Elefsina

Students from the European Union and the accession countries come together and create a common perspective for achieving climate neutrality for both Capitals of Culture and Cities of the Future.

The European Union’s (EU) Fit for 55 package emphasizes the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in order to become climate neutral by 2050. To achieve this goal, citizens must be involved and encouraged to change their everyday habits to reduce energy and resource consumption. In addition, the use of renewable energy systems must be expanded both now and in the future. Students who are committed to climate neutrality can help shape their own future by taking action today.

The project brings together over 300 students aged 10 to 15 and their teachers from Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Germany, Greece, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Serbia at the student conference on “Transformation towards a climate-neutral future” in Elefsina, Greece. The event is under the patronage of the Greek Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs and will take place in May in the European Capital of Culture 2023, Elefsina. During the conference, students will work together to develop ideas for a climate-neutral future at the local level, using Elefsina as a real-life example. All participants bring along the action plan for climate neutrality drawn up in advance at their school. Based on thematic interactive walks through Elefsina and through active, participatory group exercises, the students develop a shared vision of how climate neutrality can be achieved.

The results and participatory methodology of the project are in line with the EU target of achieving climate neutrality by 2050. They will be integrated into a broader cultural, environmental and educational context at local, national and European level. Subsequently, the results of the project will be available to local communities, educational institutions and future Capitals of Culture. In addition, the project will collect the material gained at the conference to share these ideas and visions of a climate-neutral future for the European Capital of Culture Elefsina with existing and new schools, cities and cultural networks across Europe.

UfU project activities:

• Teacher training on the topics of the energy and climate crisis and climate neutrality for conducting workshops on climate neutrality in schools
• Vision workshops for teachers and students to create individual roadmaps (action plans) for climate-neutral schools and to set up pilot climate actions in schools in Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Greece, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Serbia
• Preparation and implementation of the conference in Elefsina, Greece (May 9 to 11, 2023)
• Dissemination: The methodology and results will be shared across Europe through existing and new school networks and within the European Capital of Culture network
• Establishment of a school network between the 23 participating schools and expansion to other schools in the participating countries, including networking events and exchange of experience (national and international)

Download:
Brochure_Climate Action Now_digital