Green Footprints for Baku

As part of Climate Alliance's campaign “Kids on the Move for Climate”, school and kindergarten children are collecting ‘green footprints’ for everyday routes that can be covered on foot, by scooter or bicycle, by bus or train in a climate-friendly manner, also in 2024

At the UN Climate Summit, to be held mid in November in Baku, Azerbaijan, the Climate Alliance again will be presenting the Green Footprints of all children as well as their wishes and demands to the climate politicians in order to demonstrate how eager the children of Europe contribute to municipal climate protection already. 

Join in: collect Green Footprints with your school and kindergarten until 15. October 2024 and we take them to Baku to show the "Big One" that the "Little One" are already walking and not just talking!

Handover of 3.6 million climate friendly actions at COP 28 in Dubai

On December 5, at the UN Climate Summit in Dubai, Climate Alliance handed over the Green Footprints to the UNFCCC.

In 2023 the 250,000 participating children in 11 countries collected over 3.6 million Green Footprints - what a result!

Thomas Brose, Managing Director of Climate Alliance, also presented the kids Wishprints and called on the participants at the UN Climate Change Conference to take the children as role models. "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," he commented on the children's persistent commitment. 

For further Information please visit Results 

Celebrating 20 Years of the Green Footprints Campaign in Europe!

Further Stopovers on Climate Voyage

As announced in August, we feature two more stops on our Climate Voyage. In the first one, we take a closer look at the health of the forests in Germany, and in the second one, we visit an ecovillage in Luxembourg that is entirely built from recycled materials.

So, it's worth boarding the climate-mobile again and coming along on our discovery tour - let's go:

• Special Stopover Germany: Forest, how are you doing? (incl. questions and tasks)

• Special Stopover Luxembourg: A village made of waste (incl. questions and tasks)

Share With Us Your "Cozy Spaces and Not So Nice Places“

To help our campaign, you can send us photos of children's favorite and least favorite places on their everyday trip to school! Attached blow is a (very short) online survey that will be availible until the end of October. Please tell us why the kids feel comfortable in these certain places, and of course where they think there are problems.

Want to get involved? It's simple: Take a photo of a place you particularly like on the way to kindergarten/school and one where you don't like being. Then fill out the online survey and upload the two photos. We then publish them on a map (with your permission) so that you can see which everyday school routes are suitable for children and where there is still a need for change.

Join us to explore everyday places of our little climate protectors!  
 

New Stopovers on Climate Voyage

To mark the 20th anniversary of the Green Footprints Campaign, we're including two extra stops on our joined Climate Voyage and take a closer look at the situation in Europe.

Both stops address late-breaking topics: Water shortage due to strawberry cultivation in Spain and extreme weather changes in northern Italy - from droughts to floods.

So it's worth boarding the climate mobile and coming along on the discovery tour - let's go: 

• Special Stopover Spain: Strawberries at any costs? (incl. questions and tasks)

• Special Stopover Italy: No water, no rice (incl. questions and tasks)   

Green Footprints for Dubai

Many thousand children already steped in again to join us in our 20th Year of Green Footprints in Europe. As part of Climate Alliance's campaign “Kids on the Move for Climate”, school and kindergarten children collect ‘green footprints’ for everyday routes that can be covered on foot, by scooter or bicycle, by bus or train in a climate-friendly manner.

In Dubai the Climate Alliance will again present the Green Footprints of all children as well as their wishes and demands to the climate politicians in order to demonstrate how eager the children of Europe already contribute to the rulebook on municipal climate protection already. 

Join in: collect Green Footprints with your school and kindergarten
and show the "Big One" that the "Little One" are already walking and not just talking!

Handover of 3 million climate friendly actions at COP 27 in Egypt

On November 14, at the UN Climate Summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Climate Alliance handed over the Green Footprints to Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC.

In 2022 the 235,000 participating children in 8 European countries collected over 3 million Green Footprints - what a result!

Andreas Wolter, Climate Alliance President, also presented the kids Wishprints and asked Stiell to deliver the children's wishes and demands to the conference delegates to encourage them to go further big steps towards a worldwide climate protection NOW!

For further Information please visit Results 

Announcement of Handover in Sharm el-Sheikh for Monday 14 November

On November 14th, 15:30 am Climate Alliance will hand over the Green Footprints  from 2022 at the UN Climate Conference in Egypt

Climate Alliance  will get the opportunity to hand over the Green Footprints collected from over 230,000 children in 8 European countries at the 27. UN Climate Summit, held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.

