1planet4all: How do we address climate change? We give space to scientists, train journalists and paint (the devil) on the wall

Scientists are among the most respected spokespeople on environmental issues, so we approached three leading environmental scientists to provide responses to three important climate change myths we have identified. PIN plans to further develop its collaboration with the academic sector and work with media partners to help raise the issue of climate change in the public discourse.

Climate change is perceived as a complex and controversial topic, and not only by educators. Therefore, in collaboration with Czech scientists, we have created an online Climate Change course that guides learners through the necessary knowledge using proven data and facts. Teachers will gain expertise on the topic of climate change and can use the course directly in their classes. Watch how we introduced the course on DVTV.

Every year, PIN prepares seminars and webinars for teachers and future teachers focused both on the topic of climate change itself and also on didactics, i.e. how to teach about climate change. In addition, teachers can participate in the long-term programme, “Active Citizens: Protecting the Climate!”, which combines active citizenship and climate change issues.

We are then developing effective methods, teaching procedures and tools into methodological publications and teaching lessons. We also create audiovisual lessons on the subject of climate change, which include documentaries. At present we are preparing a new methodological website for climate change education which will bring together the activities of several Czech organizations and thus provide educators with a solid basis for climate education.

Besides the training of teachers and the publication of methodological materials, PIN organizes conferences for teachers, pupils, students, and other actors in education. The conferences feature real stories of people engaged in climate change – from the perspective of a scientist, farmer, educator or a student activist. These conferences are also an opportunity to share the participants’ own projects and experience and to build relationships across schools and organizations. Watch the conference recordings on Climate Change stories and When water waste is a crime.

The Gratias Tibi Award recognizes young people under the age of 30 who are actively involved in the world around us and who are changing things for the better through their actions. With this award, PIN shows young people that we appreciate their efforts. Since 2020, the Award has also been highlighting environmental achievements with a separate category.

For over 10 years, PIN has been offering support and space to primary and secondary school pupils and students to create their own public benefit projects. The Who else programme encourages young people to take an active part in the story of their neighbourhood.

In the long-term programme "Active Citizens: protecting the climate!" high school students explore how climate change is affecting the places where they live, and map what people in their local communities think about the issue. They then actively participate in finding solutions, and come up with proposals which are implemented in the form of community projects.

We financially support youth projects focused on climate change and create a space for sharing and developing project ideas through the Pro-action Café.

The 11th year of the comic competition, “Bohouš and Dáša are changing the world”, is called „Get to know the faces of climate change!”, and builds on our street art campaign. Young artists are introduced to the stories of people facing the impact of climate change and create their own comics based on the stories. This creative approach awakens pupils' and students' interest in the world around them and helps them form their own attitudes towards the world's biggest issues.

An important part of the project is to support journalists covering climate change. As part of the 1planet4all project, Jan Hejl and Jakub Plíhal from the Czech electronic newspaper Aktuálně.cz travelled to Mongolia, where they spoke with local herders about life in a country plagued by severe frost (called dzuds) and long droughts (link to the report in Czech here).

In the past, dzuds occurred in Mongolia about twice a decade, but due to climate change, they have started to appear yearly. As a result, nomads are losing large herds of goats and sheep and increasingly trading in a more rural lifestyle for an urban one in Ulaanbaatar (the capital of Mongolia). This brings about different sort of issues as Ulaanbaatar, the world's coldest capital city, also has some of the world’s most polluted air. Residents there mostly use coal briquettes to heat their yurts, and the local coal-fired heating and power plant has a very negative impact on the air. Tim Jenkins, PIN’s previous Country Director in Mongolia, confirms that "the smog situation here is worse than in major Chinese cities". You can see a photo gallery from Ulaanbaatar directly on Aktuálně.cz.

However, despite the negative impacts of climate change, it is possible to witness a successful example of biodiversity conservation in Mongolia. At Chustai Nuru Park, the nearly extinct takhi, or Przewalski's horse, can be seen. The Prague Zoo has played a significant role in saving this species, transporting thirty of these horses to Mongolia over the past eleven years. You can read more in the report (in Czech). You can also view the photo gallery on Aktuálně.cz.

Despite the great geographical distance and different natural conditions, the Czech Republic has much in common with Mongolia. Due to the two nation’s shared communist past, Czechia used to be Mongolia's second-largest trading partner until the 1980s. Because of their time spent in the Czech Republic, some Mongolians have very clear memories of Czech culture and language and even consider Czechia to their second home.

People in Need has been working in Mongolia since 2009. We help locals cope with harsh winters, raise awareness among entrepreneurs about financial literacy, and support local education providers and healthcare workers.