PROJECT INFO
Project summary
Numerous studies and data show that awareness of climate change and knowledge about European climate policy is low in Central European societies (especially among young people). Climate education in Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary is virtually non-existent at the school level, and young people often get their information from social media and available popular sources. The project aims at a broad educational campaign on climate change and its consequences, the European Union’s climate policy, and, finally, the instruments available to individuals to demand its implementation at the national level. The campaign is aimed at school and university students, as well as environmental and climate NGOs. Planned events would take the form of practical workshops. The partner organisations aim to reach and provide training to about 3000 participants in four countries in the region. The project is implemented by a network of NGOs and universities from all participating countries.
Partner organisations: Polish Green Network (PL), University of Silesia (PL), Klimaticka Žaloba (CZ), Masaryk University (CZ), Comenius University in Bratislava (SK), Association of Agrarian and Environmental Lawyers (SK), Friends of the Earth Hungary (HU)
Further information about partner organisations:
Klimatická žaloba (Czech Climate Litigation) is an association of almost 300 Czech citizens who feel threatened by the inaction of state authorities in preventing climate change. In 2021 the association filed a lawsuit with Czech courts against the Czech state authorities responsible for reducing emissions and adapting measures to climate change. The aim of the lawsuit is a court ruling stating that the Czech state authorities do not sufficiently protect the rights of Czech citizens guaranteed by the Constitution and do not fulfill their international obligations in relation to climate change. https://www.klimazaloba.cz/en/
Polska Zielona Sieć (Polish Green Network) is a nationwide non-governmental organisation with a public benefit organisation status, acting for sustainable development, environmental and climate protection. We are one of Poland’s longest operating environmental organisations and our advocacy, education and communication activities focus mainly on: energy transformation – moving away from fossil fuels in favour of renewable energy sources, civic energy – supporting the development of dispersed, decentralised energy production, based on renewable sources (individual and collective prosumers, energy communities) and improving energy efficiency, air quality, just transition of regions particularly dependent on hard coal and lignite mining, enhancing the participation of civil society in the programming and control of public funds (including EU funds) allocated for all of the purposes mentioned above. http://zielonasiec.pl/en/home-2/
The Association of Agrarian and Environmental Lawyers (AAEL) is a civic non-profit organisation. The purpose of the association is to promote: development of knowledge of agrarian and environmental law; exchange of experience, knowledge and information between lawyers dealing with agrarian and environmental law; meetings of the members of the association; organisation of seminars, conferences and workshops dedicated to specific areas of agrarian and environmental law; educational and scientific activities in the field of agrarian and environmental law; preparation and implementation of project activities in the field of agrarian and environmental law; scientific activity of students who show interest in agrarian and environmental law. AAEL was accepted as a full member of the European Council for Rural Law on 13th October 2018. http://www.aaep.uniag.sk/en
National Society of Conservationists (NSC) – Friends of the Earth Hungary The mission of the National Society of Conservationists (NSC), comprising over 100 Hungarian member groups, is the comprehensive protection of nature, as well as the promotion of sustainable development. Members of the Society are represented in all counties of Hungary, striving for the protection of natural heritage and the prevention of environmental degradation. We have a strong focus and broad expertise in environmental education in every age group. We are radical in our principles: we wish to draw decision-makers’ and citizens’ attention to the drivers of environmental problems by organizing campaigns, professional events, in-depth studies and publications, and targeted lobbying. https://www.foei.org/
The University of Silesia – The University of Silesia in Katowice is one of the largest and most dynamically developing public universities in Poland. Founded in 1968, it quickly established a reputation as a vibrant academic institution and an important interdisciplinary research hub. With a tradition of launching new programs to best meet the needs of rapidly changing labour markets, the University of Silesia offers students a variety of programs and specialised fields of study. With outstanding research teams and well-equipped laboratories, we are an important player in the global research arena. We actively participate in European Commission initiatives focused both on educational and scientific development, and realise projects within the Horizon, Creative Europe, Erasmus +, Interreg, Visegrad Funds, EEA Funds, Structural Funds and others. Currently, the University of Silesia is running over 320 projects carried out in conjunction with various outside institutions, both domestic and foreign, including business organisations. A substantial part of our research prioritises innovation and practical applications for the economy. The internationalisation of research and education is one of the priority directions of the development of the US. The University of Silesia in Katowice has a significant experience in cooperation with many entities on the national and international level. https://us.edu.pl/en/
The Comenius University in Bratislava – The Faculty of Law of Comenius University in Bratislava is the oldest and largest law faculty in the Slovak Republic, with a long-term ambition to be a leader among Slovak law faculties, maintaining an atmosphere of mutual respect and cooperation. A higher education in all three levels of study (bachelor, master, doctoral), both full-time and part-time are provided at the faculty. The faculty has long-term cooperation with many institutions and individuals from legal practice, whether it is professional chambers, central state administration bodies or renowned law firms. It prepares its graduates so that they represent not only the highest level of professional quality, but also moral integrity and humanism. In the long term, the faculties aim to improve the scientific and cultural outlook of society and contribute to its sustainable development. A significant part of the Slovak legal public, including opinion-forming personalities, belongs among to the graduates of the Faculty of Law of the Comenius University in Bratislava. https://www.flaw.uniba.sk/en/
Masaryk University – Faculty of Law at Masaryk University is one of the four public law faculties in the Czech Republic, and, at the same time, one of the four founding faculties of Masaryk University. It is a modern, dynamic faculty, where both teaching and scholarly work receive equal attention. It provides numerous programmes including international LL.M. studies, and offers courses in Czech, EU and International Environmental Law, Climate Law, Land Law and an annual Summer School on Environmental Law. https://www.law.muni.cz/content/en/