Climate Alliance will report on the kids' climate activity weeks and present their Wishprints to the Climate Politicians with their demands for climate action. Furtheron Climate Alliance will hand over the total results of Green Footprints collected in 2022 and ask to deliver the children's wishes and demands to the conference delegates to encourage them to strongly work on ambitious results of this year's climate talks!

Green Footprints on their way to Sharm el-Sheikh

On November 6th the UN Climate Conference startet in Egypt.

This means to Climate Alliance that we got the posters and Wishprints packed to be ready for the handover.  We're very happy, that the new Executive Seceretary Simon Stiell already promised to find some time for the Green Footprints Campaign between all his other important meetings.

This year we have Green Footprints collected by almost 240,000 children in 8 European countries traveling with us to COP 27 in Sharm el-Sheikh.

As soon as we get a concrete time for the handover we will anounce it here.

"Seventeen Global Goals" - Global Flashmob on March 21.

The Textorschule Frankfurt asked us to share their participatory action on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with you.

The school invites you to participate in the global flashmob on March 21, 2022 - the International Day of Forests - to raise worldwide awareness for the 17 SDGs. For this, people in different places around the world, will sing and dance the song "Seventeen Global Goals".

How do you participate? Simply rehearse the song and dance choreography and perform it with your group or class in public. Film your action - the Textorschule will make a video from all contributions.

Last November the kids stood singing and dancing on the Römerberg in Frankfurt when the UN Climate Conference started. Now they repeat their action and hope for many comrades-in-arms.

Join them and spread the message of the 17 SDGs!

More Information:

• Instructions from the initiators
• Lyrics & chords
• Song in English
• Video of the dance action in Frankfurt (German version)

Green Footprints for Sharm El-Sheikh

How many children will step in and join us in 2022?
As part of Climate Alliance's campaign “Kids on the Move”, school and kindergarten children collect ‘green footprints’ for everyday journeys that can be covered on foot, by scooter or bicycle, by bus or train in a climate-friendly manner.

In Sharm El-Sheikh, where in Novermber COP 27 is to be held, the Climate Alliance will there present to the climate politicians the Green Footprints of all children in order to demonstrate how eager the children contribute to the rulebook on municipal climate protection. 

Join in: collect Green Footprints with your school and kindergarten and show the "Big One" that the "Little One" are already walking and not just Talking!

Politicians call on children to "Keep going for the climate!"

At the handover of the Green Footprints, Patricia Espinosa, Executive Secretary of UNFCCC, called on the children to keep going and not to give up under any circumstances. She addressed all participants with a message:

“It is very much in fact about their future, about the world [the children] will be living in what we are doing here [in Glasgow]. For me, that is a big responsibility. I am a mother … but I do know and I do understand what it means for parents thinking about the future of their children. So, I am very, very thankful for the efforts and what I can offer is that I will bring this massage to the attention of the leaders.”

Carole Dieschbourg, Luxembourg's Minister of the Environment, was also enthusiastic about the children's efforts:

“Now it’s up to us, the politicians, to do what we can … in order to give you hope, that you will have a big and a great future and all the opportunities that we had. … I’d like to thank all the kids for the inspiring work they have done. … Continue fighting for climate protection!”

Be active together for the future! Every contribution (no matter how small) is a contribution to climate protection! Are you with us?

• Video of the handover of Green Footprints to Espinosa
  (Espinosa’s message from minute 2:58)
• Video of the handover of miles to Carole Dieschbourg
  (Dieschbourg’s message from minute 1:04 and 3:06)

Handover of 5.3 million climate friendly actions at COP 26

On November 8th Climate Alliance handed over the Green Footprints from 2020/21 to the Executive Secretary

This morning at 10:00 Climate Alliance  handed over the Green Footprints from 350,000 children in 9 European countries at the 26. UN Climate Summit, held in Glasgow, UK.

Climate Alliance presented the kids Wishprints together with a total of 5.3 Million Green Footprints collected in 2020 and 2021 to Patricia Espinosa, Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC and asked her to deliver the children's wishes and demands to the conference delegates to encourage them to go further big steps towards a worldwide climate protection now!

For further Information please visit Results 

Announcement of Handover in Glasgow

On November 8th, 10:00 am Climate Alliance will hand over the Green Footprints  from 2020/21 at the UN Climate Conference in Glasgow

Climate Alliance  will get the opportunity to hand over the Green Footprints collected this and last year from almost 300,000 children in 8 European countries at the 26. UN Climate Summit, held in Glasgow, UK.

Climate Alliance will report on the kids' climate activity weeks and present their Wishprints to the Climate Politicians with their demands for climate action. Furtheron Climate Alliance will hand over the total results of Green Footprints collected in 2020 and 2021 and ask to deliver the children's wishes and demands to the conference delegates to encourage them to really fight for ambitious results of this year's climate talks!

