This week, Connect4Climates partner Sustainia announced their top-10 sustainability innovations for 2015. The 10 projects and technologies are the finalists for the Sustainia Award, an international honor that identifies and celebrates groundbreaking sustainability solutions from all over the world.

An Award Committee, led by Arnold Schwarzenegger, including Christiana Figueres, Gro Harlem Brundtland, Rajendra K. Pachauri and Connie Hedegaard, will now review the finalists. The solutions come from 9 different countries and cover everything from new ways of financing climate mitigation projects in cities, leasing models for baby clothes, citizen engagement projects for energy consumption and solar rechargeable hearing aids.

The winning solution will be presented on December 6th at an evening filled with inspiration and bold statements, during the UNFCCC COP21 climate conference in Paris. Under the theme of Leaders of a Sustainable World, Unite! Sustainia, the UN Global Compact, Connect4Climate, the World Banks global partnership program, and many partners are collaborating to present climate and sustainability solutions that will power up the evening.

Besides a winning solution chosen by the Sustainia Award Committee, you can also be a part of the selection process. Starting this week, everyone can vote his or her favorite innovation among the 10 nominees. The finalist with the most public votes will bring home the Sustainia Community Award. Read about the 10 finalists at: sustainia.me/cop21.

The public choice winner will also be announced in Paris on December 6th. With the newly ratified Sustainable Development Goals and the negotiations for a new binding climate agreement at COP21, its enough with the talk and all about action. Lets support the solutions already available to us vote your favorite.

These solutions, initiatives and technologies already making a direct impact on the ground, are already now working in the market and will be needed in a world defined by climate change no matter the outcome of COP21. The Award Ceremony in Paris will gather innovators and performers from around the world to celebrate solutions for a clean resilient tomorrow.

The opportunities presented by the climate challenge will be highlighted. Innovations in the fashion, film and food industries will be announced, as will progress for sustainable cities. It will be an evening to celebrate a climate-friendly sustainable future. Join in the transition to a new economy, driven by sustainability solutions.

During an intensive sociology course over winter break, thirty students from U.S. colleges and universities took part in a workshop organized by the Connect4Climate group at the World Bank headquarters. The students came from many disciplines, and from all over the world. Few had any kind of a background in climate change issues. Here are some of their impressions of Connect4Climates mission and, in particular, the Sport4Climate initiative. The workshop occured on January 15 2015 to celebrate the launch of Action/2015, a global movement of thousands of organizations, coalitions and partnerships that reflect the diversity of injustice, inequalities, poverty and climate change all over the world.

Last December I was one of the lucky six chosen by the University Centre for Development Cooperation (Brussels) to attend the second week of the biggest climate change event of the year: the COP18. I was so looking forward to experience a U.N. international conference from close-by.

This time the 18th Conference of the Parties took place in Doha, the capital of Qatar. Isnt it ironic that the country with the highest ecological footprint per capita on earth, hosts a conference on climate change?

The first couple of days went by quite fast. I was impressed by the size and the organization of such an event. The Qatar National Convention Centre (where the COP was held) is huge: it hosted about 30,000 people (delegates, visitors, journalists, members of NGOs and volunteers). At least I got to stay fit from walking a couple of kilometers a day!

The real negotiations were not opened to observers like me, but there were plenty of side-events I was allowed in, like press conferences and information panels. Some very interesting topics were discussed, like sustainable energy resources, food security, impact of climate change on indigenous groups, etc.

I also attended a couple of actions organized by NGOs. I got the chance to interact with young people from all over the world, people who really care about the climate and would do a lot to try to save it. It was very inspiring to hear their point of view, to see how driven they were. It was also touching to see how, by the end of the COP, they had lost all hope for this COP: they realized there would be no ambitious climate agreement this year. Despite this, they were more determined than ever to keep on fighting for the climate, and to organize many more actions back home to make people realize that climate change is an urgent matter: we cannot afford to wait another ten years. Time is running out Werent typhoon Bopha and hurricane Sandy recent proof of this?

