We drew public attention to Climate Change in 7 regional informational meetings

During the second session of the regional meetings, we were able to present the “Changing with Climate” project to an even wider audience and to focus public attention on Climate Change issues and their consequences. Thanks to intensive communication with project partner schools, media and institutions, we managed to organize seven meetings in seven Bulgarian cities in the period November-December last year.

We were able to present the objectives and activities of the “Changing with Climate” project with the support of the donors without whom the project would not have come to fruition. We are pleased to have given many representatives of educational institutions the opportunity to participate and learn more about the KLIMADAPT information and education portal and how to use it. Among the highlights were teacher training sessions addressing Climate Change challenges. Teachers themselves were also invited to get involved in further upgrading the portal with educational materials related to climate change mitigation, adaptation and resilience.

The regional informational meetings were attended by representatives of local institutions – municipalities, regional departments of education, regional inspectorates for environment and water protection, basin directorates, natural and national parks. Our aim was to cover as wide a range of areas as possible. It was important for us to include businesses involved in agriculture and tourism. Culture plays an essential role in consciousness-raising, especially for young people, so we were delighted that representatives of local community centres and museums attended the meetings. Given the purpose and format of the events, it was imperative that school principals and vice-principals, as well as students, along with their parents, were present. Invariably, experts from NGOs were also present. Regional media were invited. A total of 310 people attended the second session of regional information meetings.

Participants had the opportunity to suggest topics for school projects and campaigns. Among them these stood out and aroused the most interest:

With a bike the future
Save the water
Plant and grow a forest
Valuing and not throwing away food
The age-old forest and the age-old school
Planting the future today
Creative “green” house
Let’s build our green home
Food is a deity
My tree, our forest
Carbon-free transport
Harmless emissions – mission (im)possible
Separate waste collection and recycling
Climate change and soil erosion
Energy efficiency
Let’s move by foot

The results of the regional informational meetings are visible. We have been able to give a platform to pressing environmental issues – in particular, those concerning Climate Change. We presented the information and education portal specially created by the “Changing with Climate” project. We believe that teachers would readily use and implement the modules it contains. We also paid attention to introducing the teacher training programmes to the audience. We got a clearer picture of the nature and themes of the campaigns and student projects that will take place between March and April of the current school year, as part of the school curriculum as well as in extra-curricular activities.