Once more: Green Footprints for Glasgow

Many schools and kindergartens already confirmed, that they will step in again - even in times of Corona.

So lets collect Green Footprints for Glasgow again!

As part of Climate Alliance's campaign “Kids on the Move” school and kindergarten children collect ‘green footprints’ for everyday routes that can be covered on foot, by scooter or bicycle, by bus or train in a climate-friendly manner.

In Glasgow the Climate Alliance will hopefully be able topresent the Green Footprints collected in 2020 and 2021 together with the children's wishes and demands to the climate politicians in order to demonstrate that the children of Europe don't stop contributing to the rulebook on municipal climate protection even under these extra difficult circumstances. 

Join in: collect Green Footprints with your school and kindergarten
and show the "Big One" that the "Little One" are still walking and not talking!

Collecting Green Footprints until end of the year

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the 26th UN Climate Change Conference has been postponed to 2021.

Therefore we have extended our collection period for 2020 until the end of the year.

So you can join in the fun of collecting Green Footprints for the Climate Summit in Glasgow also after autumn holidays and do your climate action until 20 December 2020.

Green Footprints for Glasgow

A few housand children already steped in again and many more from all over Europe will be joining in within the coming months. As part of Climate Alliance's campaign “ZOOM - Kids on the Move”, school and kindergarten children collect ‘green footprints’ for everyday routes that can be covered on foot, by scooter or bicycle, by bus or train in a climate-friendly manner.

In Glasgow the Climate Alliance will again present the Green Footprints of all children as well as their wishes and demands to the climate politicians in order to demonstrate how eager the children of Europe already contribute to the rulebook on municipal climate protection already. 

Join in: collect Green Footprints with your school and kindergarten
and show the "Big One" that the "Little One" are already walking and not just talking!

Over 80 times around the world in a climate-friendly way with Climate Alliance’s Green Footprints Campaign

Madrid/Frankfurt, 7 December 2019

Today Ovais Sarmad, Deputy Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, praised the record result of almost 220,000 small climate protectors.

“Never before have so many kids participated in the ZOOM campaign”, emphasised Thomas Brose, Executive Director of Climate Alliance. “This year's record proves that the will for change is already anchored in our youth. They have long understood that we are all still far from doing enough. Now it is up to the politicians to make the promised change real.”

At the 25th UN Climate Change Conference in Madrid, Brose handed over the more than 3.2 million Green Footprints collected as well hopes for climate policy coming from 217,798 children of over 1,500 schools in 13 European countries. Compared to the first campaign in 2002, the number of footprints collected has increased more than twentyfold. Each child earned green footprints for everyday trips carried out in a sustainable way as well as for other climate-friendly activities. Many schools were also involved in climate strikes, planting trees, collecting garbage and developing ideas for a sustainable future.

For further Information also visit Results

• Photos from the handover
• 2019’s participants came from Austria, Belarus, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Poland, Sweden and Switzerland
• Campaign results (pdf) | Campaign info sheet (pdf)
• Several hopes from participating children and statements of participating schools (pdf)
• Hopes and demands from Chilean pupils

Announcement of Handover in Madrid

Final sprint: the UN climate change conference just started as the countdown for this year's handover of the Green Footprints campaign result!

Climate Alliance will soon present this year's excellent result of the ZOOM Campaign at the 25th UN Climate Conference.

The children from Chile unfortunately can't be there, but they sent a united letter to Patricia Espinosa, executive secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Chlimate Change, and in this way expressed their message for this year's COP! In addition, there are the many wishes and demands of more than 200.000 children from 13 different European countries, who finally expect a change for a better world climate and showed with their collected Green Footprints how easy climate-friendly action can be in everyday life!

Kick Off Green Footprint Campaign in Hesperage, Luxembourg

Zoom running again in 2019 - Green Footprints for Santiago de Chile

Further Information

• Participates 2018 come from Austria, Belarus, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Macedonia, Netherlands, Poland and Sweden 
  
  
• Photos for press use (available as of 12:30 on 07. Dezember 2018)

• Campaign report 2018 (pdf)

• Several wishes of participating children and statements of participating schools (pdf)

• Footprints of municipal representatives (pdf)

• PRESS RELEASE (pdf) 
  
  
• Letter to the delegates of COP24 (pdf) 

Announcement of Handover in Katowice

On December 7th Climate Alliance together with children from Poland will hand over this year's Green Footprints at the UN Climate Conference in Katowice

At 11:00 in the morning Climate Alliance and some ZOOM Kids from the School No.15 in Katowice will get the opportunity to hand over the Green Footprints collected from 150,000 children in 9 countries at the 24. UN Climate Summit, held in Katowice, Poland.

