What have you discovered about individual and collective power?
When you drop a tiny pebble into a still pond it sets off a series of ripples that grow larger and larger, emanating outward until they span the entire pond. YOU are that pebble. You have a profound impact by standing up, speaking out, living a life aligned with your values, and applying the knowledge you gained during Project Green Challenge to all you do.
Throughout this month, you’ve seen how every action has both positive and negative impacts that reach far beyond the original or intended purpose. Consider the transition in your own life since the start of PGC through curious exploration, in-depth education, and mindful action. Think about how you’ve transformed and found your power as a changemaker. How have you guided shifts in your home, on your campus, and across your community?
With dedication, intention, and passion for people and the planet, YOU have already fueled specific and widespread change.
Now it’s time to apply for the Project Green Challenge 2023 Finals. To be considered, you must participate in the next three challenge days, submit a complete Climate Action Project (CAP) proposal, be available to travel to the San Francisco Bay Area from November 16 – 20, be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and meet all other criteria outlined in these Official Finals Rules. ALL are encouraged to continue to learn and engage as esteemed PGC 2023 participants!
“Do not look the other way; do not hesitate. Recognize that the world is hungry for action, not words. Act with courage and vision.”
– Nelson Mandela, activist and politician
Based on your CAP deliverables (see below); PGC accomplishments since October 1; creativity and passion; depth of engagement; number of wins; and point totals, up to 14 PGC participants will be selected as PGC Finalists to attend the Project Green Challenge Finals. Climate Action Projects will be built, honed, implemented, and completed in the months leading up to April 10, 2024. Finalists will then present virtually to a panel of judges on April 21, 2024, and the PGC Champion will be named.
The next step is to take all you have learned and develop a Climate Action Project for relevant, real-world, actionable impact.
What is a Climate Action Project?
A Climate Action Project (CAP) is a plan for transformative change that comes to life on your campus or in your community. Take a solutions-based approach to a real-world challenge that resonates with you and impacts people, policy, and/or the planet. Then, develop an innovative, realistic, high-impact project centered around the climate themes that interest and inspire you.
You have been preparing for this all throughout PGC 2023! Think of the challenges where you outlined problems, created proposals, and investigated practices. How can you design a CAP that affects change in bold ways, raises awareness toward a goal, and makes progress toward healing the future?
Before you begin, think about what we spoke about just a few days ago with Ikigai: What do you love? What are you good at? What does the world need? What can you get paid for? At the center of this timeless Japanese concept is what you can best contribute to your Climate Action Project. Combine your superpower and super passion to benefit us all!
Project Criteria:
Feasibility:
You must be able to complete the Climate Action Project (CAP) by April 10, 2023. That five-month marker may be a big step towards a larger goal. As an example, “completion” of a CAP need not entail switching to 100% renewable energy on campus by April, but by then, you would write and have a proposal in place, discussions with and approvals by school leadership, and concrete next steps outlined to implement clean energy at your school.
Data:
CAPs need measurable outcomes. The exact form is dependent upon the project, but examples may include number of participants, pounds of food waste eliminated, miles of travel without fossil fuels, etc.
Focus:
Identify an area of focus from the following PGC themes: food, waste, water, justice, soil, biodiversity, oceans, forests, Indigenous Peoples, fashion, and energy.
Reflect on the past 27 days. What themes are most inspiring, mobilizing, and resonant? Which do you find yourself thinking about and how you might apply what you have learned?
Upload your responses in a PDF document. Include your name (or team name), username, and school on your upload.
Submission Guidelines
How do we best use the tools we have developed and honed over the past month to enact lasting change? We see CAPs as one of those outlets.
Develop a project that feeds your passion to which you want to devote time over the next five months to achieve a positive impact. Perhaps it begins with identifying a pressing need or an emerging environmental issue in a particular area. The more you refine your thinking, the more effective your solutions will be. Dream and do!
Identify an area of focus from the following PGC themes: food, waste, water, justice, soil, biodiversity, oceans, forests, Indigenous Peoples, fashion, and energy.
Consider:
– Who is the audience you want to reach with this project? Who will it benefit?
– What is the need/challenge you seek to address?
– Where will it have the most impact?
– How will you start to construct your idea?
– What is your “why” that sparked the passion for this project?
Draft an outline for this project.
Upload your responses and outline in a PDF document. Include your name (or team name), username, and school on your upload.
Submission Guidelines
If you think you can accomplish something, you can. If you believe you can effect change, you will. If you lead with intention and purpose, your actions will be far-reaching and impactful. Mindsets are powerful. We see you as a changemaker and want you to ensure that you see yourself as one too!
Continue developing the project you began in the Greener Challenge. This process will help you identify and address areas of focus and knowledge gaps to set yourself up for success.
Identify the “how,” your mechanism of change.
Who do you need to involve as stakeholders?
Identify the “what’s next” by pinpointing the next steps.
With these ideas percolating, develop an in-depth proposal for a Climate Action Project that excites you. Construct a detailed overview describing how you will implement this inspiring, innovative, actionable project over the next 5 months with a concrete, lasting, positive impact.
Post a teaser (in a format of your choice!) about your CAP plans on Instagram to get friends and followers excited about being the change. Tag @TurningGreenOrg and #PGC2023.
Upload a PDF Document with your proposal, detailed overview and strategy for this project, as well as a screenshot of your social media post. Include your name (or team name), username, and school on your upload to be eligible to win.
Submission Guidelines
