Press release | 05.12.2023
Children set example for more climate action at COP28
Climate Alliance presents green footprints to UN Climate Secretariat
Frankfurt am Main / Dubai, 5 December 2023. This morning, Climate Alliance and a delegation of children officially handed over the results of the Green Footprints campaign to the UN Climate Change Secretariat. A total of 252,746 children collected 3,670,936 ‘green footprints’ throughout 2023 for their sustainable behaviours – a record! By accepting the footprints at the UN Climate Change Conference, the UN Climate Change Secretariat formally recognises the commitment of the participating children from across Europe and beyond.
"With the campaign, we were able to convey to the children how important environmentally conscious behaviour is. We will definitely be back next year!" emphasised Michael Lummel, Headmaster of Dubai’s German International School, who supported the handover with a choir of fourth-graders.
This year, the Climate Alliance Green Footprints campaign is celebrating its 20th anniversary. Children across Europe have been diligently collecting Green Footprints since 2003, for example, by walking to school or using energy sustainably at daycare centres and at home. Over the past two decades, the campaign has reached well over 3 million children from 42 countries. Together, they have collected 44,456,936 green footprints, sending a clear message for more climate action to political decision-makers year after year.
"20 years of Green Footprints is a success story! We should all see the tireless commitment of the children as a challenge to do more. The big decisions for a future worth living must be made together, here and now," comments Thomas Brose, Executive Director of Climate Alliance.
The Green Footprints campaign is a low-threshold programme for municipalities and educational institutions to teach children about sustainability in a playful way, to promote climate-friendly behaviour and to give children a voice.
Further information
- Photos: flickr Album
- 2023 Green Footprints campaign results
- Green Footprints campaign website
- Climate Alliance at COP28
- This press release as a pdf
Contacts
Sarah Mekjian, Climate Alliance
Communications Director
+49 69 7171 39 -20
s.mekjian(at)climatealliance.org
Claudia Schury, Climate Alliance
Green Footprints Campaign Manager
T. +49 69 7171 39 -22
c.schury(at)klimabuendnis.org
THE GREEN FOOTPRINTS CAMPAIGN
Since 2002, the Green Footprints campaign has been helping children across Europe to learn about the impact of their daily lives on the climate and encouraging them to be role models for their families and climate politicians. For a period of at least one week, children collect 'green footprints' for every journey they make on foot, by bike or public transport, as well as for other environmentally friendly actions such as sustainable nutrition. The Green Footprints are presented to the participants and politicians at the annual UN climate conferences. zoom-kidsforclimate.eu
THE CLIMATE ALLIANCE
For over 30 years, Climate Alliance member municipalities have been acting in partnership with indigenous rainforest peoples for the benefit of the global climate. With nearly 2,000 members spread across more than 25 countries, Climate Alliance is Europe's largest city network dedicated to comprehensive and equitable climate action. Each member city, town and district has committed itself to continually cut greenhouse gas emissions, aiming for a 95% reduction by 2050 (as compared to 1990 levels) in line with IPCC recommendations. Recognising the impact our lifestyles can have on the world's most vulnerable people and places, Climate Alliance pairs local action with global responsibility. climatealliance.org
