For the climate

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:

Political area. 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. The status of an observer in the UN negotiation process for the new climate agreement provides us with a better insight into global political processes. 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. We publish information in the press and we provide radio and TV interviews. Our internet activities focus on blogging and commenting. 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 recipients and cyberactivism. One of the PGN’s key initiatives is the campaign “From Poznan to Copenhagen – Polish campaigner for the climate,” implemented in 2009 and 2010. We estimate that we have managed to communicate its message to around 2 million Poles. We organise 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 thousand 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 have 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. 5 all-day events were organised on the way – in Krakow, Kazimierz, Warsaw, Torun and Gdansk. They included press conferences, an exhibition “POLAND FOR THE CLIMATE,” distribution of campaign materials, collecting signatures under an urgent appeal, viewing of the film “AGE OF STUPID” and many attractions prepared by volunteers.

Strategic partners of the For the Climate Programme are: Aeris Futuro Foundation, 350.org, Climate Coalition, Institute for Sustainable Development.

Programme’s leader: Marta Śmigrowska msmigrowska@zielonasiec.pl