The Climate Office, an initiative created by the former 2008/2009 Climate Advocates, has become the official coordination point for Hungary’s 10:10 campaign. What a massive achievement! Former climate advocates, along with this year’s cohort, are heavily involved in running and managing the Hungarian 10:10 campaign with Ákos Lukács, a former climate advocate, taking on the role of Campaign Director. Akos has played a key role in Hungary’s 10:10 involvement from the very beginning, but needless to say, present climate advocates are also happily volunteering for and signing up to the programme.

The 10:10 programme was officially launched in Hungary on the 16th July, 2010, during a grand opening event held on a terrace in Gödör, right in the heart of Budapest. The event was attended by a varied but enthusiastic audience who enjoyed speeches from; British Ambassador, Greg Dorey; the Slovenian Ambassador, Zoltán Illés and Deputy State Secretary, Péter Olajos. All the speakers used this opportunity to stress the importance of the 10:10 programme, and the necessity of individual action to help fight climate change and reduce carbon emissions.

The Mobile Climate Office was set up on the sunny terrace, where diligent volunteers, amongst them the new, ready-to-act climate advocates, talked to people about the goal of the 10:10 campaign. They explained numerous ways to reduce CO2 emissions by 10 percent in 2010 and encouraged people to commit to this target. 

This event offered yet further proof that the British Council’s Climate Advocates can bring to life something viable and sustainable and run a project that can go on creating dialogues and forming opinions about climate change for a long time to come.

Since the launch there has been a great interest in the 10:10 programme by the Hungarian public. Many have already signed up on the website-http://www.1010global.org/hu- committing themselves to decreasing their own energy use in 2010. However, looking at our core business, the real success will be the emission reduction of individuals taking part in the campaign and the shift towards a more climate conscious daily life.

The Budapest office of the British Council, having worked with Challenge Europe advocates for three consecutive years now, are absolutely delighted to see how much these hard-working, motivated young people can achieve. They are especially impressed with their successes in fostering dialogue between stakeholders on climate issues and are pleased that the Challenge Europe programme adds to the advocate's personal development too, for many offering the important bonus of assisiting them in their career paths.

Budapest, 2010-07-21

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