News Toolkit for Educators and Alliance Roadmap: Empowering Peace through EducationOctober 21, 2023NewsIn our ongoing effort to bridge peacebuilding and environmental awareness, Asociación Crecimiento Verde is pleased to share two remarkable resources from the DACG project: the Toolkit for Educators and the Alliance Roadmap. These tools are not only educational resources; they are beacons of hope and action in our journey towards a sustainable and peaceful world. Toolkit for educators: Your guide to peace education The DACG Toolkit for Educators is a comprehensive resource designed to provide teachers, trainers and facilitators with the skills and knowledge they need to integrate peacebuilding concepts into their teaching practice. Here is what makes this toolkit a must-have: Innovative teaching methods: Discover a range of creative and effective ways to engage students in peacebuilding topics. Adaptable modules: The toolkit offers adaptable modules that can be tailored to different educational contexts and learner needs. Practical applications: Each module is enriched with practical exercises and activities that make the learning experience dynamic and impactful. Alliance Roadmap: Charting the course for collaborative peacebuilding The Alliance Roadmap is a strategic guide to promote collaboration between formal and non-formal education providers in the field of peacebuilding. The Roadmap is key to creating a unified approach to peace education. Key features include Collaboration Strategies: Outlines effective strategies for building alliances between different educational sectors.Best Practices: Shares insights and best practices from successful collaborations, providing a practical framework for new partnerships.Future directions: Suggests ways forward to create sustainable and impactful partnerships in peace education.Get involved: Download and make a difference These resources are free to download and are suitable for anyone passionate about peace education, from school teachers to NGO trainers. Here is how you can use these tools: Enrich teaching: Educators can use the toolkit to add new dimensions to their teaching and promote a culture of peace among students. Build partnerships: Use the Alliance Roadmap to create or strengthen partnerships with other educational institutions or NGOs. Extend your impact: Use these tools in community workshops, training courses and educational programmes to extend the impact of peace education. Conclusion: Educating for peace, educating for the future... Green Job Growth guidebook is outAugust 10, 2023NewsAsociación GO GREEN, partner of the KA2 Erasmus+ project “Green Job Growth”, is pleased to announce the release of the “Pedagogy and Competences Guide”. In today’s world, sustainable development is not just a slogan, it’s an urgent global necessity. As the world moves towards a sustainable, low-carbon model, the demand for a workforce with green skills is growing. The Green Job Growth (GJG) project aims to create a new wave of youth workers. These people are not only environmentally aware, but also skilled in sustainable practices. At the heart of the GJG project is the ‘Pedagogies and Competences Guidebook’ (PR1). This guide recognises the key role youth workers play in shaping the leaders of tomorrow. PR1 goes deep, offering a holistic view of the project’s main objective: to equip young people with green skills for a sustainable future. It doesn’t just skim the surface, but delves into the nuances of non-formal learning methods related to green skills. A meticulous data collection process was used to ensure the completeness of the guide. This included extensive online questionnaires and in-depth face-to-face interviews with committed youth workers. A commendable 130 youth workers from the three partner countries contributed to this research. The invaluable data from this research paved the way for the ‘Key Competencies and Methodology Matrix’. This tool aims to highlight the key knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to effectively deliver green skills to youth. We invite you to take a deep look into our research findings. Start with a snapshot of our online survey results, followed by detailed answers to each question. You’ll also find insights from our face-to-face interviews, shedding light on the evolving landscape of green skills education in Europe. We hope you’ll find the guide both enlightening and relevant. We invite you to download and explore its contents.... Climate Ambassadors ManualAugust 3, 2023NewsEl proyecto “Climate Ambassadors 4 Youth work” se implementó del 1 al 9 de mayo de 2023 en Bansko, Bulgaria. A lo largo del proyecto, el enfoque principal estuvo en el desarrollo de competencias y la educación de los trabajadores juveniles en el campo del cambio climático. Reconociendo el profundo impacto que el conocimiento y las habilidades adquiridas por los jóvenes de hoy tendrán en la configuración del mundo de mañana, se volvió cada vez más crucial que los trabajadores juveniles se equiparan con una comprensión profunda de la educación sobre el cambio climático. El proyecto tenía como objetivo alcanzar varios objetivos específicos para los trabajadores juveniles. En primer lugar, tenía como objetivo mejorar su comprensión de la amenaza que representa el cambio climático para las generaciones presentes y futuras. Al explorar las causas y efectos del cambio climático y comprender la influencia de las actividades humanas, los participantes pudieron comprender la urgencia y magnitud del problema. Además, el proyecto buscó arrojar luz sobre los principios de Justicia e Responsabilidad Intergeneracional. Se enfatizó el hecho de que los jóvenes de hoy sufrirán las consecuencias de los impactos del cambio climático causados por generaciones anteriores, destacando la importancia de abordar estos problemas de manera justa y responsable. La importancia de la mitigación y adaptación al cambio climático fue otro aspecto clave del proyecto. Los participantes profundizaron en la comprensión de cómo estas medidas pueden prevenir los efectos adversos del cambio climático en la vida humana y el planeta en su conjunto. También se exploró a fondo el concepto de Justicia