Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Future expectations

The end of the year is a good time to summarize the outcome of past year. It is a bit more than a year to go to the Solutions 2011 conference and the expectations for it are growing little by little. The conference planning is in good speed and more actors are gathering around it and bringing in their solutions. It looks very promising if at least half of the plans will fulfill.

Now after COP15 results it feels that the timing of the Solutions 2011 conference is going to be very good for making a difference and showing how we in the Nordic tackle the challenges ahead of us. From talks to action in practice.

I hope that you will do one promise for next year - that is to let me know what kind of solutions are you in need of? I promise then to do my best to fit it in to the conference somehow.

Thank you for reading the Blog during the year 2009 - more to come next year!

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Green consumption

This year I have been very conscious about my own impact on climate change and overconsumption. Luckily I am not the only one as some toy companies have woken up and changed their package designs, more immaterial gifts are available and many people have decided to give only things that are truly needed. All this is not what the market would need to get the economy improving, but this is what we - people - need and the future needs. Good for us!

I have been lucky to avoid all the running around shops in panic, as I have planned my Christmas well in time. All of the presents have been bought or done by myself with a clear thought behind of them. The meals are prepared together well in time with local products. Even the decorations and wrappings are done from recycled materials. My Christmas feeling is peaceful and happy as I have had the joy of enjoying the longer planning needed for sustainable Christmas. Sustainability needs more thinking but is in the end also more rewarding.

It is surprisingly few people that really think about what is essential in this holiday season. Going back to my earlier Blogs I like to add a waking short video to my favorites. Have a look at 1.5 to Stay Alive
maybe it will bring the meaning of Christmas into a totally different light. Rewarding Christmas to all!

Friday, December 18, 2009

Future is ours

Recent days have made me think about the different levels of involvement, starting from informing to involvement. In an ideal world, everyone would get their voices heard on the topics that affect them. When there are many stakeholders, like now in COP15 meeting, it is nearly impossible to come to a satisfactory decisions when the process of participation is not thought through well enough. This is the case now, when physical participation of relevant NGOs is being denied and demonstrations are considered as negative actions.

It is frustrating to see even though everyone talks about the same thing, but when it comes to actual decision-making - the decision-makers still think the individualistic way - not ours, but mine (my country, my world). Involvement is about us, future is ours - therefore we should remember the common benefits. What is left if it is not our common concern?

Very often we know only afterwards that we had a change to influence, for a limited time. Therefore I want to point out to you that influence now when there is a Public consultation on the future EU 2020 strategy ongoing until 15.1.2010. This is about our common future guided by the EU. EU 2020 strategy is about a new sustainable social market economy, a smarter, greener economy where our prosperity will result from innovation and from using resources better, and where knowledge will be the key input. The strategy is about the transformation needed in Europe. If COP15 does not do the trick - at least give your opinion at http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/secretariat_general/eu2020/consultation_en.htm

Friday, December 11, 2009

Overloaded with information

All possible climate related organizations have had the same idea - to publish, launch or organize an event in connection to the COP15 meeting. This has caused bloated e-mail accounts with an overload of information and invitations. As there is too much of everything it is very hard to make your message heard and understood. How can you distinct yours from the message flow?

The facts that draw your attention are not necessarily the ones that you should focus on - or are they? It happened to me that in the midst of all the climate related events and news I have become very critical about what are the real efforts carried out by the organizations. One of the most evident one to me is how you enable the participation of those who did not travel to Copenhagen to take part physically but would still like to follow the discussions. Very few have had some attempts, by enabling the speakers to join in from distance or broadcasting the sessions. Even those who have tried, have not really succeeded, as they forgot that the majority of the participants need to install special programmes or versions to view them. And believe me, this is not easy in centralized organizations. For true involvement, the channels should be made easy!

In the end, everyone has a desire to be heard and understood. We are in a hurry to find the most relevant solution for our problems. If only someone could scan the information flow and pick the most relevant info for us! That seems to be the main challenge for us all. Where is the friend to call who would do that for us?

Friday, December 4, 2009

Good enough

It is hard to say when the local authorities are the best in their class. This can not be measured by financial language, as money is only a resource. Cities are aiming to become the best for the citizens. This creates a lot of demand from different stakeholders. Cities are pulled to different directions, and often forget what is the most important for the common benefit.

For local authorities it is important to see how effectively they fulfill the mission and what kind of outcomes are received in relation to the available resources. One can measure this only if the starting point is clearly analyzed and the change is somehow evidenced. How well do we see the process in our own cities?

You can not force a true change to take place. The changes are enabled by a wise leadership who understands their role. Without this enabling, we can not reach the status of being the best and reach sustainability.

It needs to be remembered that in the end it does not matter what you have reached in life - you are only good in comparison to what you can become.