Talking to them was what made me understand that waiting for a global, ambitious agreement is not an option anymore. Maybe it is time for usthe civil societyto take action, instead of waiting for politicians to do so: a so - called bottom - up approach to fight climate change instead of ineffective climate negotiations.

Unexpectedly, attending the COP18 has radically changed my views on what seems to be the best way to tackle climate change. All over the globe, climate action movements are growing.  Thousands, maybe millions of people are ready to act. They are hopeful that together we can build a worldwide movement of solidarity and that we have the potential to actually make a change if we cooperate.  I too am now convinced of this.

More experiences of the 6 students at the COP18 can be read at the UCOS @ COP 18 blog.  

"Cycling is one of the most popular sports in the world, but its also a mode of transportation for millions, helping to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and keep people healthy. UCI wants to contribute to a future where everyone, regardless of age, gender, or disability gets the opportunity to ride and bike, whether as an athlete, for recreation, or for transport. In ten months time, the Paris climate talks will provide the final opportunity to plan for a sustainable future: cycling - a truly zero-carbon form of transport - must be part of the solution".

- Brian Cookson, UCI President 

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and UNFCCC Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres recognized the potential of the bicycle as a low carbon alternative when they took a spin on Ghanaian bamboo bikes as a side event at the COP 19 in Warsaw, Poland. The Ghana Bamboo Bike Initiative showcased the bicycles, which use locally grown bamboo. The strong, but lightweight bamboo bikes can be used for multiple purposes and in a variety of terrains. They were introduced as a non-polluting, affordable form of transportation as well as a way to create employment opportunities for rural women. Young women with little or no education are trained in Ghana to manufacture and assemble these bikes. The beneficiaries are also instructed on how to use bamboo waste materials to manufacture charcoal briquettes that also help to address energy needs.

 

Another opportunity for bike lovers will come up during the 21st Session of the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC COP 21 in Paris in December, 2015. France is second to China with the highest number of bikeshare stations, and its capital, Paris has a computerized system Vlib that includes 1,230 stations and a fleet of 18,000 bicycles. Wouldnt it be a great if delegates from all over the world were to receive a free pass to the bikeshare bicycles in their welcome packet? It would give them a chance to not only talk the talk about climate, but also to ride the ride for positive climate care during the final Climate Summit. 

The bike sharing system of Paris, also known as Vélib', is all over the city, and is best way to discover the Paris of Parisian. Photo Credit: Velib'

In this effort to reenergize a global focus on bicycles and bicycling, I am very fortunate to be surrounded by a new generation of bike lovers from the UCI, World Bicycle Relief, and my own colleagues from Connect4Climate of the Sport4Climate initiative. These new and young advocates are proving to me that there is an enthusiastic ray of hope for cycling and the use of bicycles to create change. Their contagious passion for bicycles rekindles my own love for cycling as well.

Brian Cookson on racing track. Courtesy of UCI

As for us at Connect4Climate there will be plenty of biking around the world with our global communication initiative Sport4Climate that showcases how community of sport can get involved in tackling one of Earths most formidable foes: climate change. Sport has a universal appeal, and cycling is one of the most important pillars of the Olympic Movement. On our touring calendar, the stages will include the UCI Road World Championships in Richmond, COP 21, and obviously the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, where we want to be an active part of the Olympic relay carrying the flame and enlightening the Olympic Cauldron during the opening ceremony. We will also, make sure that the mascots Vinicius and Tom will wear the Connect4Climate bracelets.

Even the French Baron Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the Modern Olympic Movement, was an avid bike rider, and affectionately called his bike Nini. He immensely enjoyed bicycle riding among other sports activities in his lifetime. Wouldnt it be great if the global cycling community could follow de Coubertins lead and once again realize the joy and benefits of cycling? Just recently the initiator of Connect4Climate, Lucia Grenna, nostalgically revealed her trustworthy Bianchi as her top choice for transport OR mobility medium. It is obvious that things are looking up for Cycling4Climate!

