both an environmental consultant and as a communications manager. She has created her own company ‘Greenvibes’ along with a website www.urbiz.fr dedicated to good practice in urban ecology. Angélie’s philosophy is simple, she is convinced that it is possible to counter act climate catastrophe mindsets by advocating easy-to-implement, good practice in both the professional and private context.

Aurélie Bedin_1.jpg Aurélie BEDIN
A 33 year old mother of three young children, Aurélie is personally committed to reducing her family’s carbon footprint and has recently completed a project to build a low energy family home. In her professional career Aurlélie is equally committed and as a journalist she currently works for a national interdisciplinary research group looking at climate change and its impact on society and the environment.

Joséphine BEZIEL
Joséphine (24) has studied sustainable development and communications to Masters level both in the North of France and in Turin. A committed European, Joséphine is convinced of the need to broaden the vision and develop a shared consciousness around climate change issues. Currently writing a report for a publishing house on sustainable development in the cultural sector, Joséphine’s ambition is to truly stimulate behaviour-change in the cultural sector and to ‘green the arts’.

Caroline BICOCCHI
Caroline (26) works for LOGICA in Paris and has been involved in developing the company’s environmental strategy. She originally studied chemistry in Montpellier and became specialised in water treatment and analysis of environmental pollution. She completed her studies with a Masters in Engineering for Sustainable Development at Cambridge. She passionately believes that the fight against climate change should not only be seen as an example of solidarity between developing countries, but between our colleagues and neighbours also.

Pape CAMARA
Pape (32) is a doctoral student in sustainable development and urban governance in Paris. He is particularly proud of his voluntary work and has been greatly inspired by Nelson Mandela. He is in charge of projects for the Raidhup association (Research, action and innovation for humanitarian development and peace) and has been a project manager for Agenda 21 part of the European Federation of Ethics and Sustainable Development (FEDD).

Julien CAMY
At the age of 30 Julien is a committed journalist and editor in chief of a newspaper promoting social and ecological values. In parallel, he also works on a voluntary basis for other journals and organisations, demonstrating his commitment to the causes he believes in. Julien also enjoys discovering and sharing other cultures and has lived and worked in Japan. He has worked on a number of cultural festivals including one for the Franco-Japanese Institute in Tokyo. Julien is also a keen photographer and cameraman and has produced films and documentaries.

Stéphanie DAVID

Stéphanie (18) is currently studying photography and hopes to become a photo-reporter. When still at school, she was lucky enough to take part in several international climate change summits and this profoundly changed the way she sees the world. Stéphanie is committed to offering children of today and tomorrow the opportunity to have a better future. To work towards achieving this aim she volunteers with UNICEF and attended their 4th Global Youth Summit.

Marine DIGABEL

Marine (30) is a graduate of the University of Sciences Po in Paris and has been working as a journalist since 2005 reporting mainly on issues surrounding families, education and the economy. One project she is particularly proud of it setting up a business journal from scratch, in an entirely new area where she had no previous contacts. Marine is also committed to voluntary work and during a stay in Scotland she worked for the RSPB where she was able to experience eco-friendly agriculture in action but also get a feel for the barriers that such projects can encounter.

Julien GEE

Julien (29) works for a local authority to the west of Paris on awareness-raising and communication projects related to sustainable development. Previously he worked for Suez Environment for a year studying the use of water purification plants to improve the production of drinking water in Algeria and Indonesia. Julien carried out environmental studies as well as biology during his studies in Paris. He is passionate about fauna and flora and has attended various training courses including a course in forestry and ecology at Imperial College London.

Olivier LABOULLE

Olivier (29) has been strongly influenced by his early years environmental experiences and later in life by his international travel and studies, including ten years in Germany. Following a degree in political sciences and a Masters in human rights, he now works in sustainable development education at UNESCO in Paris. There he coordinates international events and helps implement UNESCO’s communication strategy for sustainable development. Above all he would like to see a change in the selfish behaviour which leads individuals to sacrifice the environment.

Anna LOURANTOU

After studying chemistry and earth sciences in Greece and France, Anna (30) is now a post-doctoral environmental chemist, oceanographer and paleo-climatologist studying the current status of CO2 in the oceans. She is a self-proclaimed climate change militant and anti-sceptic and takes pride in her participation in associations as a volunteer, helping to reconstruct natural heritages. She considers herself to be a world citizen and believes that the problems of developing countries are equally the problems of the western world.

Charles-Eric PIGEOT

Charles-Eric (27) is based in London where he works as a consultant for Deloitte UK in the sustainability and climate change team. He has used his professional skills in many different areas from the development of environmental strategies for big British companies and the first ever 100% green housing project in Abu Dhabi to the creation and development of a climate change charity. For Charles-Eric, the challenge of climate change is also an opportunity to transform and improve our society, to change our lifestyles and reduce inequalities.

Johanna RANNOU-SACHY

Johanna (28) now works in a local energy agency after having spent time at the French scientific institute for climate, environment and society. She graduated with a Masters degree in ecology and biodiversity management before deciding to follow a career in scientific communication. She has a great love and respect for nature and the environment and is strongly committed to playing her part in preserving them.

Doris SCHYNS

Doris (22) is currently studying for a Masters in international business communication in the Netherlands. Passionate about the environment, she is interested in how communication and persuasion could be used to change the behaviour of citizens and move them towards a more ecologically-responsible life-style. Her research focuses on attitude and behaviour relating to domestic energy consumption.

Tapping into the power of a well told tale, the Climate Advocates devised a teaching pack accompanying the classic Dr. Seuss story, The Lorax, to educate children aged between seven and nine of the issues around sustainability, consumption of goods and the future of the planet.