Climática durante el proyecto. Esto llevó a los participantes a reflexionar sobre la triste realidad de que aquellos que son menos responsables del cambio climático sufren las consecuencias más graves. Esta examinación de las desigualdades y disparidades relacionadas con el cambio climático tenía como objetivo fomentar un sentido de empatía y motivación para la acción entre los trabajadores juveniles involucrados. Adicionalmente, el proyecto alentó las discusiones sobre las implicaciones del cambio climático a nivel global, abarcando los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible (ODS) y el Pacto Verde Europeo. Al explorar estos marcos, los participantes obtuvieron una comprensión más amplia del contexto en el que se lleva a cabo la acción climática. Entender las diferentes motivaciones de los jóvenes para involucrarse en el cambio climático fue otro aspecto vital del proyecto. Los participantes exploraron los factores que empoderan o desmotivan a los jóvenes para tomar medidas, con el objetivo de equipar a los trabajadores juveniles con estrategias para empoderar y comprometer eficazmente a los jóvenes en la acción climática. También se discutió a fondo la aceptabilidad y efectividad de diferentes formas de acción social en respuesta al cambio climático. Al examinar varios enfoques, los participantes obtuvieron ideas sobre las formas más impactantes de movilizar comunidades y generar un cambio positivo. Finalmente, el proyecto tenía como objetivo preparar a los participantes para integrar sus nuevos conocimientos y perspectivas en su práctica de trabajo con jóvenes. A través de la creación de propuestas de proyectos comunes, se alentó a los participantes a aplicar lo que habían aprendido y marcar una diferencia tangible en su trabajo con los jóvenes. En general, el proyecto empoderó con éxito a los trabajadores juveniles para convertirse en catalizadores de cambio en el ámbito de la educación climática. Al fomentar una comprensión integral del cambio climático y sus implicaciones, el proyecto tenía como objetivo equipar a los participantes con las herramientas y conocimientos necesarios para dar forma a un futuro sostenible y resiliente. El proyecto fue financiado por el programa Erasmus +.... Overview of the “Digital Finance” Course by GO GREENMay 31, 2023NewsFrom May 23 to May 31, 2023, GO GREEN held an Erasmus+ course in Benalmadena, Spain. The course was called “Navigating Digital Finance”. It was all about teaching young people’s leaders from around the EU about money matters. Erasmus+ often runs training for those who work with young people. The goal is to help them learn new things that can help in their work. This course was just like that. It was all about understanding money, which is an important skill for everyone these days. Lots of people came to Benalmadena from all over the EU. They got to learn and share ideas in a beautiful setting by the sea. The course covered lots of things. It talked about how to budget and how to understand taxes and investments. It also talked about newer things, like digital currencies and trading online. The goal was to make sure the youth leaders knew enough about money to help the young people they work with. Everyone at the course got to take part in workshops and group talks. They could ask questions, share ideas, and learn from each other. This mix of learning and doing helped make sure everyone understood what they were learning. Understanding money is really important in today’s world. This course helped highlight how youth leaders can help young people get better at this. The people who came to the course left knowing a lot more about money. They’re now ready to share this knowledge with young people back in their home countries. The success of the “Navigating Digital Finance” course shows how important it is to understand money. It also shows how youth leaders can help young people learn this important skill. It’s all about creating a better future where everyone understands money a bit better.... Going green at workMarch 27, 2023NewsAt the end of February, our organization, Go Green, successfully conducted a significant and enlightening workshop aimed at empowering local young people with knowledge and tools to promote sustainability in their workplaces. The workshop, aptly named “Going Green at Work,” was an inspiring convergence of bright minds, passionate about making our world a better place. We believe that nurturing an understanding of environmental sustainability among our youth is essential for building a sustainable future, and this workshop was an integral part of our mission. Participants, primarily young professionals, were introduced to simple yet impactful ways to reduce environmental footprint in their everyday work life, contributing to the larger goal of achieving a greener future. The workshop commenced with a session explaining the concept and importance of sustainability in the current global scenario. This was followed by interactive segments on various topics including responsible energy use, waste management, recycling, sustainable commuting, and green purchasing policies. Participants were encouraged to share their views, sparking insightful discussions that drove home the importance of individual actions in achieving collective environmental goals. ... Exploring the Intersection of Peace and Sustainability: Discover the DACG Mapping StudyFebruary 12, 2023NewsAt a time when global challenges overlap environmental and social dimensions, understanding the links between peace and sustainability has never been more important. Asociación Crecimiento Verde is pleased to present the DACG Project Mapping Study, a groundbreaking resource that explores these vital connections. This study shows us how to integrate peacebuilding strategies into environmental initiatives. The Mapping Study: A gateway to understanding The DACG Mapping Study is a comprehensive exploration of methods and competencies in peacebuilding education, tailored to promote a world where sustainability and peace coexist. This study is part of the larger project “Different Approaches, One Common Goal”, which aims to bring together formal and non-formal education methods in the pursuit