For the climate

dlaklimatu.pl

We conduct climate protection activities as we believe that climate change is one of the gravest problems currently faced by humanity. In cooperation with the Climate Coalition we actively participate in shaping our country’s energy and climate policy and push for an ambitious agreement within the UN climate negotiations. We also inform and educate the Polish public opinion on how to counteract climate change at the individual level. Climate protection is a new and complex issue, and this is why it requires involvement of different actors at different levels. Responding to the most important challenge of the coming years, we conduct activities in the following three key areas:

Policy work.
It includes lobbying activities for effective climate protection legislation at the national and European level. We comment on policies and strategies and we propose new legislative solutions. Activities within this area are conducted in close cooperation with the Climate Coalition that unites Polish NGOs dealing with climate protection.

Cooperation with the media and journalism.
The Programme’s staff provides the media with valuable information on economic and political aspects of climate protection. The programme has it dedicated website: www.dlaklimatu.pl, which allows us to effectively communicate with the world.

Increasing social awareness through educational campaigns based on direct contact with the target groups and cyberactivism.
PGN’s key initiatives in this area include a campaign “From Poznan to Copenhagen – Polish campaigners for the climate,” implemented in 2009 and 2010. We estimate that we managed to communicate its message to around 2 million Poles. We organised workshops for social activists and journalists as well as classes in schools for children and teenagers – all in all 365 classes for over a dozen thousands recipients. The most spectacular event of the campaign was “The last call for the Climate,” which was to focus the attention of the public, media and politicians on the negotiation processes before COP15. We also constructed a “Raft for the Climate”, on which in summer 2009 the PGN’s climate team rafted down the Vistula from Krakow to Gdansk. Five all-day events were organised on the way – in Krakow, Kazimierz Dolny, Warsaw, Torun and Gdansk. They included press conferences, an exhibition “POLAND FOR THE CLIMATE,” distribution of campaign materials, collecting signatures under an urgent appeal, showing of the film “AGE OF STUPID” and many attractions prepared by volunteers.
Strategic partners of the programme include: Climate Coalition, Institute for Sustainable Development, Aeris Futuro Foundation, 350.org.

CLIMATE COALITION

The Polish Green Network is an active member of the Climate Coalition, which gathers over 20 NGOs. The Coalition’s mission is to undertake joint action to prevent human-induced climate change for the benefit of humanity and environment. The Coalition initiates and supports activities aimed at development of the climate policy in Poland and monitors how this policy is implemented. The PGN’s representatives participate in the Coalition’s strategic meetings and the work of its Steering Committee.

In 2011, the PGN’s involvement in the Coalition’s activities included:

• joint organisation of a workshop for NGOs on the Polish Presidency of the European Union Council in the context of the climate policy; the workshop provided NGOs with information on the role played by the Presidency in the EU political system, opportunities for becoming involved in the Presidency, the challenges it faced with regard to the climate policy and the Presidency’s priorities as defined by the Polish government;

• presentation during the Coalition’s press conference: Poland’s Climate Priorities for the Presidency; during this conference the Coalition presented its views on the challenges for the Polish Presidency in the area of climate policy;

• joint preparation of the Coalition’s positions on e.g. the draft act on renewable energy sources or the governmental Strategy on Energy Security and Environment.

The Polish Green Network contributes to the Coalition its know-how and extensive experience from the long-term programme Funds for Sustainable Development. One of the manifold results of this cooperation was joint development of a position on the future of the EU funds in the context of the sustainable energy sector.

Campaign MODERN – ENERGY EFFICIENT – RESPONSIBLE: NEO-HABITS

This campaign was launched in July 2010 and is aimed at promoting rational energy management. Following the principle of “learning through play”, we share our knowledge on aware and responsible energy consumption in an interesting and engaging way. This campaign is targeted at youth, students, ordinary Internet users as well as NGOs, journalists and MPs. We believe that aware energy consumption is a responsible habit that anyone can easily develop. In 2011, in cooperation with 11 student groups, the PGN conducted 22 student debates in Poland. We also organised two energy breakfasts, gathering MPs and students involved in the project. In February and October 2011, we also conducted workshops for NGOs regarding energy management, climate change and effective campaigning. In July 2011, the PGN organised a bicycle tour from Szczecin to Krakow, which included three public events in Szczecin, Wroclaw and Krakow. This campaign was also conducted in the Internet and through social media. It utilised modern tools such as computer games for children and youth, the RSS-Planet mechanism or an energy and climate mind map.

This campaign was implemented since July 2010. Its first stage was finalised in December 2011. However, the PGN is planning its second stage – already in 2012. More information about the campaign is available on its website: http://dlaklimatu.pl/O-Kampanii-NEO-NAWYKI

The project’s coordinator: Aleksandra Antonowicz, ola@globalnepoludnie.pl

2011 activities in the For the Climate Programme were co-financed by the European Commission under the EuropeAid Programme and by the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management.

Eco Reporter TV programme

In 2011, the PGN prepared six episodes of an educational programme, which were broadcasted on the channel Polsat News (replayed on Polsat News and Polsat 2). Each episode lasted 15 minutes and presented various issues connected with the Polish Presidency of the European Union Council, providing a commentary on one of the Presidency’s priorities. The aim of the programme was to introduce Poles to the EU debate on electricity, heat and transport fuel supply. It presented various projects and investments in coal, oil, gas, renewable energy sources, nuclear energy and energy efficiency improvement. It also diagnosed socially sensitive aspects of the energy and climate policy, such as growing prices of electricity or energy carriers. It identified opportunities offered by the energy and climate policy at the regional, municipal and citizen levels.

The broadcasted episodes are available in the Internet, e.g. on www.zielonasiec.pl and youtube.com/visionhouseeu.

The project’s coordinator: Marta Śmigrowska, msmigrowska@gmail.com

The project is co-financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the European Climate Foundation.

Project “Cycling – new mobility culture. Environmental education and promotion of sustainable transport in Małopolska”

This project was implemented between June and November 2011 and was aimed at active environmental education of children and youth as well as promotion of environmentally-friendly activities and the principle of sustainable development. Education in sustainable urban transport received special attention. Within this project, the PGN organised 40 workshops for pupils and teachers in secondary schools, reaching around 1,000 people. In September, during the European Mobility Week, we organised two cinema showings of films dealing with sustainable transport issues (Taken for a Ride and Contested Streets), followed by a debate with pupils and teachers. We also issued two publications (Urban Cyclist Guide, which includes useful information and encourages to use a bicycle as the most environmentally-friendly means of daily transport, and Bicycle Map of Krakow, presenting bicycle-friendly infrastructure in the city) and a board game. Cooperating with cycling shops and the circle of Krakow’s cyclers who organise monthly bicycle rides through Krakow, we managed to reach many inhabitants and present them the publications. In 2012 we are going to continue these activities and broaden them with debates in community centres, art galleries and NGOs as well as a film contest for pupils (its final will take place in June 2012 during the 4th Cycling Festival – the largest cycling festival in Poland).

Project’s coordinator: Małgorzata Małochleb, gmalochleb@zielonasiec.pl

The project was co-financed by the Voivodship Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management in Krakow.

Campaign FOR THE CLIMATE – AGAINST POVERTY, dealing with the impact of climate change on the countries of the Global South, is discussed in the section about the programme Action for the Global South.