Environmental Democracy
[video:https://vimeo.com/268775510]
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University of Michigan "Act on Climate" MOOC
Are you concerned about climate change? Would you like to learn how to address and respond to this challenge? If so, this Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) is for you.
Act on Climate: Steps to Individual, Community, and Political Action is a seven-week course intended to help learners understand, address and respond to climate change as individuals and in partnership with their communities and political leaders. The course focuses on how to translate learning into action on climate change in the areas of food, energy, transportation and the built environment (cities). This course was co-developed and taught by Michaela Zint, Professor of Environmental Education and Communication, and University of Michigan Students. A range of academic climate change experts and professional leaders are featured.
The MOOC starts on June 25, 2018.
As a result of completing this course, you will be able to:
1) Identify individual, community, and political actions you can engage in to effectively address and respond to climate change.
2) Describe how insights from the social sciences can be employed to create change at the individual, community, and political levels.
3) Feel empowered to continue to influence how you, your community, and political leaders address and respond to climate change.
Who is this class for?
This course was designed for individuals who would like to learn more about actions they can take to lessen the impact of climate change and respond to a changing climate. There are no prerequisites for this course, and we do not assume that you have a background in climate science.
Banner and thumbnail photo credits to Jay Mallin
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UNFCCC Global Youth Video Competition on Climate Change 2018
Are you 18-30 and taking part in activities to fight climate change? Send a 3-minute video for a chance to be a youth reporter at the UN Climate Change Conference in Poland in December. The deadline is on August 31, 2018.
If you are the winner, you will have access to round-trip travel to the 24th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 24) in Katowice, Poland, in December 2018. You will be assigned as a youth reporter, assisting the UN Climate Change team with videos, articles, and social media posts.
Before participate, please take a look at the following requirements:
Video up to 3 minutes long Aged between 18 and 30 Spoken or subtitled English Enter from any country Submit by August 31, 2018One winner in each of the two categories
Category One: Responsible production & consumption
How we make and use the products and goods we use in everyday life plays an important role in tackling climate change. Taking raw materials from the ground, manufacturing products and then throwing away our used products and waste materials can all add to greenhouse gas emissions. But there are low-carbon ways to design, produce, supply and recycle products.We can live more climate friendly lifestyles if we manage our natural resources sustainably, and be more energy and resource efficient during the entire life-cycle of the goods we consume.
Submit videos that showcase your activities that contribute to responsible production and consumption. Examples of submissions:
Carrying out climate friendly solutions/ideas on how to promote sustainable production or consumption Campaigns to promote behavioural change Initiatives to reduce emissions during the lifecycle of goods, in areas such as:
unnecessary consumption sustainable fashion sharing economy reusing goods and materials transporting goods locally focused economy reducing wasteCategory Two: Green and climate friendly jobs
New job opportunities are opening up in a range of environmentally-friendly sectors such as renewable energy, sustainable design, recycling, energy efficiency, electric vehicles or sustainable agriculture. Green jobs can improve energy efficiency, limit greenhouse gas emissions, and help people adapt to the effects of climate change.New business ideas, green industrialization, and education can all add to the creation of safe and meaningful work in a low-carbon economy.
Submit videos that showcase your activities that contribute to creation of climate friendly jobs. Examples of submissions:
Work or new businesses that improve the economy and addresses climate change Green jobs and careers related to: Renewable energy Food waste Construction and infrastructure Transportation Green design Technical and job-based training for green jobs Educational campaigns promoting sustainable employment Research to develop a low-carbon economy|
Join the #PLASTICRESISTANCE this Coral Triangle Day - Instagram Contest & Campaign
June 9th marks Coral Triangle Day, when ocean lovers from across the Asia Pacific and the rest of the world celebrate the Coral Triangle bioregion - home to more marine species than anywhere else on the planet.
This year, WWF, The Coral Triangle and The Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI-CFF) are running a high profile Instagram contest in a bid to reduce single use plastics which are a huge source of pollution throughout the Coral Triangle.
The 2018 Coral Triangle Day Instagram Campaign focuses on ACTION and PLEDGES. We’re inviting people to join the #PLASTICRESISTANCE this Coral Triangle Day and to encourage their family and friends to do the same!
Globally, the plastic pollution problem is coming sharply into focus thanks to sustained campaigns and media coverage. People are increasingly aware of the impacts of plastic on the marine environment and the destructive wastefulness of single use plastics such as straws, coffee cup lids, cotton buds and product packaging. It's time to translate that momentum into real world action and a pledge to change behaviour moving forward!
Using the hashtag #PLASTICRESISTANCE and #CORALTRIANGLE, we're asking Instagram users to post images, gifs or videos that demonstrates how they are saying NO to pointless plastics, like bags, straws, coffee cup lids, cotton buds and packaging. We want to know what people are doing personally - as the saying goes, "be the change you want to see."