of peace. Why focus on peace and sustainability? The health of our planet and the peace of our societies are inextricably linked. Environmental degradation and resource scarcity can fuel conflict, while peaceful societies are better able to address environmental challenges and protect our planet. The DACG Mapping Study explores this synergy and provides insights and tools to build a more peaceful, greener world. We invite educators, environmentalists, activists and all interested individuals to download the DACG Mapping Study from our website. Here’s what you can do with this resource: Integrate into educational curricula: Educators can incorporate these findings into their teaching, fostering a new generation of environmentally conscious peacemakers. Inform environmental campaigns: Activists and NGOs can use this study to frame environmental campaigns in a peacebuilding context. Broaden understanding: Anyone interested in the intersection of peace and sustainability will find this study enlightening and inspiring. By understanding and applying the principles set out in this study, we can work together towards a world that values and protects both our planet and our communities.... Workshop on green economy & green buildingJanuary 4, 2023NewsAs part of the project Greening with jobs, GO GREEN had a interesting workshop on green economy and green construction. The workshop demonstrated how greening the building and construction industry can lead to the creation of a significant numbers of green and decent jobs, while contributing to environmental sustainability and improving access to quality housing, especially for lower and middle-income population groups. During the workshop was also presented how to start greening buildings and construction business while remaining competitive and affordable and what kind of eco-system is needed to facilitate the transition to a greener built environment.... Round table meeting on green human rightsDecember 11, 2022NewsThe president of GO GREEN had a round-table meeting in Spain with other social workers of France and Italy for the realization of common projects and initiatives in the field of green human rights. The idea to work on green human rights moves from the fact that human rights and the environment have an impact on each other. Human rights are intertwined with the environment in which we live (..)Environmental harm interferes with the enjoyment of human rights, and the exercise of human rights helps to protect the environment and to promote sustainable development (UN Framework Principles on Human rights and the Environment, 2018). This means that human rights can be used to protect the environment, since environmental harm can negatively impact human rights. Following, in GO GREEN together with our partners we have detected the need to develop and build upon competences of social workers that will learn how to apply a human rights-based approach for the protection of the environment.... Training in Equality and human rightsNovember 18, 2022NewsOn November 2022, GO GREEN, realized in Spain the training course “World of Equality” which see the participation of around 28 people. The project aimed to prepare youth and social workers on how to protect and promote youth minority human rights and for the creation of human rights community in their local context. The specific objectives of the training for participants were: to develop programme for minority youth and improve their knowledge on the rights that they have and they can exercise; to raise public awareness about minority youth and to promote the idea that they are an important resource for the wealth and growth of our European society and so recognize fully their rights is essential; to engage youth in combating stereotypes and prejudices about youth minority; to improve community and intergenerational relations as young people are viewed as positive contributors. ... Training in video makingOctober 25, 2022NewsOn October 2022, GO GREEN, realized the training course “Video Skilled Plus” which see the participation of around 30 people. The training course provided the participants with new skills in the field of video making skills, creativity and comics. The main idea of the project started from the fact that video is becoming the preferred digital media. Through this training participants learnt: the art of Video Creation; to upskill their competences and learn how to create, professional quality engaging video content – the Most In-Demand skill wanted in the job market today! how to rank higher on YouTube. Learn Video SEO & Learn Youtube SEO, so to optimise their Youtube channel for better video SEO performance.... Jobs in the Blue and Circular Economy sectorJune 10, 2022NewsWhy take the course? Our association wants to give local youths an opportunity to acquire innovative skills that can be spent on the job market in the sectors of the Circular Economy and the Blue Economy. Our association offers some courses, lasting 45 hours, to be held on the weekends of June and July which include four training modules that will allow participants to increase their professional skills (marketable skills) and soft skills in order to facilitate entry in the world of work in the emerging sectors of the Blue and Circular Economy. The course will be held in classic mode with presence in the classroom. In addition to classroom activities, internships are provided in companies in the Malaga area and abroad, promoted through our association network and collaboration with trade associations and businesses, local cooperatives, non-profit associations and professional training institutions. Course structure and recipients: The course will last a total of 45 hours, and will give participants the opportunity to acquire and deepen their knowledge on the environmental, economic and social sustainability of production systems, applicable in the Andalucia context.At the end of the course, participants will be able to apply to companies of the green and blue economy, social cooperatives and social enterprises that have started productive activities in the Andalucia territory in the aforementioned sectors (processing of agricultural products, fishing, sustainable