The children will report on their climate activity week and present their Wishprints as well as their letter to the Climate politicians with their demands for climate action. Furtheron Climate Alliance will hand over the total results of Green Footprints collected in 2018 and ask to deliver the children's wishes and demands to the conference delegates to encourage them to really fight for ambitious results of this year's climate talks!

Green Footprints for Katowice

Thousands of children already steped in again and many more from all over Europe will be joining in within the coming months. As part of Climate Alliance's campaign “ZOOM - Kids on the Move”, school and kindergarten children collect ‘green footprints’ for everyday routes that can be covered on foot, by scooter or bicycle, by bus or train in a climate-friendly manner.

This year's “launch step” is at the same time as the interim negotiations on the UN Climate Process in Bonn. There the rule book on the Paris Climate Agreement will be drawn up, which hopefully can be adopted at the next UN Climate Summit in Katowice, Poland, in December.

In Katowice the Climate Alliance will again present the Green Footprints of all children as well as their wishes and demands to the climate politicians in order to demonstrate how eager the children of Europe already contribute to the rulebook on municipal climate protection already. 

(The picture shows Groene Voetstappen collectors from the Netherlands at the kick off during their Kinderklimaattop, Copyright Matty van Leijenhorst, Klimaatverbond) 

UN Climate Secretariat Head Espinosa recognises children’s action on climate

A record-breaking 205,577 youngsters take part in the 15th year of the Climate Alliance Green Footprints campaign  

Bonn/Frankfurt, 16 November 2017.

Today, a group of kindergartners from Bonn presented their efforts on climate change and their wishes for the future to decision makers at the 23rd UN Climate Summit. “Children can be great drivers of positive change. By motivating them to protect the climate, we see a ripple effect that really spreads – not only to their friends, families and their teachers,” explains Climate Alliance Executive Director Thomas Brose. Over 1,400 schools spread across European 10 countries participated in the 2017 Green Footprints or ZOOM campaign. Together they collected some 2.3 million green footprints. The initiative encourages children to reflect on sustainable mobility and lifestyle choices.

Further Information

• Photos for press use (available as of 12:30 on 16 November 2017)

• Participating countries: Austria, Belarus, Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Sweden

• Campaign results (pdf)

• Several wishes of participating children and statements of participating schools (pdf)

• Campaign info sheet (pdf)

• PRESS RELEASE as pdf 

Announcement of Handover in Bonn

On November 16th Climate Alliance together with children from Bonn will hand over this year's Green Footprints at the UN Climate Conference in Bonn

At 10:30 in the morning Climate Alliance and ten ZOOM Kids from the kindergarten "Mach Mit!" in Bonn will get the opportunity to hand over the Green Footprints collected from 180,000 children in 10 countries to the UNFCCC Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa at the 23. UN Climate Summit in Bonn.

The children will tell her about their climate activity week and present her their Wishprints with their demands for climate action. Furtheron Climate Alliance will hand over the total results of Green Footprints collected in 2017 and ask Ms Espinosa to deliver the children's wishes and demands to the conference delegates and to call on them to continue the succuess Story of the Climate Summit in Paris with concret steps NOW!

Children across Europe show climate commitment for 15th year running!

Climate Alliance celebrates the Zoom campaign’s 15 years of success with art competition 

This Year for the 15th time in a row, children will collect Green Footprints across Europe. Since 2002, children have been helping to protect the global climate by every climate-friendly journey – on foot, by scooter or bike, bus or train. To celebrate the 15th anniversary of the ZOOM – Kids on the Move! campaign, Climate Alliance is holding a creative competition: children are invited to design their own version of the ZOOM – Kids on the Move! logo and to add their own ideas for climate protection. Climate Alliance will reward the children from the most creative group with a climate friendly present.

In the last 15 years, 25 million Green Footprints were collected by nearly two million children in 35 countries. In 2017 tens of thousands of children in kindergartens and schools will once again be on the move and collect Green Footprints to help protect the global climate. In November, Climate Alliance will hand over the Green Footprints collected as well as the most creative results of the creative competition to politicians during the 23rd UN Climate Change Conference in Bonn.

Since 2002, children have phrased their wishes for climate protection and have called on the participants in the UN Climate Change Conference to support them with concrete measures and to define and implement specific national and international goals. Thomas Brose, Executive Director of Climate Alliance, accentuates the successful work with the participating municipalities and educational institutions: “For 15 years children have shown us that you can make a difference in climate protection by starting with yourself and working as one. I´m looking forward to presenting their commitment at the UN Climate Change Conference in Bonn this year”. The campaign has evolved over the years, this year Climate Alliance has updated the accompanying teaching guide. The organization has also added new implementation and game ideas, break time games and worksheets. In addition the subjects of climate justice, consumption and sufficiency are covered in greater depth.

