Climate change is not just melting glaciers in Greenland or increasingly devastating hurricanes off the coast of North America. It can be witnessed in Latvia as well – the Baltic Sea is changing, known species of plants and animals go extinct and new ones are discovered, the temperature amplitudes are increasing. Since the beginning of the 20th century the surface temperature on earth has increased rapidly – Globally, an average increase of 0.6 degrees Celsius, in Europe, an average increase of 0.95 degrees Celsius. The impact of this warming can be seen already, and many scientists predict that this tendency will intensify. CO2 and other greenhouse gases (GHG) are naturally present in the nature, they capture the atmospheric heat. If they were not present on earth, the average surface temperature on earth would be approximately 30 degrees Celsius lower. The greatest emissions of CO2 come from fossil fuels, that are almost ubiquitous – transportation, industry, agriculture, domestic heating and many other sectors.
We want to inform and educate the society about climate change, its causes and effects in a simple and accessible way, which is directed toward finding and creating new opportunities and solutions and let all parties involved understand how real, possible and utterly necessary is the input of every single human being for the aversion of the global climate change.
In 2010, we participated in a youth exchange project CORI in Austria, where we learned about sustainable development and renewable energy.
In 2011, when the UN Climate conference COP17 took place, “homo ecos:”, in collaboration with Yale University (USA) and several Latvian environmental organizations, prepared an alternative or shadow report about Latvia’s role, involvement and interest in the international climate debate, as well as the future perspectives and opportunities of Latvia in this regard.
In the summer of 2011, in collaboration with 350.org, we organized the “Climate Leadership Workshop” for youth from Estonia and Latvia. During the workshop we discussed climate related issues in the context of the Baltic States, and generated ideas for the “Moving Planet” campaign to be implemented in Latvia and Estonia.
In October of 2010, before the UN Mexico Conference, a global campaign “10/10/10 – Global Green Action Day” took place. During the campaign there were more than 6000 events globally, and more than 40 events in Latvia, in which “homo ecos:” took part.
In 2012, with the support from the program Youth in Action, a youth initiative project “Climate Element” was created. In this project the youth could learn more about global climate change, environmental organizations and movements, and green lifestyle, as well as get involved in different events an realize mini-projects.
In 2009, the project “Uzlādē pasauli” commenced with the aim to foster understanding about the link between renewable and fossil energy resources and global climate change. During the project we visited schools and organized student and legislator discussions about climate change and renewable energy issues.
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