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Ark Metropolis Europe Expedition

Regional and local sustainable action in response to climate change – a Civil Society action plan
 

An unique expedition in search for answers

 
The Ark Metropolis Europe Expedition is a tall ship cruise that will go through the Baltic Sea, Skagerrak, North Sea, Bay of Biscay, Eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea to Athens with stops in 30 regions/ 20 countries.

It is designed to give an impetus for a Europe-wide debate on the quite abstract concept of „Sustainability“. Almost everybody has heard this word before, no one knows exactly what is behind the concept. Based on the main topic of Climate Change, the expedition is in search for answers to tackle specific regional subjects related to sustainability in order to build up an action plan tailored to the needs of each European region involved in the project.
 

“Europe” is derived from ancient Greek, literally meaning: “Far Sight”

 
Where and what is farsighted action in Europe? On the one hand, many initiatives and organizations of different sizes are working on those questions. On the other hand, there are many good ideas and a willingness to do something to transform the world into a better place to live.

Cultural difference, little networking, interaction and exchange are the main problems which stakeholders are facing today. The Europe Expedition will open the path to form at least an European umbrella organization for sustainability, achieving a better impact of Civil Society on decision-making and policy advise.
 

The building blocks of the expedition: C6

 

While carbon (C) in molecular shape forms a hexagon and thus composes the building block of life, the building blocks of the expedition forms another C6: Common Creativity Counteracts Climate Change Challenges.

The entire European expedition is structured into individual modules or phases and follows a plan of action aiming to achieve a set of objectives between 2015 and 2020:

C6-Hexagon
Module I - European preparation travels
2015/2016 (operating)
Objective:
Preparation of the European Network for Sustainability
Action:
Search and identification of regional/national project partners
Method:
Since March 2015 1-week preparation travels to these 20 European countries are held that will be called during the expedition.
Module II - European launch conference
Q3 2017
Objective:
Sensitiveness towards climate disaster globally/regionally
Action:
Raising awareness for climate change topics
Method:
Civil society organized 3-day European launch conference in Berlin with experts and local representatives from 30 regions of Europe as a precursor of an European climate recovery network.
Module III a) - European ideation workshops
From Q4 2017 consecutive to Q4 2018 every 3 weeks
Objective:
Idea development for regional/local call to action concerning climate recovery
Action:
Capacity building to address climate change needs
Method:
4-day ideation workshops designed as so-called “Design Challenges” with the involvement of Design Thinking teams held in each of the 30 regions. The workshops are intended as regional preparations for the Ark Metropolis Europe Expedition.
Module III b) - European prototyping workshops
From Q4 2017 consecutive to Q4 2018 every 3 weeks
Objective:
Large group treatment for regional/local transfer of ideas
Action:
Measure development for the regional implementation
Method:
3-day prototyping workshops held in each of the 30 regions to transfer the results of the ideation phase into action. These workshops are held 2-3 weeks after the workshops from part a).
Module IV - European tour of the “Climate Ark”
Q2 2018 -Q3 2019
Objective:
Initiation and support of regional/local action plans
Action:
Regional/national attention among the general public
Method:
The 2-years tour of the “Climate Ark”: Ark Metropolis European Expedition for Sustainability with stations and interactive program in 30 regions of Europe.

Ark Metropolis Tour plan

Module V - European follow-up conference
Q2 2019
Objective:
Progress reports and interim results
Action:
Updates about climate recovery/knowledge transfer
Method:
European civil society Climate follow-up conference in Barcelona.
Module VI - European perspective conference
Q2 2020
Objective:
Progress reports from the 30 regions
Action:
Summary plan and final documentation elaboration
Method:
Civil society organized 3-day perspective conference in Athens with communication of results and formation of an European umbrella organization of national NGOs for sustainability, which takes over the further coordination of action plans.

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