tourism, aquaculture, recycling and reuse of production waste, etc.). Recipients of the course are: Adults aged 20 to 45 years.Participation is free. This initiative has a dual objective: update the professional skills of young people in the area, facilitating their reintegration into the labor market; increase employment opportunities for young people who do not have relevant professional experience or qualifications in the areas mentioned above. The inclusion of young people in the local labor market will consequently lead to the rebirth and re-invention of the local economy, which will adopt new business models oriented towards a sustainable economy. The topics addressed during the four modules of the course concern the Blue Economy and the Circular and Green Economy. The teaching staff who will attend the course is made up of experts in the sector, social innovators, successful entrepreneurs, managers of European funds, business experts and coaches; that they will demonstrate during the training of their experiences through direct testimonies and visits to specialized companies. Information on how to participate: In order to participate in the course, send an email to: info@crecimientoverde.org... Training Green Human RightsJune 7, 2022NewsOn May 2022, GO GREEN, realized a training course on “Green Human Rights” which see the participation of around 40 people. The training course provided the participants with new skills in the field of human rights and environmental education. The main idea of the project starts from the fact that human rights and the environment have an impact on each other. Human rights are intertwined with the environment in which we live. Environmental damage interferes with the enjoyment of human rights and the exercise of human rights helps to protect the environment. Therefore, the training provided resources and learning tools for participants to apply human rights to environmental issues, which will also have as a positive reflection the fight against climate change and the involvement of more young people in the environmental sphere. ... Training Greening with JobsApril 6, 2022NewsOn April 2022, GO GREEN realized the training course “Greening with Jobs” which see the participation of 28 social workers from all EU. This training was organized because the share of green talent in the workforce has increased by more than 38% since 2015. This is one of the findings of the LinkedIn Global Green Skills Report 2022. Most green skills are being used in jobs you may not expect, for example, fleet managers, data scientists, health workers, construction managers and technical sales representatives. For this reason, GO GREEN trainers taught participants how social workers should support green upskilling and reskilling of young people by investing more in training, learning courses and local programmes. ... Green Deal: EU invests over €110 million in LIFE projects for environment and climate in 11 EU countriesFebruary 18, 2022NewsOn 17th of February, the EU Commission is announcing an investment of over €110 million into LIFE programme integrated projects for environmental and climate protection, selected after a call for proposals covering the year 2020. The funding will support new major environmental and climate projects in 11 EU countries – Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland and Slovenia. The projects contribute to a green recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and support the European Green Deal’s objectives of making the EU climate neutral and zero-pollution by 2050. They are examples of actions to deliver key European Green Deal objectives under the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 and the EU Circular Economy Action Plan. Executive Vice-President responsible for the European Green Deal Frans Timmermans said: “We have no time to waste when it comes to the climate, biodiversity and pollution crises. The LIFE programme provides direct support to projects across the EU and enables entire countries and regions to protect and restore nature. Nature is our biggest ally and we need to take care of it so it can take care of us. My congratulations to each of the projects selected today.” Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries Virginijus Sinkevičius added: “LIFE Programme integrated projects is one of the main tools to make the green transition a reality by delivering targeted changes on the ground. Through these projects, Member States can green their economies, bring back nature and biodiversity, and improve their resilience. I am looking forward to seeing the benefits that this investment will bring in the 11 countries and beyond their borders.” Integrated projects allow Member States to pool additional EU funding sources, including agricultural, structural, regional and research funds, as well as national funding and private sector investment. Altogether, the 11 projects are expected to attract more than €10 billion of complementary funds, significantly multiplying the resources allocated today to make a real difference on the ground. Delivering Green Deal objectives on the ground Nature conservation: A project in France will introduce measures to halt and reverse biodiversity decline in the Grand Est region by, for instance, setting up three pilot forest areas. Another project will mitigate the adverse effects of human activities that threaten Finland’s marine and coastal biodiversity, by monitoring and improving the management of the national network of Marine Protected Areas. These projects will help deliver the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030. Clean air: A project in Poland will implement measures to improve overall air quality in the region of Silesia where air pollution is among the most severe in Europe, by replacing small-scale solid-fuel domestic heating devices with less polluting alternatives. This project contributes to the EU’s 2030 greenhouse gas emission targets and the Zero Pollution Action Plan. Waste management: In Cyprus, a project will aim to improve the infrastructure and collection systems for recyclable and biodegradable waste. In Latvia, the focus will be on improving