Did you know that 74% of British people feel personally concerned by climate change?
Did you know that only 38% of French people know what "energy transition" is about?
Did you know that each year 7 550 people die prematurely in Hauts-de-France/Kent & Medway (Dover Strait area) because of poor air quality?
Based on several figures showing the current state of play, stakeholders involved in PASSAGE project have decided to focus specifically on citizen appropriation of low-carbon transition (and related topic: air quality) the time of a cross-border meeting in Wimille (France, Pas-de-Calais).
As reminded by Mireille Hingrez-Cereda, Vice-president of Pas-de-Calais County Council chairing the meeting, "it is key that the issue of low-carbon transition does not remain a topic of interest only for an elite, but that each citizen can be an actor of this transition". Through two examples, participants to the meeting have discovered - both in their professional and personal quality - simple actions that can help people to understand the issue and adopt the right behaviour. The Natural regional park "Caps et marais d'Opale" (France) has developped a "positive energy familly challenge" aiming to reach significant energy savings in 200 homes in Pas-de-Calais, through a playful and challenging approach. Kent County Council has been working for several years on encouraging active mobility, especially towards children: "walk to school is not only good for the climate but for your health!" is the main message of this campaign.
In a second part of the meeting, participants have been actively involved in proposing solutions to improve citizen appropriation of the issue. Among the proposals, many issues such as the challenge to chose one or two priorities on which focusing action, the need to have a popular celebrity to carry the message or the use of participative democracy methods to involve citizens in the process.
Of course, the meeting was also a good opportunity to have a more global highlight on the progress of Dover Strait cross-border action plan since last meeting in March, with several steps taken on all parts of the action plan. To be followed!