UNFCCC Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon at COP 19 in Warsaw with the Ghana Bamboo Bike. Credit: Momentum for Change

The popularity and practicality of the bicycle are without question vital links to help lessen worsening morbidity trends attributed to pollution. This is especially true in areas where rapid urbanization and motorization are taking their toll. China is a prime example of such trends as the bicycle and rickshaw have been a traditional mode of mobility for decades, but not anymore. In 2004 there were just 10 million private cars in circulation in China; today there are more than 150 million. While we in the West are beginning to return to the bicycle, millions of others are forsaking their bikes for cars. Reversing this trend could be of huge benefit to our future climate and the health of our cities - but only if we act now.

There are those who see the bike as just a form of recreation or kids play. However, its a major form of transportation for hundreds of millions, and could be for billions. A third of US carbon dioxide emissions are from transport, yet half of all car trips are just 5 km or less. Such a distance takes only 15 minutes to ride on a bike. Of course cycling may not be practical for every trip by everyone, but if people are mindful of the option and if there are better facilities and a supportive culture, cycling could offer a zero-carbon alternative to the car and save billions of tons of CO2 in the coming decades.

Sport has the potential to be an influential if not the most influential element in the environmental movement. It has the potential to be more influential than politics, and more influential than business. Sport has the capacity to transform the way people view the planet and to encourage them to be advocates for environmental change.

I believe that the cycling community can and should be a strong leading voice from the global sports industry about how we doing something so simple can benefit our health and the health of our planet. This is especially important as we travel the Road to Paris: COP 21.

Spain not only has to combat the economic crisis, but also the effects of climate change. The climate is increasingly volatile and extremely dry and hot over a number of consecutive months, which especially puts the Spanish agriculture and forestry sectors under pressure. The Spanish Government has therefore committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. For example, early this year it approved 37 projects under the Clima 2013 plan, backed by 10 million budget. These projects should help to reduce emissions by 800 Tn CO2 equivalent and support the overall goal of reaching 10% lower emissions by 2020 (compared to emissions in 2005).

Apart from reducing emissions, much is being done to mitigate climate change effects. Several consequences of climate change are already happening, such as soil degradation with subsequent loss of agricultural capacity and the loss of biodiversity in affected eco-systems. Many agricultural areas are degraded and have been abandoned due to lack of profitability. One way to combat these developments is the reforestation of rural areas where trees can help improve soil quality, slow erosion, retain water and provide sheltering space and forage for wild animals. Reforestation is often difficult and expensive as the areas often lack water and are remote.

The Life+ Green Deserts project is exploring a potential solution to make reforestation affordable through the use of the Groasis Waterboxx, a device that helps young trees survive their first critical years. The partners in this ambitious reforestation project have planted 55,000 trees, most of them with the Groasis Waterboxx, and are monitoring the results. The immediate aim is to convert 63 hectares of bare and deserted land into forest without the use of traditional irrigation, in order to increase the resilience of each area. Midterm, the project intends to demonstrate the viability of the used technology and find a solution to the problems of reforestation in Mediterranean and other areas that suffer from desertification.

The Green Deserts project started in 2010 in five different Spanish provinces, namely Valladolid, Len, Zamora, Zaragoza and Barcelona. These fives zones have different climatic characteristics, different altitudes, and different usage and soil composition. However, a common element is that they are extremely dry to arid and no tree, plant or crop can grow without artificial irrigation, if at all.

 

The participants of the project are aware that no change can be realized without raising awareness of the problem. Therefore, one of the objectives is to disseminate the results and raise awareness in local communities. Individuals, families and schools have reacted with great interest and are happy to learn more and participate in planting trees. 

Learn more about LIFE+ The Green Deserts at www.thegreendeserts.com or become a fan of their Facebook Page.

When I was working as a journalist in Peru in 1999, I saw the devastation of the 1997-98 El Nio first hand. Heading north from Lima, the flood damage to homes was clearly visible. Large sections of road were cut off by landslides, buildings were turned to rubble and cultivated fields were laid to waste.