separate waste collection and reuse of municipal waste. In Denmark, a project will work on waste prevention and on setting up a better waste regulatory framework. The project in Slovenia will aim to achieve a better recycling rate of non-hazardous construction and demolition waste, among other actions. In total, four projects will focus on waste prevention and recovering resources, contributing to the goals of the EU’s Circular Economy Action Plan and the Waste Framework Directive. Climate change mitigation: LIFE funding will help Lithuania reach the objectives set out in its national energy and climate plan (NECP) including more efficient buildings, climate-friendly mobility, an energy-saving industry, and enhanced green public procurement. In Estonia, various tools and solutions will be created for the deep renovations on a range of buildings in three cities, which can then be replicated across Estonia and other Member States and support the EU’s Renovation Wave Strategy. Climate change adaptation: In the Netherlands, LIFE funding will help stimulate climate change adaptation across several sectors: water management, infrastructure, agriculture, nature, health and spatial/urban planning. A project in the Moravian-Silesian Region in Czechia will increase the region’s climate resilience, improve the quality of the environment for inhabitants and support sustainable development. Both projects will be following the goals of the EU’s Adaptation Strategy. Background The LIFE programme is the EU’s funding instrument for the environment and climate action. It has been running since 1992 and has co-financed more than 5 500 projects across the EU and beyond. The Commission has increased LIFE programme funding by almost 60% for the 2021–2027 period. It now stands at €5.4 billion. LIFE has currently four sub-programmes: nature and biodiversity, circular economy and quality of life, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and clean energy transition. The LIFE programme provides funding for integrated projects. These projects support the implementation of EU environmental and climate legislation and policies, on regional, multi-regional, national or trans-national level. Integrated projects help Member States comply with key EU legislation in six areas: nature conservation, water, air, waste management, climate change mitigation and climate change adaptation. For more information: LIFE programme... The “historic” vote means that the Italian state must now protect animals and ecosystemsFebruary 10, 2022NewsIn a historic vote, Italy has made protecting the environment part of its constitution. On 8th of February, the Italian parliament approved a law that means the state must safeguard ecosystems and biodiversity “in the interest of future generations.” The changes to the constitution also mean that health and the environment must be protected by the economy. The new law states that private industry can no longer impact the climate. The protection of animals has been recognised too. The inclusion of the environment and animals in the Italian constitution has been hailed as significant for the country’s future by both politicians and activists. “I think it is an epochal day,” Minister of Ecological Transition, Roberto Cingolani said in a statement. “It is right that the protection of the environment, biodiversity and ecosystems become a founding value of our Republic, it is an essential step for a country like Italy which is facing its own ecological transition.” He adds that the achievement allows Italy to have “well-defined rules” for protecting the planet – especially as today’s actions will have consequences on future generations. Virginijus Sinkevičius, European commissioner for the environment also called it a “major step” on Twitter. Congratulating Italy on the decision he said that “by choosing to protect the environment, biodiversity and ecosystems through your constitution, you are choosing to protect future generations.” “Today’s vote represents a historical fact,” says Donatella Bianchi, president of WWF Italy. “Finally, environmental protection becomes a fundamental principle of the Republic to which future legislation will have to be inspired and to which past legislation will have to adapt.” She goes on to say that the constitutional amendment is an “important first step” to harmonising Italy’s legal system with environmental principles developed at a European and international level.... Eco Weekend Fertival in TorremolinosSeptember 2, 2021NewsThe ‘Eco Weekend’ Festival returns to Torremolinos to promote environmental awareness. It will be from September 10th to 12th at the “Pablo Ruiz Picasso Cultural Center” with about twenty stands and recreational and educational activities Torremolinos will be transformed into an eco-sustainable space to promote environmental awareness. It does so through the ‘Eco Weekend Festival’ organized by the Cre-Arte Multicultural Association in collaboration with the Culture Department of the City Council at the Pablo Ruiz Picasso Cultural Center, which will bring together ecological service and product companies, associations and groups, to which add multiple recreational and educational activities aimed at the whole family. The festival will have spaces throughout the Cultural Center for activities of all kinds such as yoga classes, meditation corners, training with talks, debates, workshops and books to raise awareness. There will be activities related to the environment aimed especially at boys and girls with games and workshops, musical performances by DJs and concerts by Suzette, Camino de Nomada, 12,13 Reggae Band and Chico Quebranto. The entire program can be consulted on the web http://ecoweekend.es/ It will also have a gastronomic space with organic food, juices, cocktails and pizzas, all organic, vegan and vegetarian, as well as the presence of Veggie Pita Point and the only certified sustainable Eco Food Truck in Andalusia “Aguaviento Waterwind”. Friday for Future, The Social Water, Semillas del patio, Astarté, Aula Verde and My Wynning also collaborate with the organization of this festival that tries to “raise awareness, debate, educate and show the possibilities of interacting better with nature, with quality in the contents, participation and communication ”, in the words of Julia.... FREE Distributed Open Collaborative Course | GENDER EQUALITY PLANS IN PRACTICEAugust 4, 2021NewsJoin the Distributed Open Collaborative Course of the Gender Equality Academy in its highly interactive formats. Take the chance to learn from and exchange with experts and peers via an online e-learning platform. 