In 2008 the British Council launched the European element of its global climate programme; Challenge Europe. The Challenge Europe project is a three year project that aspires to make a definite and lasting impact on the climate change debate, and is ambitious in its aim to accelerate change to a low carbon future.

In the summer of 2009 we are starting the second year of the project, with activity in 15 countries across Europe: Czech Republic, Denmark, Greece, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Lithuania*, Norway, Poland*, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Turkey, UK and Ukraine*.

In each of the participating countries we will select 15 young people from all walks of life to become ‘Climate Advocates’. In exchange for the chance to participate in the project, Climate Advocates are asked to commit approximately 150 hours of their time. Over the period of one year each country team will work collaboratively to identify the key areas where they think they can make a real difference and to develop three concrete ideas to reduce carbon use through changes in policy, business or human behaviour.

The groups will then pitch their ideas to broader publics, specifically reaching out to decision-makers and organisations, campaigning for implementation and support in an effort to make the ideas become reality.

Throughout the programme, we are actively partnering with a number of organisations across Europe spanning all sectors; including the corporate, non-governmental, environmental and academic worlds. Through these partnerships, we will support the Climate Advocates in their quest, offering them access to some of the best minds in Europe through established networks of expert groups and individuals: climate change experts, policy makers, business people, entrepreneurs, environmental groups, and centres of excellence.  

The philosophy of the campaign is simple: to create momentum through collaboration, innovation, energy, drive, passion, understanding and knowledge-sharing.

*Please note that Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine are not recruiting new advocates in 2009.