More information
Description
According to WHO data, 36 out of 50 most polluted cities in the EU are located in Poland. At the same time, the Kantar research findings show that half of Poles surveyed do not know what can be done about the climate crisis. Moreover, the problem of air pollution can also affect rural areas – where inhabitants heat their homes by burning wood or coal, moreover, such areas are most often affected by climate change outcomes, such as draughts.We will train activists and community animators from all over Poland on causes and effects of air pollution, CO2 emission and climate change, on how to run activities despite different outlooks and how to acquire funds for grassroot environmental schemes. These people will engage in selected initiatives in their local communities, with support from local KOLs, e.g., teachers or parish priests. These will include meetings with experts combined with the screening of a film on climate or air quality, meetings promoting and supporting changes in the infrastructure of places important for locals and information on specific activities that can be taken up to reduce carbon footprint. Furthermore, we will organise two social campaigns around the topic of improved air quality and preventing its pollution.Our partner is the Krakowski Alarm Smogowy Association that will help us run the training, while its activities will take part in project activities.
Summary of project results
The climate crisis is one of the most urgent problems facing the world today, and Poland remains one of the most polluted countries in Europe. The main cause of air pollution in Poland is ''low emission'', i.e. exhaust fumes from solid fuel boilers and cookers in households. Our project aimed to engage the large audience of Catholics in Poland in widespread climate action, but also to bring together people from different backgrounds, showing that the response to this crisis must joint effort of people regardless of their background.
We organized 54 events, i.e. activities that were based on the distribution of information materials, involving more than 200 people; 14 educational events, involving almost a thousand people; 12 projects implementing ecological changes to infrastructure, involving 23 people. During all events, we partnered with parishes and priests. In addition, we carried out two public campaigns (campaign materials reached more than a thousand parishes in Poland) on the issue of air quality and the possibility of applying for subsidies for thermo-modernisation. We also established cooperation with radio and television journalists, for whom we organised 2 information meetings.
As a result of the project, local communities (primarily parishes) where the public awareness campaign was carried out benefited, as did those communities where bottom-up projects were carried out - e.g. installation of rainwater tanks or changing to energy-efficient lighting. Thanks to the activities we carried out, public awareness of the necessary changes for a more sustainable lifestyle has been raised, and the infrastructural changes resulting from the local projects will be have long-term effect and will promote ecological solutions even after the project has ended.