7 mini-courses distilling among the best lessons of the GE Academy programme, to learn at your own pace over 2 months, test your knowledge through specific assignments, get a certificate of attendance at the end. Who is it for? Gender Equality Plan (GEP) team members in academic/research institutions Researchers Human Resources officers in academic/research institutions Gender equality officers / focal persons; Equality / diversity officers in academic/research institutions Middle managers aiming to start the path towards institutional change Gender experts and trainers, organizational change consultants working with and for research organizations Course features Free-browsing course curriculum divided in 7 thematic mini courses Accessible video-lectures Quizzes and assignment to monitor you learning Live lessons Forum for peer-to-peer exchanges and networking Mobile optimization Certificate of attendance Further Information Besides permitting an unlimited number of participants, it will always be free of access for everyone. Learn more & enroll now for free: https://ge-academy-docc.eu/... Applications are open for 8 spanish participants for a project in Gdynia, PolandAugust 1, 2021NewsNumber of participants to select: 8 Project name: How to stop cyber harassment Project type: Erasmus + KA1 youth exchange Where and When: 5-11 September, Gdynia, Poland Hosting in Poland: Fundacja Wspierania Inicjatyw Rozwoju Lokalnego The Erasmus Plus program Erasmus Plus is the European Union program for Education, Training, Youth and Sport 2021-2027. The integrated program allows to obtain an overview of the available grant opportunities, aims to facilitate access and promotes synergies between the different sectors by removing the barriers between the various types of projects; it also wants to attract new actors from the world of work and civil society and stimulate new forms of cooperation. Economic Conditions The European Commission covers the cost of accommodation with accommodation in multiple rooms; Daily meals; The training activities and the various sessions foreseen in the program; Travel expenses reimbursed up to a maximum amount of € 360 per person. Application Deadlines: 6.00 pm on 25.08.2021 The selected candidates will receive a communication from GO GREEN with an illustration of the successful steps. To submit your application and receive the course info pack, send an e-mail with your CV attached to: info@crecimientoverde.org... REDUCE IN CO2 EMISSIONS OF NEW CARS IN 2020July 12, 2021NewsAccording to the European Environment Agency (EEA) provisional data, the average emissions of new passenger cars registered in the European Union (EU), Iceland, Norway, and the United Kingdom in 2020 were 107.8 grams of CO2 per kilometre (g CO2/km). This was 14.5 g (12 %) lower than in 2019 and represented the first decrease observed since 2016. The share of electric vehicles in new registrations tripled from about 3.5 % in 2019 to about 11 % of new registrations in 2020. About 1.4 million new vans registered in Europe in 2020 with average emissions of 157.7 g CO2/km, which is 2.3 g (1.5 %) lower than in 2019. The share of electric vans increased from 1.4% in 2019 to about 2.3% in 2020. The provisional data are available through the EEA’s data viewer on CO2 emissions of new cars and new vans. About testing vehicle emissions The emissions of new vehicles are systematically tested using ‘type approval’ procedures. Since 2017, the new Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) has been put in place with the objective to gradually replace the outdated New European Driving Cycle (NEDC). The WLTP allows to obtain more realistic information on vehicle emissions in the type approval tests. EEA activities The EEA collects and regularly makes available data on new passenger cars and vans registered in Europe, in accordance with EU Regulation (EU) No 2019/631. The data are reported by all EU Member States, United Kingdom, Iceland (since 1 January 2018) and Norway (since 1 January 2019) in order to evaluate the efficiency of the new vehicle fleet and includes information on CO2 emissions and vehicle mass. The next data release will include the final results for new registrations in 2020. Compliance with targets The European Commission will confirm whether individual manufacturers or pools have met their own specific annual targets, which are based on the average mass of the cars registered.... EU MUST LISTEN TO BLACK PEOPLE AND SUPPORT THE UN MECHANISM TO SPUR TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGE FOR RACIAL JUSTICE AND EQUALITYJuly 1, 2021NewsOn 12 July 2021 the UN High-Commissioner is presenting to the Human Rights Council (HRC) a report on systemic racism and police brutality around the world. The HRC will then decide how it follows up on this issue. A resolution put forward by the group of African States proposes to create an international and independent mechanism to investigate and enhance accountability of past and current human rights violations against Black people in the USA, Latin America, Europe and around the world. The State members of the HRC will have to decide on this resolution.... GREEN HOMES FOR ACHIEVING CLIMATE NEUTRALITYJune 14, 2021NewsGreening our homes, buildings and public spaces is a crucial element of the EU’s strategy towards climate neutrality. Given its potential in terms of job creation and climate action, our so-called built environment has become one of the pillars of the European Green Deal. But for the sector to contribute to our climate and social goals meaningfully, our policymakers will have to think outside the box and take a step further. Simply put, renovating the EU’s ageing building stock and improving their energy efficiency will not be enough. To achieve climate