The ZOOM – Kids on the Move! campaign opens up new insights to the world to children at a young age. It introduces the subjects of climate change, sustainability and globalization. Climate Alliance will continue to attract new participants as well as motivate already participating municipalities. Participation for 2017 is possible until October.

Further Information 

         •    www.zoom-kidsforclimate.eu

         •    Campaign Materials

         •    15 years Kids on the Move – Creative Competition

         •    Photos (Flickr)

PRESS RELEASE as pdf

Europe’s children demand UN Climate Summit delegates be better role models

Green Footprints of 175,000 children presented to UN Climate Secretariat head Patricia Espinosa in Marrakech on 14 November

Marrakech / Frankfurt, 14 November 2016. Climate action shouldn’t only be left to the grown-ups. Today, Climate Alliance presented the climate protection efforts of 174,624 children spread over 10 countries to UN Climate Secretariat Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa. The children earned a total of 1,741,200 “green footprints” within the framework of Climate Alliance’s ZOOM campaign by making climate-friendly trips to school, saving energy in their classrooms, eating regional foods and choosing notebooks made with recycled paper. The handover of the footprints along with the children’s wishes and demands for the future took place during the 22nd Climate Summit currently being held in Marrakech.

“These 1.7 million green footprints represent the efforts and engagement of children in over 1100 schools, kindergartens and other day-care facilities,” stressed Climate Alliance Austria Director Markus Hafner-Auinger while presenting the green footprints along with the children's concrete wishes and demands to Ms Espinosa. “Today we are not only here to celebrate how much the ZOOM Kids already did – we are asking you, Ms Espinosa, to relay the children’s messages to the delegates of COP22. They want them to be better role models and fill the Paris Agreement with both concrete and creative climate action – much like the children do in their schools and at home with their parents.”

Especially prominent this year amongst the children’s demands was the recognition of a need for action. The children asked UN Climate Conference participants to bring the Paris Agreement to life through their policies. Messages sent by many of the older children also highlighted the understanding that they will have to pay for today’s weak regulations, as will their own children in the future. Hafner-Auinger, in the company of UN Youth Delegates and local as well as national representatives of participating ZOOM countries, invited Executive Secretary Espinosa to deliver these important messages to the delegates of the conference.

Climate Alliance’s ZOOM – Kids on the Move campaign has been helping children learn about sustainability and the climate since 2002 during special activity weeks throughout the school year. Through the campaign, which is open to interested educational facilities in Europe and beyond, children send messages to their communities, work with their teachers to contact their local politicians and express their hopes to international leaders at the annual UN Climate Summits.

This year, children from Austria, Belarus, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Romania and Sweden called upon politicians at all levels to serve as better role models for climate action. Their “wishprints” for the climate politicians were filled with demands and hopes such as, "I want all food to come by sailboat, because they run on the wind and that does not make any emissions," "Please make sure there are less exhaust fumes," "We need plants - they make oxygen for us," and "Everybody should be happy. Everybody should have a good life.” The clear message for legislators: Act now to save our climate!

Further information and photos

·    Photos for the press available on Flickr

·    ZOOM Campaign overall results for 2016

·    ZOOM Campaign information country by country

·    ZOOM Report 2016 with children’s Statements

PRESS RELEASE as pdf (200kb)

Kids on the move for climate action: Europe-wide campaign kicks off 2016 season

ZOOM launches at primary school in Bad Berneck, Germany

Bad Berneck/Frankfurt am Main, 11 April 2016. The first steps for this year’s European-wide ZOOM campaign have been taken by children from Bad Berneck’s Sebastian Kneipp School, thereby kicking-off the 2016 season. Thus far, children in eight EU countries will be participating in Zoom for 2016; more are sure to follow. The campaign engages children in sustainable mobility in a playful way, encouraging them to earn special “Green Footprints” for each climate-friendly trip they make.

“We have supported the ZOOM campaign for 10 years now and are therefore thrilled to be hosting the European-wide kick-off for this year,” pronounced Deputy District Administrator Christa Reinert-Heinz in her opening speech. “In this way, the commitment of the children in this city and district receives special recognition.” Katharina John, Headmistress of Sebastian Kneipp School, went on to describe how eager the children always are to participate in the campaign, which so successfully combines awareness-raising with old-fashioned fun. The festivities were marked by Martin Stümpfig, Member of Bavarian Parliament, and Jürgen Zinnert, Mayor of Bad Berneck, who encouraged the children to continue their exemplary activities.

