In 2010 the British Council in Norway wishes to work with already established project teams or
individuals who harbour well-defined project ideas. Promising projects will receive seed-funding,
specific training if desirable, tailor-made study trips to the UK, and access to international
networks of other Climate Advocates, partner organisations and decision-makers.
Submit your solution and become part of a growing climate movement – Challenge Europe!
Submitted proposals will be reviewed on a continuous basis by British Council together with
partner organisations.

Activities

September 13 Challenge Europe Norway in collaboration with the British Embassy and Gyldendal organised a reception in honour of Ian McEwan during his first official visit to Norway. McEwan was in Oslo in conjunction with the launch of the Norwegian publication of Solar, his latest novel which is an engrossing and satirical novel which focuses on climate change.

Projects we support

Transition Norway

In light of growing concerns over peak oil and climate change, transformation of Norwegian villages, towns and cities is required to ensure long-term environmental, social and economic sustainability. To date, the role of transformation has been the (expected) responsibility of the government. Commonly, environmental and social non-profit organizations focus primarily on educating and mobilizing citizens to participate in single issue campaigns. In Norway, no group exists at the national level to engage, empower and support people to self-organise and improve the community in which they live with resilience as a key driving force.

Transition Norway (TNO) is a volunteer group which strives to build resilience into existing Norwegian communities to withstand systemic shocks from energy and climate-related issues. TNO provides support, training and networking opportunities for citizens interested in organising community resilience initiatives in their area of residence. The Transition model originated in Totnes, UK in 2006. Today, the international Transition movement is guided by the Transition Network. As a group, TNO strives to learn from the mistakes and accomplishments of the movement founders while cultivating an image best designed for the people and landscape of Norway.
For more information about TNO get in touch with Dayton Gordley on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

KlimaSankthans – Norsk Klimanettverk/Oljefritt Lofoten - you can also visit their facebook

Holder de Ord: Holder De Ord contributes to a more transparent and democratic society based on active citizens that purposefully use technology and media to participate in extra-parliamentary power-scrutinising initiatives, and ultimately, in democratic decision-making.

Up until 2010 there was no initiative that continuously monitors political decision-making in Stortinget on climate change or other political issues. Internationally there are a number of web-based initiatives that monitor legislative activity, usually companies or politicians with the ambition to introduce or increase transparency and accountability. This is where Holder De Ord will act as an enabler and amplifier of a new type of democratic participation until recently unknown in Norway.

Byttetorget – Swappers
During Buy-Nothing Day in 2009 a team of dedicated environmentalists launched the swapping market as a concept. After that they have worked actively, mainly through school children and their schools, to introduce the public in Oslo to the motto “to buy less is more”.

Byttetorget is partnering with Grønn Hverdag and Miljøagentene to reach ever more consumers. They are actively working to enable kids to start and carry out their own swapping markets with the help of parents and schools. To this end they have produced an informative and fun “swapping - how to - booklet” booklet for kids (in Norwegian).

Read more about Challenge Europe

Click here to read the advocates' profiles 2009 - 2010

Contact
For further information about the project in Norway, please contact: Tiina Ruohonen, Project Manager, British Council Norway, Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Contact

For further information about the project in Norway, please contact: Tiina Ruohonen, Project Manager, British Council Norway, Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it