L-R Chair of Regions20 and Honorary Chair of think tank Sustainia, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and EU Commissioner for Climate Change, Connie Hedegaard
The European Commission (EC) and Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Sustainia think tank have launched a contest, The World You Like Challenge, inviting people across the EU to submit green projects that will tackle climate change.
The contest is part of the EC’s ‘A world you like. With a climate you like’ campaign which seeks to showcase solutions for meeting the EU’s objective of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80-95 per cent by 2050.
According to the Commission, the contest will run for three months (from yesterday, 11 February) and will consider all initiatives whose main aim is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and ‘improve the quality of life, for example through lower energy bills, more comfortable homes, cleaner air, better public transport and less traffic congestion’
Applications will be accepted from individuals, private organisations and public bodies based in any EU member state.
In May and June visitors to the campaign website will then be able to vote for their favourite project, after which a jury will choose three winners from the ten most popular initiatives. The winners will be honoured at the Sustainia Award Ceremony in Copenhagen in October 2013.
The campaign has a special focus on five countries – Bulgaria, Italy, Lithuania, Poland and Portugal and in these countries, national winners will see their submissions featured on billboards across their respective nations in autumn 2013.
Building a world we like ‘feasible and affordable’
EU Commissioner for Climate Change Connie Hedegaard said, “The challenge is a great opportunity to move beyond mere talking about climate change. By submitting your project, you help us show that building a world we like with a climate we like is both feasible and affordable.”
Hedegaard argued that fighting climate change “won’t make our lives dull and grey”, instead calling for “the most creative, practical and effective” ideas in reducing global emissions.
In a separate statement, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Chair of Regions20 and Honorary Chair of Sustainia, said: “Solutions are transforming our homes, reshaping our cities, and bringing new ideas to entire communities. By sharing what is already working and pushing for new innovations, we will ensure sustainable growth and job growth at the same time.”
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