The advocates’ team in Hungary met in Szentendre – the picturesque little town at River Danube.

On the first day participants evaluated their work so far, outlined the positive and negative experiences and gave each other feedback on individual performance. Later that day there were some funny team building exercises to get to know each other and to test overall team spirit and sense of humour.Second day was dedicated to the hardcore professional work. The team started defining projects and by the end of the day they could split themselves into working groups.

On Friday the 26th of June, Sweden had its launch for the second year of Challenge Europe. The European Commission in Sweden hosted the event and their venue, “House of Europe” in the centre of Stockholm, proved to be an inspiring place to meet up. By the end of the day, the climate advocates were bubbling with enthusiasm and ideas for projects. Swedish Climate advocate Johan Erlandsson gives his views about the first meeting on the blog Ecoprofile, which he started in 2001. It is now one of Sweden’s biggest eco blogs and was voted best environment blog in 2007. Read his report and see pictures from the meeting here: http://www.ecoprofile.se/9_1513_Challenge_Europe_2009_2010.htm

On the 4 June, the eve of the World Environment Day, a new Information Centre on Climate Change was officiaully launched at Kyiv Mohyla Academy in Ukraine. The aim of the Centre is to raise public awareness and knowledge about climate change, through activities that range from explanations about the scientific evidence to inspiring them to take action in response. The Information Centre will work closely with students and the media who are seen to be the main triggers for positive changes in society. 

The Centre was the initiative of the first year of Ukrainian climate advocates, who wanted to find a way to increase the public’s interest in climate change issues. British Council and the National University of “Kyiv Mohyla Academy” supported the idea with expertise, in-kind and financial resources to help them get it off the ground.

At the press conference held during the opening all participants expressed their strong commitment to work together to spread information about climate change. The opening ceremony included a theatre-forum performance, eco-fourchette and a creative climate-themed game.

On 22 April climate advocates in Slovenia organised a round-table to discuss the importance of recycling plastic packaging for the environment. The event brought together stakeholder organisations involved in the packaging industry in Slovenia with climate change experts and particularly focused on issues relating to the excessive use of plastic carrier bags.

The event was organised by climate advocates Elizabeta  Biluš, Manja Vidic, Gregor Draksler, Lučka Kavkler and Špela Kotar as part of their "reduce, re-use, recycle” project.