Rising sea surface temperatures suggest that another El Nio is on its way. The UN's weather agency, the World Meteorological Organisation, says there is a 60% chance of it starting before September this year. An El Nio event usually happens every five years, but a severe one hits every 15 to 20 years. We are due for another.

The El Nio Southern Oscillation, to give it its full title, is characterised by higher water temperatures in equatorial regions of the Pacific Ocean, which leads to changes in wind patterns. This has widespread effects, from higher-than-normal rainfall in the Americas, to droughts in India and Australia, to heavy snowfall in the UK. If a severe El Nio hits this year it would bring heavy rainfall to South America in December. Much needs to be done to protect lives and livelihoods, and the next four months are critical.

In Peru, local governments have identified flood control channels and embankment projects that would help minimise losses. A recent report published by UNDP and ODI says local governments should come up with their own risk management projects and seek support to implement them. But national government bureaucracy in Peru is holding things up. In the border province of Piura, 115 small projects have been identified to prevent flooding and landslides, but none have received funding yet, and local officials are getting nervous. There are even calls for the National Public Investment System to relax its rules to allow projects to start immediately.

In neighbouring Ecuador there are problems that may take longer to fix. Disaster risks are not addressed in 90% of Ecuadors municipal development plans, said a source in a provincial planning department. This means that buildings keep going up in high-risk areas.

Despite these issues, much has changed in South America since 1998. I would expect the impact of a severe El Nio to be less damaging. Banks across South America are in better financial shape this year to deal with the costs than in the past, according to Moody's Investors Service. Over the last decade, economic growth, poverty reduction and disaster risk governance reforms have made Peru and Ecuador more resilient to climate extremes. At the Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in the Americas last month, Ecuador's Minister of Defence, Mara Fernanda Espinosa, spoke of "constant improvements in practices, laws and standards for risk reduction".

Scientists now know a lot more about El Nio and can give advance warning of the kind of event that is expected. I spoke to UNDP Perus Alfredo Zerga, who said that a great deal can be done to prepare for a severe El Nio now. Families can find out if their home is in a flood-prone area as all local governments have risk maps, and they can identify points that are higher than the surrounding topography. These actions will certainly help save lives.

So how will South America fare when the next severe El Nio hits? Thanks to strong economic performance, political will and decentralisation of risk management, we have come a long way since 1999. But populations are still at risk and urgent action is needed.

In Luca Florez's Action4Climate documentary Back to Paoyhan, a shipibo shaman visits his home community in the Peruvian Amazon after the flood.

Watch below.

[video:https://vimeo.com/95548021]

A commuter walking on Sandton's West Street, half of which has been closed to cars. Credit: Simphiwe Nkwali (City of Johannesburg)

Johannesburg may be a city built on the profits of gold, but Mpho Parks Tau, Mayor of South Africa’s largest city, has a green dream. His dream is to make “public transport, walking and cycling more accessible, safe, attractive and cool.”

"For our economy to grow and flourish, we need to decongest our roads and have fewer people spending time in their cars stuck in traffic," he said at the launch of Africa’s first EcoMobility World Festival on Oct.4.

During the festival, Sandton central business district–also known as Africa’s richest square mile–is partially closed to private cars and converted into an ecomobile zone, not just for a car-free day as in Paris, but the entire month. Leading by example, the dynamic 45-year old mayor encourages the city’s 4.8 million residents to go ecomobile as well and "show that is possible for the residents of Joburg to break away from the habit of using private vehicles."

Transport accounts for 31% of South Africa’s energy consumption and 16% of its CO2 emissions. A relevant share of it comes from transport in urban areas. The promotion of ecomobility, which means prioritizing walking, cycling, public transport and shared mobility, is a key part of the city’s action on climate change, air pollution and social inequalities.

