Is completing her MSc studies in Economics, with a major in Marketing, at Hanken School of Economics in Helsinki. Currently she is writing her thesis on the potential role of social marketing and branding in motivating consumers to more sustainable lifestyles. She is also studying for a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology at the University of Helsinki. Johanna is especially interested in understanding our choices as consumers, since consumerism plays such an important role in modern societies. She believes the key question is how to minimize our carbon footprint in a way that doesn’t affect our quality of life. This is the only way the masses of consumers will start taking action, she argues. Her vision is that a zero carbon life would in fact increase our happiness level and quality of life. Her dream is therefore a global green economy. Johanna enjoys yoga, dancing and cinema. Her biggest passion is travelling and she hopes that one day she could explore the world without causing any emissions. She is looking forward to an exciting year and believes that great ideas will emerge from the collaboration of all these motivated and talented advocates.

Has a BSc in International Relations (London School of Economics and Political Science LSE) and an Mphil in Russian and East European Studies (University of Oxford). Saija works as Senior Adviser at the Finnish Ministry of the Environment. Her areas of responsibility include Arctic and Barents regional environmental cooperation, EU-Russia environmental cooperation, and environmental cooperation between the EECCA (Eastern Europe, Caucasus, Central Asia) countries.  “My dream is to see the day when I don't have to feel guilty about contributing to climate change. My dream is to see the day when I will be able to 'walk the talk' and be proud of my choices. So far... no luck. While I realise that climate change does not equal flying, that is the lifestyle choice that is sending me on the most guilt trips.” The great thing about the Challenge Europe team is that all members are puzzled by the same questions (and the questions go far beyond flying) and instead of just leaving it for the political elite or the top scientists to solve, we are all trying to come up with answers of our own and implement projects that make a difference. However small.

Is a final year student at the Architecture Department in the Helsinki University of Technology. She has been working actively in various student organizations and she thinks that Challenge Europe provides her with an excellent opportunity to channel this energy into the battle against climate change. As buildings consume roughly one third of the energy used in societies, architects and urban planners can have a great role in reducing the CO2 emissions.

Is currently enrolled at the Helsinki University of Technology and in her final year towards a Masters in Architecture. She also works there as a researcher on sustainable urban planning, concentrating on gathering principles and best practices for sustainable architecture and building design. Her case study area are the ski resorts in the Finnish Lapland, where the arctic climate and seasonal use of the properties pose some challenges for energy efficient building.

Despite the challenges, Iina is fascinated by the possibilities of architects and planners in tackling climate change by creating more sustainable cities and buildings of the future, as well as by improving the energy efficiency and infrastructure of the present ones.

At the end of her studies and after graduation in spring 2008 she worked as a consultant in the field of material efficiency and household consumption for Pääkaupunkiseudun kierrätyskeskus, Wuppertal Institute in Germany and Nitro FX in Helsinki. Currently she works as a full time sustainable consumption specialist at One did it Ltd (Onedidit.com or Onedidit.fi). In her current position she has been responsible for building the calculation framework to measure the environmental burden of household consumption and preparing the material regarding sustainable consumption.

Has a Master in Administrative Sciences from the University of Tampere, specialising in Environmental Policy and works for the Finnish Association for Nature Conservation in Helsinki on the Climate Change and Development Communication Project. “I want to speed up the change that we need to make in societies around the globe and find new ways to do it. With the work group I would like to achieve practical changes in the Finnish way of life (e.g. increase bicycling, reducing the amount of cars on the roads) as well as acceptance of using political means to increase climate equity.”

Started her Political Science studies at the University of Helsinki in 2003. She spent a year on exchange in Sciences Po de Paris, France completing a Masters Programme called “Environment, Sustainable Development and Risks”. Currently she is working on her thesis on environmental refugees and the possible strategies of adaptation and expects to graduate in autumn 2009. Katri is a member of the board of the environmental organization Dodo. In September 2009 she will be a part of Finnish delegation to the annual conference of the UNCCD (Convention to Combat Desertification) as a representative of Finnish NGOs.

Has graduated as a technician in environmental chemistry and she is now studying the same subject at the University of Turku, Finland. She has always been passionate about environmental issues and wants to do her part in preventing this world from being deteriorated. “I wish to make a difference, and I can't do it on my own.”

Is an English major student from Turku, a Member of Committee on environmental Affairs and future teacher.

Has a BBA degree and is now a final year Environmental Engineering student preparing her thesis for the Finnish Defence Forces. In her thesis she is involved in developing the Environmental Management system for the Gulf of Finland Naval Command operations. 
In the battle against climate change she believes in an educational approach that reshapes attitudes as she has acted as a voluntary climate change educator for schools. Other, even more important ways of promoting change are to take actions to break the institutional barriers especially in the public sector, through legislation and political decisions. She believes that everything relates to everything and that by helping world become more climate friendly and greener, we can also help to break down the unfair structures (economic, social, cultural) around the globe. ”Through climate work we can solve other serious and connected environmental problems such as water depletion and overexploited resources”, she says.

Has an M.Sc. (Tech.) degree in industrial engineering and management and past experience in both consulting and scientific research. Anna works for Finnish consulting company Gaia Consulting as a project manager and is an expert in projects related to risk management, valuation of environmental issues, and energy and climate issues – carbon footprint calculations are her speciality. Anna wants to invest her own time in fighting against climate change and her wish is to make sustainable choices easily available and attractive to the majority.

Has done internships with London based think tank Demos UK and in The Finnish Institute in London. Currently she works in Demos Helsinki as coordinator of a project aimed at reducing the energy consumption of Finns by empowering different professional and peer groups who influence our personal energy decisions. She is also a member of the board of the Finnish urban environmental organisation Dodo, which has the focus of solving environmental problems in urban lifestyles.

Holds a B.Sc. in environmental studies and is currently working on an M.Sc. thesis in the same subject. She has also worked as a climate change officer at WWF Finland since January 2007. As a hobby, she takes part in the activities of the Finnish Nature League and is the deputy chairman of its Committee of Energy, Consumption and Climate.

Is a meteorology student working as a research assistant at the University of Helsinki and compiling her M.Sc. thesis on a method for emission source identification. Her choice of a career was heavily steered by her interest in and concern about climate change - its complexity and scope being both alarming and fascinating. Her dream is to make a contribution to tackling climate change, both professionally and at a private level. Mira’s research work and her new role as BC climate advocate is already an inspirational start. Challenge Europe offers her a channel to the world: to the decision makers, organisations and people, who have to be convinced about the problem and given incentives and alternative ways to deal with it. She hopes to see how information can be converted into concrete choices that have the potential to trigger big changes. “I am also excited about this great chance to network with like-minded people, to learn and to grow into the influential and responsible person I want to be”.

Holds a Master of Science (Tech.) degree in Energy Economics. Currently he works as Developement Manager in Helsingin Energia electricity sales department. Lauri has been aware of climate change since school age where it may have affected his choices in studies and career. On the other hand he is not a hardcore environmentalist and in preventing dangerous climate change he believes more in technological solutions that can be made suitable for masses than a strictly regulated non-carbon lifestyle. “This workgroup would be an ideal way for me to actively tackle Climate Change. Meeting new people and getting new experiences alongside saving the climate is fun for me!”