neutrality and reduce living costs, we need a more comprehensive and holistic approach based also on resource sufficiency. More with less Despite progress in reducing energy demand in European buildings, overall CO2 emissions per capita have continued to increase in recent years driven mostly by two trends: growing consumption patterns and expanding average floor area per capita in certain areas. These trends highlight the need for more inclusive policies which take into account material sufficiency alongside efforts to boost energy efficiency and renewables. All in all, such measures would help EU countries reduce the need for carbon-intensive construction materials, notably cement and steel, and the amount of energy needed to heat a building. This is nothing new. For decades, environmentalists have been promoting the concept of ‘eco-sufficiency’, or simply ‘sufficiency’, alongside efficiency and renewable energy – the so-called SER framework. However, this concept is resurfacing now as it becomes particularly relevant to the decarbonisation of the EU’s building sector and to the need to provide sustainable housing for our growing population. Broadly speaking, sufficiency is defined as the measures aiming at reducing the demand for materials and energy while delivering a decent living standard for all. When it comes to housing, this concept often entails rethinking the design and use we make of our buildings, reducing the average square meters per inhabitant while ensuring comfortable living standards for all. According to this view, the size of a home should then be proportional to the size of the household that’s going to live in it. Below are some of the relevant measures that have been suggested in recent years to achieve this goal: Empty and rundown buildings. Empty buildings and houses across Europe should be repurposed or renovated as housing and/or reallocated to people in need of housing so as to avoid building new ones. Promoting shared spaces and services. Shared spaces, products and services such as laundry rooms and garages could reduce resource use and CO2 emissions, while also benefiting more people living in the same area. Designing multipurpose rooms is also an effective way of saving space and resources. Adaptability and flexibility of buildings. Buildings should be designed in a functional and flexible way so that they can be adapted to the evolving needs of people. For example, when family members move out, a small renovation could create direct, external access to their bedrooms so that the space can be used by other tenants. Adaptability of the real estate. The real estate sector should provide flexible options for housing depending on the size of the household which can vary over time. Larger households should have priority when it comes to allocating homes. Flexible housing policy. When feasible and desirable, relevant policies should support a shift from home ownership to usership. This way, people would secure the right to live comfortably in a house that’s big enough for their needs, preventing the waste of energy and resources that may result from buying or building a bigger house. Let people decide Ultimately, in view of the environmental and social issues that Europe is facing today, the concept of sufficiency is about the fair redistribution and democratisation of space and resources across society. It is about people’s wellbeing and their right to live comfortable lives within planetary boundaries. For this reason, if this approach is to be embraced by our society, policymakers need to ensure that all relevant decisions are taken as part of an inclusive process that takes into consideration the needs of all people. This means fostering the development of deliberative processes such as national or local assemblies whereby citizens help shape the policies aimed at their personal and collective wellbeing. It is necessary to make citizens a central part of decision making and respect their proposals, so that they can choose the kind of future they want for themselves and for their children. This is the only way to ensure the highest possible ambition in the development of any policy framework, while also keeping people’s interests at its heart.... EU ECOLABEL TO FIGHT COSMETICS GREENWASHINGJune 1, 2021NewsGreen self-claims have proliferated in the cosmetics business. Many with no scientific evidence to back them up. To address this worrying trend, the EU will extend the Ecolabel scheme to all cosmetics in October, using more robust criteria thoroughly checked by NGOs. Consumers are becoming more and more aware of the impact of their actions on the planet, and labels play a major role in their purchasing behaviour. Today, three out of four products in the EU display an environmental claim or label. In the case of cosmetics, the number of green labels that claim to be natural, clean, eco-friendly, sustainable, etc., can be dizzying. How to tell which labels truly respect the environment and which ones are directly pushing us to ‘greenwashing ourselves’? Lost in a jungle of green claims We talk about ‘greenwashing’ when companies claim they are protecting the natural environment although they are actually not. This practice has notably gained ground in the cosmetics business. According to the latest research of the European Commission, 42% of green claims are potentially false or deceptive in sectors such as cosmetics, textiles and household equipment. Moreover, more than half of the green trademarks analysed provide insufficient information or offer no actual evidence to support their green claim. Cosmetics industry giants like L’Oréal have developed their own benchmarking label – from A to E – to classify their products according to their environmental impact. These ranking systems can be very helpful to guide users when they cover all products within a sector – and when based on scientific consensus and are independently developed. However, what the French multinational does in practice is to compare only its own products (Garnier-L’Oréal) with its own criteria. For example, their score takes into account the impact of emissions from people taking the shower but leaves out key environmental parameters