The campaign also lends these activities some political weight. Each year, the efforts of the children are presented to politicians at the UN Climate Summits. Thomas Brose, Executive Director of Climate Alliance, explained to the children how he will ensure all the Green Footprints they have collected are brought to the Climate Summit in Marrakech this November. “This shows international climate politicians how keen you are to help save our climate,” he emphasised, adding, “this time you are even faster than those politicians – you are getting started now whereas they will have to wait until 22 April to sign their climate agreement .”

Since 2002, young children across Europe have participated in this annual climate action campaign by the Climate Alliance. ZOOM places grassroots measures above slow negotiation processes. Children demonstrate to their parents and politicians alike that action is needed instead of empty promises. In so doing, they show that they are part of the solution to our common climate challenge.

Tens of thousands of children in kindergartens and schools across Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands will be “ZOOMing” in for sustainable mobility and collecting footprints for their actions in 2016. The city and district of Bayreuth has been implementing the campaign for a decade, supporting ZOOM with intensive communications work and rewarding the participants with prizes each year.

Didactic materials available from the Climate Alliance European Secretariat and downloadable here

Photos

Photos of the kick-off available on bit.ly/ClimateAlliance_Flickr

Contact

Claudia Schury, Climate Alliance, T. +49-69-717139-22,
c.schury(at)climatealliance.org

Michael Benz, District of Bayreuth, T. +49-921-728-108,
michael.benz(at)lra-bt.bayern.de

THE ZOOM CAMPAIGN

In 2002, Climate Alliance started the mobility campaign for children, extending it to the whole of Europe in 2003 under the motto “ZOOM – Kids on the Move for Climate Action”. Since then, 1.7 million children from 39 countries have participated, more than 185,000 last year alone. Together over the years, they have collected over 22 million “Green Footprints”.

www.zoom-kidsforclimate.eu

The Climate Alliance

For more than 25 years, Climate Alliance member municipalities have been acting in partnership with indigenous rainforest peoples for the benefit of the global climate. With over 1,700 members spread across 26 European countries, Climate Alliance is the world’s largest city network dedicated to climate action and the only one to set tangible targets: each member city, town and district has committed itself to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 10 percent every 5 years. Recognising the impact our lifestyles can have on the world's most vulnerable people and places, Climate Alliance pairs local action with global responsibility.

www.climatealliance.org

Press release as pdf (200kb)

ZOOMing in to Marrakesh in 2016

After the promising results of the last UN Climate Conference in Paris, Climate Alliance hopes that even more kids and teens in Europe ZOOM in to get Climate Action going!

In 2016 the collected Green Footprints will be for our Climate Journey around the One World, ending at the UN Climate Conference in Marrakesh, Morocco. The 22nd UN Climate Summit will be held there from 7.-18.11.2016.

Due to this, in 2016 Green Footprints can be only collected until 25 October.

 So ZOOM in soon and be on the Move for our One World's Climate!  

Europe’s children urge leaders to commit to climate action at UN Climate Summit in Paris

Efforts of 186,830 children presented to UN Climate Secretariat head Christiana Figueres on Young and Future Generations Day

Frankfurt/Paris, 3 December 2015. This morning, Climate Alliance presented the climate protection efforts of almost 200,000 children spread over 13 countries to UN Climate Secretariat Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres and Ahmad Alhendawi, UN Secretary-General's Envoy on Youth. The children earned a total of 2,249,609 “green footprints” within the framework of Climate Alliance’s ZOOM campaign by making climate-friendly trips to school, saving energy in their classrooms, eating regional foods and choosing notebooks made with recycled paper. The handover of the footprints along with the children’s wishes and demands for the future marked the official opening of the UN Climate Summit’s Young and Future Generations Day – designated by the Climate Secretariat as a “celebration of youth power and participation at UN climate change conferences.”

Carole Dieschbourg, Luxembourg Minister of Environment, in the company of UN Youth Delegates and representatives of participating ZOOM countries, personally presented the green footprints along with the children's concrete wishes and demands to Ms Figueres. In so doing, Dieschbourg asked Executive Secretary Figueres to deliver these messages to the delegates of the conference. Especially prominent this year amongst the children’s demands was a sense of urgency in asking the UN Climate Conference delegates in Paris to finally pass a strong agreement. Messages sent by many of the older children highlighted the understanding that they will have to pay for today’s weak regulations, as will their own children in the future.

“These 2.2 million green footprints represent more than just the efforts and the engagement of children in over 1300 schools, kindergartens and other day-care facilities,” stressed Thomas Brose, Executive Director of Climate Alliance. “Together with the children’s wishes, they send a very clear message to the politicians here in Paris: join forces and develop an ambitious plan for us and for our planet.”

