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Vertical underwater farming solution scoops the Sustainia Award
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GreenWave – a US-based vertical ocean farming solution – has won the Sustainia Award. GreenWave’s revolutionary technology allows ocean farmers to produce 30 tons of sea vegetables and 250,000 shell­fish per acre in a year while restoring ocean ecosystems. Sustainia handed over the Sustainia Award to Bren on Wednesday February 8, at Sustainia’s big Sustainia Living event at the Royal Danish Opera House in Copenhagen. 

One of the Film4Climate Global Video Competition winning entries "Three Seconds" (1st Prize Short Film) was showcased at this Sustainia event.

Fed up with the unsustainable practices of the fishing industry, fisherman Bren Smith founded GreenWave just three and a half years ago on Long Island, New York, U.S. GreenWave relies on a new innovative system, which enables sea­weed, scal­lops and mus­sels to grow on float­ing ropes, stacked above oyster and clam cages be­low. The system provides food, fertilizer, animal feed and sustainable biofuels, making ocean farmers the stewards of their local waters. Bren Smith now has 15 farms in development in Connecticut, New York, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and California.

GreenWave represents a readily scalable and replicable solution, which takes a triple bottom line approach – one that builds a blue-green economy, acts on climate change, and provides better food options – while addressing the global goals, making it a clear recipient for the Sustainia Award.

GreenWave is a single solution to multiple challenges, with one big goal. Simply, we are focused on saving the oceans in order to save ourselves. We’re delighted to win the Sustainia Award, and I hope it helps us take our work to waters all over the world.

- Bren Smith, Executive Director and CEO of GreenWave

Sustainia’s big Sustainia Living event focused on sustainable lifestyle, during which pioneers such as acclaimed architect Bjarke Ingels, food activist Claus Meyer and sustainable clothing advocate Livia Firth guided us through the ceremony.
 
All ten Sustainia finalists were also eligible for the Community Award, which was decided by public vote during October 2016 – and the winner is Code to Inspire, a solution which teaches Afghan wo­men com­puter cod­ing and em­powers them to find em­ploy­ment or pur­sue en­tre­pren­eur­ial ven­tures. According to the founders, 85 percent of Afghan women have no formal education and are illiterate, so Code to Inspire opened Afghanistan’s first female-only coding school in 2015 to provide a safe space for women to learn, express themselves and acquire competitive skills.
 
Too many Afghan women are denied the chance to fulfill their potential because of the complex barriers that prevent them from receiving education and working. So we’re responding to this national crisis by providing them with the skills they need to find opportunities in the digital global marketplace. Receiving the Community Award from Sustainia gives us the added boost we need to reach as many women as possible, and change even more lives in the region. 

- Fereshteh Forough, Founder and CEO of Code to Inspire

Code to In­spire teaches Afghan wo­men com­puter cod­ing and em­powers them to find em­ploy­ment or pur­sue en­tre­pren­eur­ial ven­tures. Photo Credits to Sustainia

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Youth Solutions Report provides solutions to address global problems
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NEW YORK - The first edition of the Youth Solutions Report, which identifies 50 youth-led projects aiming to solve the world’s toughest problems, was released today at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. 

The report, produced by the youth initiative of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN Youth) identifies and celebrates youth-led projects and ground-breaking ideas to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It reflects a growing interest in supporting and scaling innovative solutions to address problems such as poverty, inequality, clean and affordable energy, access to healthcare and education, e-participation and waste.

The report highlights the work of youth-led organisations, such as Liter of Light who bring over 750,000 affordable solar lights to 15 countries; the talented team behind BenBen who operate a Blockchain-based land registry that facilitates secure land transactions to encourage investments and transparent land resource management; FinFighters who run a citizen shark science program to collect genetic data and information from Moroccan fishing ports and market; and the group running the SHAPE project using mobile technology to promote citizens’ e-participation in their city’s public life.

Professor Jeffrey Sachs, UN Secretary General’s Adviser on the SDGs, and Minister Karen Ellemann, Danish Minister for Equal Opportunities, launched the report during a two-day forum on youth and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. The report was produced in partnership with Ashoka, Sustainia, the Resolution Project and Panorama (joint initiative of IUCN and the German government) and has been reviewed by a panel of experts, comprising leading figures from business, civil society and academia. 

Paul Polman, CEO of Unilever, has supported the initiative. “SDSN Youth and its Youth Solutions Report are excellent examples of initiatives crucial for helping young people realize the full potential of their abilities, innovations and solutions.”

