Last change - practical solutions competition

Have you got a practical solution to climate change? Take part in a competition for organizations in the Baltic Sea Region and the Nordic countries! The competition deadline is 30 September 2010, so you still have some more days to it.

So far several organizations have taken up the competition and send in their proposals. It has been great to see that the issue of climate change has been looked upon different view points. In many cases, proposals easily exist, but have not been evaluated from the climate change perspective in order to see how meaningful they really are. The competition offers a good opportunity for this!

The competition winners are going to be awarded at the Solutions local, together conference. They also have an opportunity to take part in the Market of Solutions during the conference. Therefore the PR and marketing are in place for the solutions to be spread around the Baltic Sea Region - take a moment to rethink what you have and benefit from the opportunity!

Steps towards local food!

I am happy to tell that we have 7 restaurants committed on advancing local food in Turku and more are welcomed! These restaurants are ready to launch local food menus on 1.2.2011 during the conference and also offer it during the entire year 2011. They have committed that the food offered with a special symbol, for which there is a competition ongoing until 31.8.2010, minimum of 80% of the food is locally produced. This is really high on Finnish standards. More information in Finnish.

The initiative for local food started in 2009, when while analyzing the selection in Turku, it was realized that so far Turku does not have restaurants, that would be able to answer to the requirements of the Solutions local, together - conference. The process got speeded up, once we decided to create synergy with Valonia´s Kelaa- project and Lounafood -project of the University of Turku, Brahea Centre for Training and Development. The organized workshops for producers, restaurants and logistical organizatins enabled a fruitful cooperation to speed up.

Already now it can be said that open cooperation focusing on the interests of the producers and restaurants has been a key. The approach used is bottom up. It is vital that this is not a project, but a common commitment, which hopefully carries a long way into the future.

Competition on practical solutions

It is very often that we have come up with a very good and practical solution in our own daily work and we do not even think of marketing it to others. This is partly because we are too shy or modest, but also we do not want to see the trouble of going out with it. To address this situation, a competition on practical solutions is organized. The competition’s goal is to bring together the solution providers and new customers in the Baltic and Nordic countries.

Practical solutions to climate change -competition is targeted at the Baltic Sea Region and the Nordic countries is searching for new or as yet unestablished business concepts, practices and technologies to assist municipalities and other local and regional actors to better control the effects of climate change. The competition winners will gain publicity, customer contacts, and concrete expert assistance in the marketing of their own solutions.

The competition is looking for projects that would

• combat climate change,
• support local and regional economics, employment and general well-being,
• lead to concrete changes in the practices of the municipalities and their residents, and
• can be broadly implemented as a successful measure.

Competition entries do not have to meet all of the criteria. The competition is part of the ‘Solutions local, together’ Conference. Do not hesitate to take part in it!