Climate Alliance’s ZOOM – Kids on the Move campaign has been helping children learn about sustainability and the climate since 2002 during special activity weeks throughout the school year. Through the campaign, which is open to interested educational facilities in Europe and beyond, children send messages to their communities, work with their teachers to contact their local politicians and express their hopes to international leaders at the annual UN Climate Summits.

This year, children from Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Romania, Sweden and Ukraine called upon politicians at all levels to better fulfil their function as role models by taking action on the climate. One poster made by a kindergarten class in Neumünster, Germany sums it up particularly well with the plea, “Dear Politicians, it’s in your hands. Please don’t destroy our beautiful earth.” With wishes, demands and comments such as, “please keep our rivers clean,” “I would like to have many healthy trees,” “only use your car for long distances,” “polar bears cannot lose their sea ice,” and “we are the future,” the children sent a simple but unified message to politicians: act now to save the climate.

Further information and photos

·    Photos for the press available on Flickr

·    ZOOM Campaign overall results for 2015

·    ZOOM Campaign information country by country

·    ZOOM Report 2015 with children’s Statements

            ·    more on Young and Future Generations Day

PRESS RELEASE as pdf (200kb)

Announcement of Handover in Paris

On December 3rd Climate Alliance will hand over this year's Green Footprints at the UN Climate Conference in Paris

At 10:00 in the morning, within the official opening event of the 'Young and Future Generations Day', Climate Alliance will hand over the Green Footprints collected from over 180,000 children in 13 countries to UNFCCC Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres at the 21. UN Climate Summit in Paris.

She will be asked to deliver the children's wishes and demands to the conference delegates and to call on them to adopt a strong agreement in the end!

This year's "Step off" 28 April in Luxembourg

©Ville de Luxembourg_Fränk Weber

The "Step off" for the ZOOM Campaign in 2015 will be at 28 April
within Luxembourg's 'Nationalen Klimadag'.

Also for 2015 Climate Alliance is looking for ZOOM Kids from all over Europe to join our climate journey around the One World and to collect Green Footprints for the next UN Climate Conference as this year nothing less than a new climate convention has to be agreed on.

The 21st UN Climate Summit will be held from 30.11.-11.12. 2015 in Paris so Green Footprints can be collected until 15 November 2015.  

Luxembourg will play a special role in this important climate conference in December, as it, in the second half of  the year, has the presidency EU Council and thus will be chief negotiator for the EU. 

Therefor we're very happy to make this year's "Step off" together with Climate Alliance/Klima-Bündnis Letzebuerg on 28 April during their national climate holiday.
Support for this event we will get from the Minister for Education as well as from an Indigenous fighter from the rainforests of Ecuador - the filmmaker Eriberto Gualinga. 

ZOOM in again in 2015, be on the Move for our One World's Climate!  

2.2 million Green Footprints from 180,000 ZOOMers in 11 countries

On Wednesday, 3 December, Climate Alliance handed over 2.2 Million “Green Footprints” collected by 180,000 children in 11 countries to UNFCCC Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres in Lima, Peru.

Since 2002 kids all over Europe are on the move together to save the One World's climate. This year 180,197 children in 11 European countries (Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Macedonia, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland and Sweden) ZOOMed in and collected 2,218,867 “Green Footprints” by using sustainable means of transport for their daily journeys, by saving energy in their schools and kindergartens, by buying exercise books from recycled paper, and by eating regional food.

In Lima Thomas Brose, Executive Director of Climate Alliance, handed over the Green Footprints together with the children's concrete wishes and demands to the UNFCCC Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres, asking her to pass these messages to the UN Climate Change Conference delegates. This year he was accompanies by Youth Delegates from several countries.

How much the Green Footprint collectors demand a positive outcome of the negotiations now demonstrate their ‘Wishprints’* telling simple but clear messages to the climate politicians like ”We want you to be better role models.” or ”I want you to spend more money on Climate Protection than on bombs and weapons.” But also concrete requirements like ”Please mark more crosswalks so we can cross the street on ourselves.” and ”I want less packaging waste, e.g. for toys!” can be seen on them.

Brose emphasized: “These 2.2 million Green Footprints represent not only the efforts and the engagement of ZOOM kids in almost 1300 schools, kindergartens and other day-care facilities but - together with their ‘Wishprints’ - they give a very clear briefing to the politicians here in Lima to join forces and develop an ambitious work package for our and especially the children’s future NOW!”