We're asking contestants to include a simple message explaining in 50 words or fewer how they are breaking up with single use plastics. We also want them to nominate someone to make their own plastic pledge. The three entries judged to most powerfully communicate this message will win prizes including a 7 day dive holiday in Raja Ampat, Indonesia and a 3 day dive holiday in Borneo and a Mares snorkel, mask and fin set.
The Coral Triangle is the global epicentre of marine biodiversity - a bioregion that encompasses the territorial waters of seven countries (Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, PNG, Solomon Islands, Timor Leste and Fiji). It is a Mecca for divers and sustains much of the world’s appetite for seafood. Yet two Coral Triangle countries – Indonesia and the Philippines – rank second and third only to China when it comes to coastal plastic pollution. Globally, we humans dump around eigh million tonnes of ocean into the ocean each year. And it isn't just coastal communities, as plastic also makes its way out to sea via inland waterways. It is high time we turned the tide on ocean plastics. Last year, the UN launched its Clean Seas campaign as the world unites to end once and for all our toxic relationship with single-use plastics.
Three acclaimed photographers and environmental advocates will judge the contest, based on impact, relevance to the theme and originality. There will be three top prizes as voted by the judges and three additional prizes (Coral Triangle coffee table books) for the three images that receive the most number of likes, (excluding the top 3 prize winners).
The Coral Triangle Day #PLASTICRESISTANCE contest is working with high profile partners and sponsors including WWF, Conservation International, Mission Blue, Oceana, Matador Network, Papua Diving, Scuba Junkie and Bye- Bye Plastic Bags.
The Coral Triangle is fast emerging as one of the most exciting destinations in the world for nature-based tourism which benefits local communities, ecosystems and tourists alike. Confronting the issue of waste plastic entering the ocean is one way in which all of us as consumers can make a difference, while encouraging companies to rethink how they produce and package products.
More information about the contest: The Coral Triangle Day
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World Bank Group’s Connect4Climate in Cannes doc showcase
Representatives from World Bank Group’s global climate communications and partnership program Connect4Climate are in Cannes supporting the in-production documentary Great Green Wall.
Jared P. Scott directs and Fernando Meirelles serves as executive producer on the film, which is also receiving support from the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification.
The documentary tells the epic story of one of the planet’s most ambitious endeavours at the edge of the Sahara Desert, aiming to spread awareness about and transform the lives of millions affected by the degraded landscapes. Great Green Wall features Inna Modja, a renowned Malian singer and activist.
[video:https://vimeo.com/268672668]
Connect4Climate’s Film4Climate initiative has presented films in Cannes on Saturday and Monday at the Doc Corner in support of the Global Youth Climate Movement. Slater Jewell-Kemker’s Youth Unstoppable tells the story of Jewell-Kemker’s involvement with the youth climate movement. Scythia Film’s Daniel Bekerman and Wendy Jewell produced, with support from Film4Climate. Adrian Grenier is executive producer.
“Recognising the impact that the film industry can have in particular on younger generations and the power of emotional stories and images, Film4Climate’s intention is to build a global network within the film industry to encourage climate action, environmental protection and social equity. We are pleased to continue supporting the powerful stories of young filmmakers and connecting them with renowned filmmakers to help maximise the medium’s ability to influence behaviour.”
Giulia Braga, Connect4Climate Program Manager
Banner and thumbnail photo credit to Cannes Film Festival
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Connect4Climate joins DS Virgin's Race Against Climate Change
DS Virgin Racing has further strengthened its support for accelerated climate action by joining forces with Connect4Climate around its Race Against Climate Change (RACC) initiative.
Launched at the start of the season in conjunction with Sir Richard Branson, the Virgin Group and the Rocky Mountain Institute, the aim of RACC is to accelerate the energy transition, promote ambitious climate action, and help the world achieve the goals of the Paris Climate Accord.
The programme already boasts a number of key experts including Professor Michael Mann and Actor & Director Fisher Stevens, and will now include Connect4Climate from the Paris race onwards.
Sam Bird is Racing Against Climate Change at Formula E
Connect4Climate is a global partnership programme launched by the World Bank Group and the Italian Ministry of Environment, Land and Sea, together with the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. Its aim is to take on climate change by supporting ambitious leadership, promoting transformative solutions and empowering collective action.
“We are delighted to be joining forces with Connect4Climate to help strengthen our Race Against Climate Change initiative. By working together, it will allow us to reach an even wider platform, helping us raise even more awareness of climate change issues and to a new audience. Climate action and sustainability remains key to the DS Virgin Racing team and its ‘Purpose’, and we look forward to this exciting new relationship.”
Alex Tai, DS Virgin Racing Team Principal
“We are at a crucial time in our history, the world has come together to address climate change with the Paris Agreement, and to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, but we need to accelerate the implementation of climate solutions. Connect4Climate is excited to support the DS Virgin Racing team to ensure that electric racing and its audience help build a low-carbon and resilient future.”
Max Thabiso Edkins, Climate Change Expert, Connect4Climate
The knowledge partnership allows for collaborative engagement to inspire climate action. Connect4Climate will support the team’s Innovation Summit and joint communications activities will be identified going forward.