“Today we have the largest generation of youth in history - a powerful force for change. 84 percent of millennials are convinced they have a duty to make the world a better place, and many already are, through socially aware businesses and youth-led campaigns in support of the Sustainable Development Goals.” Mr. Polman said.

Max Thabiso Edkins, Climate Change Expert on the Connect4Climate program of the World Bank Group, highlights that "this generation is the first generation to live with the impacts of climate change and it is the generation that will build a sustainable, low-carbon and resilient future."

"The Youth Solutions Report shows that young people are already building that future. At the Connect4Climate program of the World Bank Group we believe in the power of youth to change the world." Mr. Edkins emphasized.

Siamak Sam Loni, Global Coordinator of SDSN Youth, says that young people must be seen as key stakeholders in the sustainable development debate and that there is a pressing need to acknowledge their essential role in achieving the SDGs.

“Young people are already contributing to the implementation of the SDGs but they face common challenges that prevent them from realizing the full potential of their ideas and solutions, including the lack of visibility, limited access to finance, and the lack of training and technical support. The Youth Solutions Report will help investors, donors and supporters better understand the multi-faceted role of young people in sustainable development and give them additional opportunities to showcase and scale their work.” Mr. Loni said.

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a set of 17 goals included in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which was launched at UN Headquarters in September 2015 and adopted by 193 member countries of the UN. The SDGs, which are relevant to all countries, aim to achieve social inclusion, economic prosperity and environmental sustainability.

For more information on the Youth Solutions Report visit: www.youthsolutions.report

For media enquiries and interview requests, please contact: solutions@sdsnyouth.org

2017 ECOSOC Youth Forum

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SXSW Conference & Festivals

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The South by Southwest® (SXSW®) Conference & Festivals celebrate the convergence of the interactive, film, and music industries. Fostering creative and professional growth alike, SXSW® is the premier destination for discovery. South By Southwest dedicates itself to helping creative people achieve their goals. Founded in 1987 in Austin, Texas, SXSW is best known for its conference and festivals that celebrate the convergence of the interactive, film, and music industries.

Earth Day 2017

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The movement continues. We are now entering the 47th year of a movement that continues to inspire, challenge ideas, ignite passion, and motivate people to action.

In 1970, the year of the first Earth Day, the movement gave voice to an emerging consciousness, channeling human energy toward environmental issues. Forty-six years later, we continue to lead with groundbreaking ideas and by the power of our example.

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Winners of Connect4Climate Sustainable Worlds on Minecraft Competition Announced
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Nyasha Duri from the UK has been voted the winner of the inaugural Sustainable Worlds on Minecraft competition. Of the three finalists the 20-year old received the most votes from the viewing public, in a closely fought contest.

The competition which forms part of tvebiomovies 2016 has been supported by Connect4Climate, the World Bank Group's global partnership program that empowers people to act on climate change. Young people were invited to use the Minecraft gaming platform to design a sustainable world, and to showcase their innovative ideas on transport, food production and renewable energy. 

There is no doubt that climate change is a global challenge, and young people’s passion, imagination, and creativity are powerful drivers for collective climate action. The winners show sustainable islands in Minecraft that reflect the desire of young people to build sustainable worlds and be part of the climate solution.
 

- Lucia Grenna, Program Manager of Connect4Climate 

The judging panel were very impressed by the knowledge and creativity of all the entries. The finalists’ worlds use Minecraft in a unique way to help explain how we can build a sustainable world and help combat climate change.

- Nick Turner, Manager of Digital Projects of tve

The winning entry by Nyasha features hydroponics and vertical farming, multiple sources of renewable energy, electric transport and a smart water grid system. Two other finalists were by a team from Germany, Hauke and Finn, and from the USA, Michael, the youngest entrant at 9 years old.
 
The three finalists submitted a walkthrough video explaining the sustainability features of their world, and also their game data, which are available as a download pack for Minecraft to allow viewers to explore.
 
tvebiomovies is in its seventh year and consists of four challenges around the framework of the planetary boundaries, engaging young people around the issues of sustainability and living within the earth’s limits. Besides the three Sustainable Worlds on Minecraft finalists, 17 short film entries on Forests, Biodiversity, Oceans and Seas, Family Farmer, and Reusing and Recycling were presented for public voting, two winners from the Global Youth Video Competition on Climate Change in partnership with the UNFCCC reported from the COP22 climate conference in Marrakech, and three winners were selected in the #stopthatdrop on Instagram video challenge.

Connect4Climate is a World Bank Group Multi-Donor Trust Fund powered by Italy’s Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security and Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development that drives climate action through advocacy, partnerships, and creative communications.

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