The city’s forward-thinking initiative puts Johannesburg on the world map of city-driven climate change action. The opening of a new bike path between Sandton and the township of Alexandra and the “Streets Alive – Jozi W-R-1” parade underlined the link between ecomobility and social inclusion.

“Cycling should become a way of life, our municipalities must become sustainable,” said South Africa’s Transport Minister Dipuo Peters, announcing further national policies in support of ecomobility. South Africa is not only Africa’s largest economy, but also the continent’s biggest polluter, ranking among the 15 largest CO2 emitters worldwide.

“We contribute to climate change systematically through carbon emissions, and the reliance by Joburg commuters on single-passenger vehicles is an inefficiency we must confront,” Mayor Parks Tau declared in his State of the City address in May.

Johannesburg's Executive Mayor Parks Tau (with green helmet) amongst riders of bicycles and other ecomobility vehicles heading off from Sandton CBD, Adfrica's richest square mile, to the low-income township of Alexandra. Credit: Simphiwe Nkwali (City of Johannesburg)

There are plenty of ways we can reduce our impact on the environment. One of these, a really cheap one, is walking. Walking alone, with friends, with your boyfriend, with your mum, to? You can walk to work, to the pub, to the cinema, to the park wherever!

"Why not use a car?" you could ask me. I would reply with another question: Do you necessarily need to go everywhere by car? Think about it. A nice walk wakes you up when you go to work in the morning and makes you feel better when you go back home in the evening, especially if your job requires you to sit all day; it keeps you healthy, because it gives you energy, it helps you to burn calories, to prevent heart diseases and to stimulate your muscles! More benefits here.

A nice walk gives you the opportunity to enjoy the nature, to breathe and, why not, to meet new interesting people.  "What if its a rainy, cold day?" Well, you can wear your best coat and rainy boots, open your umbrella and just go!

Moreover, walking is cheaper. Better again, it prevents stress!

Driving a car means:

1. More money to spend every day in gasoline;
2. More money to spend every day in parking;
3. More money for the maintenance and insurance;
4. Contributing to pollute the air YOU breath every day;
5. More stress!

I have been working with the Connect4Climate team (a really green one!) for one year, studying with my colleagues the best ways not only to raise awareness about climate change globally, but also to engage young people in daily sustainable actions. The change needs to start from each of us, we should be the first to give an example on how to live in a greener way. I live 20 minutes away from the Connect4Climate office and I walk every day, by the rain, by the sun or by the snow, and I really enjoy it because it makes me feel better.

PS: You live far away from the place you want to reach?  Take a bus or the metro, which will allow you to get closer and then just walk!

Share your green actions and climate change stories in our Voices4Climate competition.

My country Sierra Leone, meaning Lion Mountain has a tropical climate because of its proximity to the equator. Well watered with strong annual rainy seasons, it is considered one of the most humid countries in Africa. The land is blessed by the Atlantic Ocean on the West and Southwest shores. Mangrove swamps, wooded hill country, and beautiful mountains grace the East. 

The country enjoys two separate seasons, dry and wet. When I was growing up in Koidu Town, Sierra Leone, the seasons lasted for six months each, but this has tremendously changed in the last couple of years. It was recently determined that the dry season now lasts only 3 months, from December through February. This new pattern is credited to the impact of Climate Change, which causes a subsequent change in the countrys climate. This has greatly impacted the pattern of the countrys seasons, and if urgent action is not taken by the government to mitigate its effect, a socio-economic and political price will be paid.

There is insufficient daily data available to determine the temperature extremes; there is, however, data that significantly indicates increasing trends in the frequency of hot nights. The average number of hot nights per year increased significantly between 1960 and 2003. There has been a decrease in heavy rainfall after 1960, and it had been difficult to establish if this was part of a long term trend. The rainfall record is determined by wetter and drier periods. For example, the 60s and late 70s were particularly wet, whilst the early 70s and 80s were very dry. Rainfalls in 2005 and 2006 have been have also been very low. 

