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Tribune News Network
Doha
The British Council has announced the launch of a new global campaign to address the climate emergency in the lead up to the COP26 summit in November.
The Climate Connection campaign will bring together people from around the world to share their ideas and perspectives on climate change, and to look for solutions using education, art and culture, and science. It will offer global conversations, art and science showcases, university scholarships, funding, research and training opportunities.
The UK will host the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland from November 1 to 12. The British Council is supporting the UK government’s ambition for COP26 to be the most inclusive ever by using its global networks to inspire millions of people around the world to take action against climate change.
A British Council survey of almost 40,000 young people aged 18-34 years across 36 countries, including the G20 countries, found that climate change is perceived by them to be the most important issue facing the world today.
The Climate Connection, which launches in the week leading to World Environment Day on June 5 and runs until the COP26 summit in November, includes the following initiatives:
n 17 Creative Commissions bringing together people from the UK and 28 countries to explore climate change through art, science and digital technology. These creative projects address issues such as climate migration, plastic pollution, costal erosion, deforestation, biodiversity, landscape, air pollution, wildfire and melting glaciers.
n Green Careers, supporting young people to build successful careers that help the planet, through advice on education opportunities and routes into green jobs.
n On June 3 the British Council will host ‘The Climate Connection: Conversation for Change’, a free online event exploring the climate emergency. Speakers include COP26 president Alok Sharma and author and activist Neil Gaiman.
Kate Ewart-Biggs, British Council interim chief executive, said: “The British Council is proud to support COP26’s aims to unite people around the world to tackle climate change. Through our Climate Connection campaign, we will draw on our expertise in education, the arts, and cultural exchange, to support people everywhere to find innovative solutions to the biggest global emergency we face.”
The British Council in Qatar has initiated several projects throughout the last year as part of bringing awareness to the issue of climate change. These include most recently delivering the ‘Climate Change in Qatar Virtual Webinar’, as part of the Qatar – UK Alumni Talk series in partnership with the Ministry of Municipality and Environment, the Arab Youth Climate Movement Qatar LLC(G) and the Qatar Green Building Council. The webinar offered an opportunity for an engaging and informative dialogue with environmental experts, government officials, educators and youth environment leaders in Qatar, to share their views on climate change issues, discuss international efforts needed to reduce the worst impacts of climate change and go over how education can play a vital role in empowering young people to develop their understanding of climate change.
Sam Ayton, British Council country director in Qatar, said: “Through The Climate Connection’s arts, education, science and cultural activities, we connect UK with the rest of the world so that we can learn from each other’s ideas and be a catalyst for innovation and real change. From facilitating complimentary workshops for teachers on how to integrate climate change into the class room to launching a new podcast series on climate change, we look forward to bringing more awareness and empowering young people to raise and address environmental issues in alignment with Vision 2030”.
The British Council is the UK’s cultural relations organisation, creating opportunities for people globally to connect and engage with each other through the arts, education and English language.
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02/06/2021
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