* children’s wishes and demands written on paper footprints

Full Press Release here (as pdf , 65 kb)

Further Information as well as many fotographs at the Result pages

Announcement of Handover in Lima

On December 3rd Climate Alliance will hand over this year's Green Footprints at the UN Climate Conference in Lima

At 15:30 local time, when most ZOOMers in Europe have been fallen asleep already but in Peru the afternoon sun is still up, Climate Alliance will hand over Green Footprints collected from 180,000 children in 11 countries to UNFCCC Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres at the Climate Summit in Lima.

ZOOMing on to Lima in 2014

Despite or even by reason of the once again very disappointing results of the last UN Climate Conference in Warsaw, Climate Alliance calls on all kids and teens in Europe to ZOOM in again!

In 2014 the collected Green Footprints will be for our climate journey to the UN Climate Conference in Lima, Peru. 

The 20th UN Climate Summit will be held in Lima, Peru from 1.-12.12. 2014 so this year Green Footprints can be collected until 15. November 2014.

ZOOM in, be on the Move for our One World's Climate!  

2.2 million Green Footprints from 160,000 ZOOMers in 13 countries

On Saturday, 16 November, Climate Alliance together with Polish ZOOM participants handed over 2.2 Million “Green Footprints” collected by 160,000 children in 13 countries to UNFCCC Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres in Warsaw, Poland.

Since 2002 kids all over Europe are on the move together to save the One World's climate. This year 162,981 children in 13 European countries (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Macedonia, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Sweden, and Switzerland) ZOOMed in and collected 2,177,902 “Green Footprints” for example by using sustainable means of transport for their daily journeys, by saving energy in their schools and kindergartens, by buying exercise books from recycled paper, and by eating regional food.

Thomas Brose, Executive Director of Climate Alliance, and seven ZOOM participants from the School Szkola Podstawowa nr 4 im. prof. W. Szafera in Elk, Poland, handed over the Green Footprints together with the children's concrete wishes and demands to the UNFCCC Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres, asking her to pass these messages to the UN Climate Conference delegates.
The pupils emphasised how they hope, wish and call for a positive outcome in Warsaw with this simple words: “Please, love our Earth and stop global warming!”
Brose explained to Figueres: “The Green Footprints represent all the efforts and engagement of the ZOOM kids so far. Their ‘wishprints’*, are a strong call on the politicians here in Warsaw to develop an ambitious work package for our and especially the children’s future NOW!”.

* children’s wishes and demands written on paper footprints

“Climate Action Plan” of the Polish ZOOM participants at the UN Climate Summit:

• 10:30-10:50, Mini Side Event at the UNFCCC Climate Change Studio located on Floor 0, in Zone C2
  They sing their school song, comprising a strong appeal to the adults to not destroy the children's future and recite a poem with their wishes and demands directed at the Climate Politicians
•  11:00-11:10, handover of this year's ZOOM result to the head of the UN Climate Secretariat Christiana Figueres at UN Youth Boot, Exhibit No. 7, Floor 0, Zone A1
• 13:30, Presentation of ZOOM results at an international workshop on local climate mitigation at the Warsaw Marriott Hotel, Al. Jerozolimskie 65/79
  The pupils report to the workshop participants on what they and the children of Europe have already done for the protection of our One World.

Full Press Release here (as pdf , 210 kb)

Announcement: Saturday 16.11. will be "Kids on the Move"-Day in Warsaw

ZOOM Action at UN Climate Summit in Warsaw

On Saturday, 16th November, Climate Alliance together with Polish pupils from Elk will hand over “Green Footprints” collected in 2013 to UNFCCC Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres at the Climate Summit in Warsaw.

Far before sunrise a small group of Polish students from Elk in beautiful Masuria will make their way to Warsaw to be there at 9:00 o'clock in the morning to get ready for Registration.

At 10:30 o'clock it will be time for the pupil’s Mini Side Event at the UNFCCC Climate Change Studio. There they will sing their school song, comprising a strong appeal to the adults to not destroy the children's future, and they will recite a poem with their wishes and demands directed at the Climate Politicians. Last but not least they will do an Air Boogie with the audience.

Subsequently at 11:00 clock, Climate Alliance will hand over this year's ZOOM result to the head of the UN Climate Secretariat Christiana Figueres. Of course, the Polish children are included in this action too: They will ask Ms. Figueres to forward the wishes and demands of the 160,000 children from 13 countries to the participants of the UN Climate Conference and to bring the summit to a successful conclusion.

But there is more to do for the children: after a short lunch break, the 10 students of the school Szko a Podstawowa No. 4 in Elk will have another appearance: the International Workshop 'Climate Dialogue - Promoting local Climate Mitigation'. There, at 13:30 o'clock, they will report to the workshop participants from many European municpalities, what the children of Europe have already done for the protection of the environment and our One World and of course they will present the Green Footprints collected in 2013.