Follow the conversations and collaborations that happened in Hyderabad, India
Earth Day 2009
To commemorate Earth Day 2009, Ashoka highlights climate change as a top concern demanding worldwide, systemic action. For the past 27 years, Ashoka has invested in leading social entrepreneurs – Ashoka Fellows around the globe addressing critical social and environmental issues in innovative ways. Ashoka celebrates the remarkable contribution of changemakers who are pioneering grassroots initiatives that have a collective impact on climate change.
Ashoka Fellows around the world are striving to improve the health and sustainability of our planet and the welfare of its citizens by tackling global issues such as climate change. Ashoka takes this opportunity to raise awareness of their ground-breaking approaches and relentless commitment to creating a healthier planet.
Tri Mumpuni, Indonesia
Tri Mumpuni, Indonesia
Since Tri was a little girl, her house was always used as the center for a range of community activities, from literacy programs to primary health care services. Today, along with her organization, IBEKA, Tri brings together local communities to help develop micro-hydropower operations. Her initiative allows the community to have equity in funding the system, make decisions for its design and operation, and develop programs that will benefit from the generated revenue. She believes that the sustainability and spread of rural electrification depends heavily upon community ownership of the system.
Geoff Cape, CanadaEvergreen
An avid outdoorsman, Geoff is leading a movement to mainstream nature in city planning and public spaces. Beginning with a transformation of downtown Toronto, Geoff’s Evergreen program targets three areas: creating outdoor classrooms, conserving cultural landscapes, and educating a corps of gardeners. He brought together leaders in all sectors to turn Toronto into a model of urban potential – an urban ecosystem where humans interact organically with their environment. Geoff sees this as a first step towards a larger movement by other cities to reintegrate nature for the wellbeing of their inhabitants.
An avid outdoorsman, Geoff is leading a movement to mainstream nature in city planning and public spaces. Beginning with a transformation of downtown Toronto, Geoff’s Evergreen program targets three areas: creating outdoor classrooms, conserving cultural landscapes, and educating a corps of gardeners. He brought together leaders in all sectors to turn Toronto into a model of urban potential – an urban ecosystem where humans interact organically with their environment. Geoff sees this as a first step towards a larger movement by other cities to reintegrate nature for the wellbeing of their inhabitants.
Elna Kotze, South Africa
Project Ukusizana
Elna's eco-entrepreneurialism is a continuation of a life dedicated to social justice. Her Ukusizana project seeks to reverse decades of environmentally, economically, and politically destructive apartheid-era land use practices. Working through a unique planning process via public forums, Elna involves all local stakeholders in considering "higher use" alternatives that creatively blend economic, social and environmental objectives. The ultimate purpose of her project is to develop a model for proactive rural land use planning and integrated land use management that will be applicable anywhere.
Elna's eco-entrepreneurialism is a continuation of a life dedicated to social justice. Her Ukusizana project seeks to reverse decades of environmentally, economically, and politically destructive apartheid-era land use practices. Working through a unique planning process via public forums, Elna involves all local stakeholders in considering "higher use" alternatives that creatively blend economic, social and environmental objectives. The ultimate purpose of her project is to develop a model for proactive rural land use planning and integrated land use management that will be applicable anywhere.
Gustavo Adolfo Candia Irigoitia, ParaguayEco...Global
Gustavo’s previous career in the Paraguayan parliament and his appointment as Secretary for the Environment led him to become deeply involved in biosystems. Along with his organization, Eco…Global, he works to protect Paraguay's wetlands ecosystems by mobilizing citizen sector organizations to change harmful cultivation methods, offer environment-friendly jobs, and design new land use policies. Gustavo's understanding of the relationship between the wetlands ecosystem and the people who depend on it has enabled him to develop an environmental protection strategy that balances conservation and sustainable use, and is scaling throughout the region.
Gustavo’s previous career in the Paraguayan parliament and his appointment as Secretary for the Environment led him to become deeply involved in biosystems. Along with his organization, Eco…Global, he works to protect Paraguay's wetlands ecosystems by mobilizing citizen sector organizations to change harmful cultivation methods, offer environment-friendly jobs, and design new land use policies. Gustavo's understanding of the relationship between the wetlands ecosystem and the people who depend on it has enabled him to develop an environmental protection strategy that balances conservation and sustainable use, and is scaling throughout the region.
Johannes Hengstenberg, GermanyCO2 Online
Johannes makes the debate about climate change relevant to and tangible for every citizen, bringing the discussion from the realm of scientists and governments to the household sphere. Convinced that climate protection is not as abstract and complicated as people think, but rather a question of sound communication and access to information, Johannes developed a hands-on system that shows how easy it is to save energy. The incentive for the client, Johannes has found, is not environmental scare-tactics, but rather to improve their homes in a cost-effective manner.
Johannes makes the debate about climate change relevant to and tangible for every citizen, bringing the discussion from the realm of scientists and governments to the household sphere. Convinced that climate protection is not as abstract and complicated as people think, but rather a question of sound communication and access to information, Johannes developed a hands-on system that shows how easy it is to save energy. The incentive for the client, Johannes has found, is not environmental scare-tactics, but rather to improve their homes in a cost-effective manner.