The vast majority of the population in the city and provinces heavily relies on the countrys natural resources for its economic base. The country is highly dependent on mining - especially diamonds. This is mainly done in Koidu town, where I grew up, and rumor is that besides diamonds, the country is likely to become a significant iron ore, gold and oil producer.

Photo by Eduardo Arraes

The people of Sierra Leone also rely on natural resources such as land to grow food. The country is blessed with one of the most fertile lands in West Africa. As kids in a family of over thirty brothers and sisters, each one of us had his or her own little garden, we grew corn, pepper, etc. There is planter of water, but this is threatened by population growth (increase in population include displacement caused by Civil War) and the rising demand from agribusiness and deforestation causing soil erosion. There are threats to our beautiful inland valley swamps and the rich forests. One of the problems our forests are now facing is that only 4 percent of the original forest cover remains and few areas are protected. And last but not the least, fish. The country has plenty of it. Fish are our livelihoods . All of the natural resources face challenging pressures because of Climate Change.

The weather pattern in Sierra Leone, like most of Africa is experiencing a change in its climate. This change results in extreme weather events such as storms, floods and droughts with hostile impacts on the socio-economic fabric of the country. This in turn leads to disruption of agricultural activities, increase in water-borne diseases, such as malaria and cholera, and the loss of lives. 

Businesses, decision makers, and politicians should come together to discuss climate change. Full understanding of this issue is needed so proper decisions that could lessen all damages that arise from the effects of the weather could be made. Delays from inaction or placing practical policies in environmental protection and sustainable development will cause a lot of harm to the country.

With this in mind, the government needs to undertake climate change related actions very seriously and the people can assist by encouraging government to fulfill their obligations on the subject of climate change.

For three years, Muntasir Mamun worked towards one goal and one dream: Trash Maniacs. For 66 days, this 30-year-old engineer from Bangladesh rode across the USA on a tandem bike with his colleague Mohammad Ujjal, to measure and collect the amount of plastic and other waste they came across. Equipped with a smartphone application to track and count litter, they rode for 5500 km, through 40 cities and 12 states, starting in Seattle and finishing in Washington, D.C. With this journey they hoped to raise awareness on climate change and the impact of plastic and trash on the environment, for the benefit of their home country and the rest of the world. 

Why? Muntasir clarifies: "The USA have the highest consumption of plastic based products and the largest consumer market for the bottled water in the world. And Bangladesh is the most vulnerable nation in the world, due to global climate change. A large number of people are displacing their homes from one place to another, as a result of the regular environmental disasters. In Dhaka- the capital- nearly 20 million people are living in only 304km, and this number is growing every day." 

Growing up in a country where millions are affected by climate change has made Muntasir aware of the environmental problems the world is facing and how urgent it is to take a stand: "Dhaka is an example of what is going to happen in the future in many other countries: flooding, storm-surge, shoreline erosion, degradation of agricultural land, cyclones..." 

And so, even though it took him three years to save the necessary money and his visa request for the US was rejected three times, Muntasir didnt give up on his journey to raise awareness for the change the world desperately needs. For 66 days he rode his tandem bike through the country with his colleague, camping along the way and only sleeping at motels or hostels for a very few times, measuring the plastic that is not recycled and other debris they came across. After 40 days, they both ran out of money, and had to rely on friends for shelter and on donations of food and other supplies. But in the end, it paid off. Trash Maniacs won the C4C Special Prize in the Voices4Climate competition, and Muntasir was declared International Climate Leader, by The Climate Reality Project. "This prize helped me a lot in making my voice stronger about this issue".

"Everything comes along with a price. Climate change is the result of our extravagant lifestyle, and if we dont solve this problem, poverty will never be eliminated". For this reason, Muntasir is planning to ride Trash Maniacs II next summer, from Alaska to Toronto, spreading his message along the way. "I want to keep this campaign in other countries where the rate of consumption is higher than their basic needs. My plan is to reach the global scale. This is a common ground where everyone can participate and contribute without any geographical boarder. We just have to start from home: one step at a time, all together".