Climate Week, to be held on 12-18 March 2012, is a national occasion which offers an annual renewal of our ambition and confidence to combat climate change. It is a platform for thousands of organisations across Britain to showcase solutions and positive steps that move us towards a low-carbon society. The power of these real, practical examples can then inspire thousands more to act during the other 51 weeks in the year.

 Several thousand organisations take part at local level and Climate Week is officially backed by more than 200 national bodies. They include eight government departments and organisations ranging from the CBI to the British Medical Association and the National Association of Head Teachers. Climate Week is also backed by figures such as the Prime Minister and Sir Paul McCartney.

 Climate Week’s Headline Partner is Tesco and its Supporting Partners are SodaStream, EDF Energy and Aviva.

 The first Climate Week in March 2011 was the biggest environmental occasion ever run in Britain. Half a million people attended over 3,000 events and 28% of British adults were aware of it (source: Ipsos MORI).

 The biggest single activity was the Climate Week Challenge, which saw teams in schools and workplaces put their innovation, creativity and ingenuity to the test, coming up with green ideas to make or save money. There were 145,000 registered participants for the Climate Week Challenge, across six age categories, making it the UK’s largest ever environmental competition. Winners were selected by celebrity judges including Gary Neville, KT Tunstall, Ben Fogle and Eliza Doolittle.

Registrations for the Climate Week Challenge 2012 are now open. You can register your organisation today to participate in either the One-Day or One-Hour version on the Climate Week website, here:

 www.climateweek.com/challenge/register-for-the-challenge-2012/

 For more information please email Dit e-mailadres is beschermd tegen spambots. U heeft Javascript nodig om het te kunnen zien. or call 0203 397 2601.

 You can see the winners of the Climate Week Challenge 2011 at www.climateweek.com/challenge/challenge-2011/]

 Other events run for Climate Week were hugely varied. In London, the Mayor announced a new green investment fund at the Stock Exchange. In Sunderland, the New Engineering Foundation ran an electric vehicle masterclass. The Glasgow Science Centre helped people to build their own wind turbines. There were conferences about women in the green economy, green tourism and green construction. Over140,000 people took part in the Climate Week Challenge, Britain’s biggest ever environmental competition.

 A large number of celebrities supported Climate Week. A Climate Week Pub Quiz was run by comedian Al Murray (the “Pub Landlord”) and held outside Britain’s most famous pub – the Rovers Return from Coronation Street. The Climate Week t-shirt was modelled by actresses Gillian Anderson and Gemma Arterton. Other celebrity support came from footballer Gary Neville, fashion designer Vivienne Westwood and TV presenter Stephen Fry.

 For Climate Week in March 2012 there is a new initiative focused on food called Climate Week Cuisine, and the Climate Week Awards, recognising achievement in categories such as best product and most inspirational leader.

 The winners of last year’s awards included a waterless washing machine, packaging that composts to biofuel and a computer game where the player has to solve the climate crisis. One company had halved the cost of insulating tower blocks by using abseil ropes rather than scaffolding. Others were making industrial technologies like combined heat and power affordable for domestic consumers. A transport authority had a hydrogen bus service. There were low-carbon hotels, hospitals, carpets, cars, parcel deliveries and clothing.

 This year, the judges for the Climate week Awards include the government’s chief climate scientist Professor Robert Watson, the former CEO of Greenpeace International Paul Gilding, the chief executive of the Eden Project Sir Tim Smit, the former President of Ireland Mary Robinson and campaigner Bianca Jagger.

 All this activity generated over 1,000 pieces of media coverage, including 16 national newspapers and prime time coverage on BBC1, creating a quarter of  a billion opportunities for the public to see stories about Climate Week.

 Go to www.climateweek.com for more information, or email Dit e-mailadres is beschermd tegen spambots. U heeft Javascript nodig om het te kunnen zien. , or telephone 0203 397 2601.