like ‘human toxicity’. Self-developed schemes of this kind, and even marketing techniques considered more naïve, such as highlighting the presence of plants or using vague wording like ‘pure’ or ‘natural’, are creating a deep distrust towards environmental claims. EU figures show that although most consumers are receptive to green claims when making their purchase decisions, 61% find it difficult to understand which products are truly environmentally-friendly. Moreover, 44% of European consumers say they do not trust this type of information. Third-party verified schemes seem to be the only way forward to tackle this wave of cosmetics greenwashing. EU Ecolabel: informing purchasing decisions The EU has been working for years on the development of rigorous labels to empower both consumers and manufacturers in the green transition. More than 80% of consumers who know the EU Ecolabel trust it, according to a Eurobarometer survey. In recent years, this certification has also gained attention from producers, doubling certified products from 40.000 to 78.000. Recent statistics from March 2021 show that it continues to grow despite the COVID-19 crises and Brexit. Scientists, industry, and NGOs have recently been involved in the revision of the EU Ecolabel for cosmetics, which is currently only available for rinse-off cosmetics such as gels and shampoos. As part of the EU Ecolabelling board, the European Environmental Bureau (EEB) has been successfully advocating for extending the scheme to all cosmetics with stricter environmental requirements. It is expected that the new outcome will be adopted and published in October 2021. Besides excluding microplastics, the new EU Ecolabel will bring more ambitious requirements for aquatic toxicity, biodegradability and verification of sustainable sourcing of palm oil. “The revised criteria, recently endorsed by Member States, make the EU Ecolabel a good guide for consumers that are interested in the impact of cosmetics on the planet”, says Blanca Morales EU Ecolabel Coordinator for EEB and BEUC. These new criteria not only bring good news to eco-conscious consumers, but also to those who are increasingly using apps to avoid hazardous chemicals in cosmetics. The new EU Ecolabel for cosmetics will tell us which products are free of endocrine disruptors, allergens and sensitising chemicals, including highly toxic fluorinated PFAS, which can stay forever in our bodies and the environment. New EU Ecolabel follows in the footsteps of its Nordic counterpart for cosmetics, the Nordic Swan, a certificate widely recognised and successful in the Scandinavian market. EU needs to protect consumers from greenwashing The European Commission is already taking some positive steps to protect consumers from greenwashing, but it must not slow down. Following the new ecolabel scheme, the EU must develop a white list of trustworthy labels based on strong principles (criteria publicly available, third-party verification, stakeholder consultation, etc.) and only allow the use of voluntary labels or logos that meet these criteria. Similarly, a blacklist of confusing, vague or misleading claims should be developed by the Commission to reveal deceptive marketing targeted at consumers. It is crucial to develop robust governance and market surveillance systems. Evidence to support any green claims should be made available before entering the market. Creating a database to register green claims and make use of the ‘product passport’ would simplify market surveillance and significantly increase transparency. As part of the efforts to continuously strengthen ecolabelling, the EU could increase fiscal incentives for making it more attractive for the industry. There is still potential to reinforce the benchmark of environmental excellence for best-in-class products and expand it to more product groups and services. The European Green Deal is not only a political roadmap but also the promise for many Europeans to live greener lives. We expect more ambitious initiatives from the EU institutions to help us through the green transition – not through the green hoax.... COVID-19 in EU: always more pollution from masks, gloves and other single-use plasticsMay 10, 2021NewsThe responses to COVID-19 have resulted in increased use of certain products made from long-lasting single-use plastics, according to the EEA briefing ‘Impacts of COVID-19 on single-use plastic in Europe’s environment’. Increased production and consumption of masks and gloves, which have been essential to protect people’s health, and certain types of food packaging resulted in additional greenhouse gas and other emissions, as well as litter that can harm ecosystems and animals. Imports of face masks and gloves into the European Union (EU) more than doubled during the first half year of the pandemic, and the EU’s domestic production was also growing. The EEA briefing estimates that about 170 000 additional tonnes of face masks, or about 0.75 face masks per person per day, were imported to the EU during that period, resulting in additional greenhouse gas emissions and other types of pollution. The briefing further estimates that reusable cotton masks become more climate friendly after about 13 washes but notes that reusable masks may not provide the same level of protection, which should always be the primary consideration. The use of plastic packaging also changed during the pandemic but, instead of increasing, the EU’s domestic production of plastic packaging decreased rapidly during the first months of the pandemic and then bounced back by October 2020 when restrictions were lifted in many countries, the EEA briefing shows. During the lock-downs, restaurants shifted to take-away and deliveries, increasing the use of single-use plastic food containers. However, the same lockdowns may have reduced overall sales of on-the-go snacks, reducing the need for plastic for that purpose. The briefing outlines several responses to be better prepared for future disruptions and uncertainties, including research on alternative materials and product designs, strategies to reduce littering, options for sanitising medical products, better recycling, and circular business models. ...