British Council recruits young international climate champions in the Middle East

Around 25 International Climate Champions, aged 18-35, from across the Middle East will be announced on World Environment Day (5 June) following the introduction of the Programme in the Middle East. This is the first opportunity of its kind in the region.

These International Climate Champions will be trained with the skills to deliver projects and communicate climate change to their peers, communities and leaders. They will join more than 1,300 other International Climate Champions in 60 countries worldwide working on and sharing ideas and experience about this most pressing of global issues today.

Climate change is the most important challenge of our times that threatens the resources that sustain us. For example, in the Middle East Climate Change is likely to further deplete the region's already scarce water supplies.

The region supports 5 per cent of the world's population but contains only 1 per cent of the world's natural fresh water resources - this is a challenge we must all rise to.

The International Climate Champions Programme uses the British Council's global network and long expertise in promoting cultural understanding through the exchange of knowledge and ideas and building long-term relationships. It aims to deliver global climate change initiatives through young people who have a proactive interest in climate change and wish to take positive action at local, national and international levels.

Motivated young people will be selected in collaboration with British Council Partners from Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, UAE and Libya to take part in the programme's first year in the Middle East. There are then plans to expand the number of International Climate Champions and extend the Programme into other countries in the region.

With support from the British Council and its partners, these International Climate Champions will devise and implement ambitious projects that will have real impact within their communities to:
- Raise awareness of climate change amongst their peers and communities;
- Influence people's behaviour to limit the impact of climate change; and
- Reduce our carbon footprint.

A series of project management and communication workshops will enhance the skills of these young people and allow them to make a positive contribution to the well-being of society. They will improve their knowledge of climate change by having access to expertise from around the region and globally, be linked into an ever-growing network of like-minded and motivated individuals from around the world and have opportunities to have their voices heard at local, regional and international climate change events.

Dr Sarah May, the British Council's Regional International Climate Change Manager said:

"Climate change affects all generations but it is young people who will inherit the impacts for many decades to come. As a result, it is also young people who are rising enthusiastically to this challenge. But it is critical that they are given the means and opportunity to be agents of change from the local to the global level. "

'As a global cultural relations organisation with 75 years experience in building understanding and creating sustainable networks, the British Council recognises that strong international relationships need to be maintained and strengthened to help in the fight to tackle climate change."

"That is why we are providing the means for these young people to become engaged in this critical global issue - providing opportunities for young people to make a positive difference.
'I look forward to seeing the ideas and results of our Middle East International Climate Champions' exciting and ambitious plans to make a real difference in their own communities and beyond."